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A Step from Heaven
From master storyteller An Na comes the Printz Award–winning novel about a Korean girl who tells her firsthand account of trying to find her place and identity in America from the day she leaves Korea as a child to her rocky journey through the teenage years.
At age four, Young Ju moves with her parents from Korea to Southern California. She has always imagined America would be like heaven: easy, blissful, and full of riches. But when her family arrives, she finds it to be the opposite. With a stubborn language barrier and cultural dissimilarities, not only is it impossible to make friends, but even her family’s internal bonds are wavering. Her parents’ finances are strained, yet her father’s stomach is full of booze.
As Young Ju’s once solid and reliable family starts tearing apart, her younger brother begins to gain more freedom and respect simply because of his gender. Young Ju begins to lose all hope in the dream she once held—the heaven she longs for. Even as she begins to finally fit in, a cataclysmic family event will change her idea of heaven forever. But it also helps her to recognize the strength she holds, and envision the future she desires, and deserves.
At age four, Young Ju moves with her parents from Korea to Southern California. She has always imagined America would be like heaven: easy, blissful, and full of riches. But when her family arrives, she finds it to be the opposite. With a stubborn language barrier and cultural dissimilarities, not only is it impossible to make friends, but even her family’s internal bonds are wavering. Her parents’ finances are strained, yet her father’s stomach is full of booze.
As Young Ju’s once solid and reliable family starts tearing apart, her younger brother begins to gain more freedom and respect simply because of his gender. Young Ju begins to lose all hope in the dream she once held—the heaven she longs for. Even as she begins to finally fit in, a cataclysmic family event will change her idea of heaven forever. But it also helps her to recognize the strength she holds, and envision the future she desires, and deserves.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2001
About the author
An Na
48 books152 followersAn Na was born in Korea and grew up in San Diego, California. A former middle school English and history teacher, she is currently at work on her third novel. She lives in Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 955 reviews
August 4, 2021
this book was very i didn't think i was going to like it because it started out in the voice of which was too for me, but it thankfully changed as the female child-character grows up to show the slow acclimatization and americanization of a korean family and the struggles and triumphs they undergo, while still holding on to their roots. it is actually a very graceful and delicate story, but it does not shy away from certain i really loved this book, and while it is true i am only writing this review right now because anyone interested in immigrant stories should read this children's book, even if they are !!!
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August 25, 2016
At four years old, Young Ju does not understand that Mi Gook means America, not heaven. When her parents tell her will move to the magical Mi Gook with them, she assumes that they are going to a special, sacred place. She does not understand the problems sure to arise: struggling to learn a new language, financial problems her family face, and her father's escalating anger. As Young Ju takes time to transition into a life at America, she develops an unexpected, unique voice - one that possesses the power to change her family's life, and her own.
A Step from Heaven had beautiful, compelling moments that almost brought me to tears. This book tells more than the story of a girl moving to a new country, but it also reveals a somber, distressed side of a family barely managing to stay afloat in the country across a sea. While the writing style surely will not please every one, Na's consistent poetic prose fits perfectly with Young Ju.
Young Ju's character developed gorgeously throughout the novel. The writing amazed me because as Young matured, so did the prose - the sentence structure became more complex, and the vocabulary enlarged. One of the most astounding aspects of this book was the sheer span of time it covered: Young starts out as a four-year-old, and by the end of the book she is a young adult.
My heart broke twice while I read this, and by the end I wanted to give it five stars. However, some more details could have been included and the side characters remained rather flat. Still, A Step from Heaven has a permanent place in my heart.
A Step from Heaven had beautiful, compelling moments that almost brought me to tears. This book tells more than the story of a girl moving to a new country, but it also reveals a somber, distressed side of a family barely managing to stay afloat in the country across a sea. While the writing style surely will not please every one, Na's consistent poetic prose fits perfectly with Young Ju.
Young Ju's character developed gorgeously throughout the novel. The writing amazed me because as Young matured, so did the prose - the sentence structure became more complex, and the vocabulary enlarged. One of the most astounding aspects of this book was the sheer span of time it covered: Young starts out as a four-year-old, and by the end of the book she is a young adult.
My heart broke twice while I read this, and by the end I wanted to give it five stars. However, some more details could have been included and the side characters remained rather flat. Still, A Step from Heaven has a permanent place in my heart.
July 30, 2010
Here continues my quest to read all Printz winner books. This one wasn't as impressive as I expected it to be, but 4 stars nonetheless. I'll explain.
A Step from Heaven is story of a Korean family who come to the States to better their lives but fail at it because they bring with them their own personal troubles (mostly in a form of an abusive good-for-nothing father) and their traditional and foreign ideas of pride, honor, and submission.
A Step from Heaven is a gem of a book. In terms of literary quality, this slender volume is almost a perfection. Told from a POV of Young Ju brought to America by her parents at the age of 4, this story is a progression of her voice from childhood to adulthood. It changes as Young grows up, learns English, and finds a better understanding of the events happening around her. The transition of Young's voice, the maturation of it is strikingly authentic.
While I enjoyed the quality of writing, the book was no more than a 3-star read for me until the very end. The story, although compelling, did feel young. It is properly shelved in a juvenile (middle grade) section of my library. But then it made me fight back my tears while I was standing in line at a grocery story (I was listening to the book on my iPod) and I was obligated to add another star.
A Step from Heaven is story of a Korean family who come to the States to better their lives but fail at it because they bring with them their own personal troubles (mostly in a form of an abusive good-for-nothing father) and their traditional and foreign ideas of pride, honor, and submission.
A Step from Heaven is a gem of a book. In terms of literary quality, this slender volume is almost a perfection. Told from a POV of Young Ju brought to America by her parents at the age of 4, this story is a progression of her voice from childhood to adulthood. It changes as Young grows up, learns English, and finds a better understanding of the events happening around her. The transition of Young's voice, the maturation of it is strikingly authentic.
While I enjoyed the quality of writing, the book was no more than a 3-star read for me until the very end. The story, although compelling, did feel young. It is properly shelved in a juvenile (middle grade) section of my library. But then it made me fight back my tears while I was standing in line at a grocery story (I was listening to the book on my iPod) and I was obligated to add another star.
November 8, 2018
Another required read for my 8th grade English class. I am glad it was though, because this book is not only touching, but important too!
April 5, 2011
Don't be fooled. This book is not about immigrants -- it's about a girl who has to deal with an abusive father after coincidentally immigrating. The main character knows English awesome. Issues of immigration are hardly brought up, and when they are they're poorly tied into the abusive father. Many matters I would have loved to see more of are never addressed, and instead shoved aside for stupid things that I don't care about. Americans are made out to be the norm -- kind and quirky saviors. But the girl and her family are made out to be idiotic victims, abusing themselves and being overall horrible. I'd rather read flashcodes all day.
September 20, 2012
This is a beautiful book. The prose is simple and graceful. At times it's poetic, at times powerful, and at other times touching. The story is simple, true, and feels inevitable. The characters are believable, as are the situations. For what it is, the book is a little gem, and brilliant on its own terms.
I have a few quibbles about the book. The structure is deliberately episodic, and this means that decisions taken in one chapter don't often lead to obvious consequences in later chapters. Instead, the book works like a series of finely etched tableaux. Thus, if Young Ju does something dangerous in one chapter, that doesn't mean that there will be consequences to her actions later in the book. As storytelling, this at first appears to be a bit strange, but it ends up working in the overall structure.
A second quibble I have with the book is that it sometimes felt to me like the author was being a bit too careful. Some of her metaphors seemed a bit too studied for me. The worked a bit too perfectly. This characteristic was impressive, but I think it also added a level of reserve that may have hindered the book some. To be fair, I thought it worked fine here, but I began to wonder if I would grow tired of the same excessive care if it appeared in a longer book.
Finally, for the quibbles, I thought that the voice of Young Ju was sometimes perfect for her purported age, but in first and second grade, I had the feeling that she was just too smart for someone that age. Having her voice grow as she aged was an audacious undertaking, and for the most part I think An Na carried it off amazingly well. But there were a few points where I got stuck on a word or an idea. As you can see, these are true quibbles.
On the plus side, there are several very moving scenes in this book, and they are scenes that will stick with me for some time to come. Foremost among these is a chapter in the book where Young Ju's father plays "The Blob" with his kids. He captures them with his strength, and because the blob never lets go of what it captures, he holds fast to them. They struggle, scream, laugh, and giggle, and come out of it sometimes with bruises and sprains, but they love this game. It's the only time they ever get to hug their father. I found his chapter both beautiful and touching. It stands on its own as a vignette, and it also works as a microcosm for the entire book (sorry about the spoiler).
This is a very, very impressive first novel. It's rare to find prose that is both as simple and as powerful as what Na delivers here. I will definitely be looking forward to her future work.
I have a few quibbles about the book. The structure is deliberately episodic, and this means that decisions taken in one chapter don't often lead to obvious consequences in later chapters. Instead, the book works like a series of finely etched tableaux. Thus, if Young Ju does something dangerous in one chapter, that doesn't mean that there will be consequences to her actions later in the book. As storytelling, this at first appears to be a bit strange, but it ends up working in the overall structure.
A second quibble I have with the book is that it sometimes felt to me like the author was being a bit too careful. Some of her metaphors seemed a bit too studied for me. The worked a bit too perfectly. This characteristic was impressive, but I think it also added a level of reserve that may have hindered the book some. To be fair, I thought it worked fine here, but I began to wonder if I would grow tired of the same excessive care if it appeared in a longer book.
Finally, for the quibbles, I thought that the voice of Young Ju was sometimes perfect for her purported age, but in first and second grade, I had the feeling that she was just too smart for someone that age. Having her voice grow as she aged was an audacious undertaking, and for the most part I think An Na carried it off amazingly well. But there were a few points where I got stuck on a word or an idea. As you can see, these are true quibbles.
On the plus side, there are several very moving scenes in this book, and they are scenes that will stick with me for some time to come. Foremost among these is a chapter in the book where Young Ju's father plays "The Blob" with his kids. He captures them with his strength, and because the blob never lets go of what it captures, he holds fast to them. They struggle, scream, laugh, and giggle, and come out of it sometimes with bruises and sprains, but they love this game. It's the only time they ever get to hug their father. I found his chapter both beautiful and touching. It stands on its own as a vignette, and it also works as a microcosm for the entire book (sorry about the spoiler).
This is a very, very impressive first novel. It's rare to find prose that is both as simple and as powerful as what Na delivers here. I will definitely be looking forward to her future work.
May 4, 2016
This is such a powerful piece of work exploring not only exploring the experiences of immigrants, but family dynamics, gender roles, and substance and physical abuse. Written from the perspective of a child, it truly deserves having won the Printz Award, as we slowly follow the family from moving from Korea, until Ju gets prepared to go to university, their struggles and strains a new culture puts on the family. Just great!!!
June 25, 2013
I was under the impression that this book was about the Korean American experience. Yet, what I read was flowery prose about a girl who misspells Korean words, and mostly only focuses on her alcoholic fathers' abuse.
Firstly, Young-Ju's younger brother calls her UHN-NEE. This is not only inaccurate, but it's ABSOLUTELY WRONG. When a younger male addresses an older female sibling, he is supposed to address her as NOO-NA. It's SO weird that this author, who is supposedly Korean - does not know such a basic term. I was embarrassed and very annoyed at this. How the hell did this get published, much less win a Printz award? Is this a joke?
Secondly, there isn't much depth in this story. Yeah, the writing is flowery, and there's some fancy literary techniques thrown in, but so what? I hardly felt like I knew Young-Ju. The book is TOO short, barely reaching 150 pages, NOTHING is explained.
I think there might have been potential, despite the INACCURATE use of Korean words - there might have been something authentic in there. The story of her father, her brother, her mother, their church going experience, etc. But there was nothing inherently unique about Young-Ju's story that set it apart as an "immigrant" story. Young-Ju seemingly adjusted fine at school with her one "white" American friend, Amanda. Yet, there were no signs of culture clashes, no signs of identity issues, and the author barely touches upon some of Young-Ju's struggles trying to fit in at her school.
So, was she the only Korean or Asian girl there? WHY did she only have one friend? Why was her one and only friend white?
How did her father's abuse ultimately shape her identity as a Korean American? How did that affect her adult life, her perception of Korean men in general, and her perception of Korean women? How did it affect her family members: her mother, did she ever remarry? Why, or why not?; how did it affect her brother? (there were some signs, but the story never really developed further.)
Now, back to the "immigrant" experience. Young-Ju and her family are poor, they eat rice, and her father is some misogynist, patriarchal, abusive, alcoholic pig. WTF? **That's NOT inherently Korean. Maybe the author's purpose was to show that Korean Americans aren't so different from any other American family? But, somehow, I doubt that. If this is what people are reading - I hope they don't think this is the typical Korean American immigrant experience. Because, it isn't.
I think she should have elaborated more on her church going experience, because I know for a fact that it's a huge part of Korean-American culture and identity. It's more than just a religion, it's a community - a gathering place for Korean Americans to network, share, struggle together, and hope together.
The author writes words. But doesn't take the step to EXPLAIN, or help readers UNDERSTAND within context of the "immigrant" experience. I also had a hard time deciphering the narration shift as Young Ju matures. Her voice was muddled, and ultimately forgettable.
It makes me upset because there was NOTHING in this book about Korean culture. REAL Korean culture that is just universally, uniquely, and specifically KOREAN. The family eats rice. WOW - is that what you call CULTURE? Not to mention, the misspelled CONGLISH (Korean + English), and incorrect use of Korean words just made me want to crawl under a rock and hide.
Also, the juxtaposition between her "white" uncle who resembles the painting of Jesus vs. her dad was just appalling.
The author is a fake.
In a nutshell: the main character, Young-Ju, ends up portraying her Korean father as an abusive, alcoholic misogynist. Her mother as an abused woman, working odd jobs, subservient, the STEREOTYPICAL Korean wife/woman. Her brother: as an odd weirdo - following in the footsteps of her father. There is no closeness in their familial relationships. No real dialogue is presented. Cardboard, one-dimensional characterization, built on offensive STEREOTYPES, particularly regarding gender roles. Some of the stuff in this book is so inaccurate it's laughable. Do people really buy this stuff? It's SO obvious it's made-up. (I realize this book isn't a memoir, it's fiction - but at least try to make this stuff believable?)
The writing style DOES stand out, but it's not enough to hold a story. It's jagged bits and pieces of words strung together, with no real spark. This book was a HUGE disappointment, but mostly an embarrassment to the collective Korean American immigrant experience, identity, and culture.
Again, this was a meaningless fictional story, made up of incorrect Korean words (that were also misspelled), with no real substance - no real explanation of Korean culture, with nothing unique about Young-Ju's experience that set her story apart as one of an immigrant. In fact, this book was highly offensive - and only served to perpetuate and reproduce stereotypical images of the Korean American immigrant family.
I wouldn't be surprised if (in real life) the author doesn't even know how to speak/read/write Korean; she also probably only has "white" friends, and if she's heterosexual, she probably only dates "white" men - because, well, Korean men are sexist pigs, right? *rolls eyes*
The only reason why I rated this 2 stars, instead of 1 is because of the EPILOGUE.
Firstly, Young-Ju's younger brother calls her UHN-NEE. This is not only inaccurate, but it's ABSOLUTELY WRONG. When a younger male addresses an older female sibling, he is supposed to address her as NOO-NA. It's SO weird that this author, who is supposedly Korean - does not know such a basic term. I was embarrassed and very annoyed at this. How the hell did this get published, much less win a Printz award? Is this a joke?
Secondly, there isn't much depth in this story. Yeah, the writing is flowery, and there's some fancy literary techniques thrown in, but so what? I hardly felt like I knew Young-Ju. The book is TOO short, barely reaching 150 pages, NOTHING is explained.
I think there might have been potential, despite the INACCURATE use of Korean words - there might have been something authentic in there. The story of her father, her brother, her mother, their church going experience, etc. But there was nothing inherently unique about Young-Ju's story that set it apart as an "immigrant" story. Young-Ju seemingly adjusted fine at school with her one "white" American friend, Amanda. Yet, there were no signs of culture clashes, no signs of identity issues, and the author barely touches upon some of Young-Ju's struggles trying to fit in at her school.
So, was she the only Korean or Asian girl there? WHY did she only have one friend? Why was her one and only friend white?
How did her father's abuse ultimately shape her identity as a Korean American? How did that affect her adult life, her perception of Korean men in general, and her perception of Korean women? How did it affect her family members: her mother, did she ever remarry? Why, or why not?; how did it affect her brother? (there were some signs, but the story never really developed further.)
Now, back to the "immigrant" experience. Young-Ju and her family are poor, they eat rice, and her father is some misogynist, patriarchal, abusive, alcoholic pig. WTF? **That's NOT inherently Korean. Maybe the author's purpose was to show that Korean Americans aren't so different from any other American family? But, somehow, I doubt that. If this is what people are reading - I hope they don't think this is the typical Korean American immigrant experience. Because, it isn't.
I think she should have elaborated more on her church going experience, because I know for a fact that it's a huge part of Korean-American culture and identity. It's more than just a religion, it's a community - a gathering place for Korean Americans to network, share, struggle together, and hope together.
The author writes words. But doesn't take the step to EXPLAIN, or help readers UNDERSTAND within context of the "immigrant" experience. I also had a hard time deciphering the narration shift as Young Ju matures. Her voice was muddled, and ultimately forgettable.
It makes me upset because there was NOTHING in this book about Korean culture. REAL Korean culture that is just universally, uniquely, and specifically KOREAN. The family eats rice. WOW - is that what you call CULTURE? Not to mention, the misspelled CONGLISH (Korean + English), and incorrect use of Korean words just made me want to crawl under a rock and hide.
Also, the juxtaposition between her "white" uncle who resembles the painting of Jesus vs. her dad was just appalling.
The author is a fake.
In a nutshell: the main character, Young-Ju, ends up portraying her Korean father as an abusive, alcoholic misogynist. Her mother as an abused woman, working odd jobs, subservient, the STEREOTYPICAL Korean wife/woman. Her brother: as an odd weirdo - following in the footsteps of her father. There is no closeness in their familial relationships. No real dialogue is presented. Cardboard, one-dimensional characterization, built on offensive STEREOTYPES, particularly regarding gender roles. Some of the stuff in this book is so inaccurate it's laughable. Do people really buy this stuff? It's SO obvious it's made-up. (I realize this book isn't a memoir, it's fiction - but at least try to make this stuff believable?)
The writing style DOES stand out, but it's not enough to hold a story. It's jagged bits and pieces of words strung together, with no real spark. This book was a HUGE disappointment, but mostly an embarrassment to the collective Korean American immigrant experience, identity, and culture.
Again, this was a meaningless fictional story, made up of incorrect Korean words (that were also misspelled), with no real substance - no real explanation of Korean culture, with nothing unique about Young-Ju's experience that set her story apart as one of an immigrant. In fact, this book was highly offensive - and only served to perpetuate and reproduce stereotypical images of the Korean American immigrant family.
I wouldn't be surprised if (in real life) the author doesn't even know how to speak/read/write Korean; she also probably only has "white" friends, and if she's heterosexual, she probably only dates "white" men - because, well, Korean men are sexist pigs, right? *rolls eyes*
The only reason why I rated this 2 stars, instead of 1 is because of the EPILOGUE.
October 24, 2018
Don't mind the three stars - if this book won't be triggering to you and you want to read more immigrant stories, read this book. It's such an important narrative.
- This was such a difficult book to listen to (I listened to the audiobook) but it is such a hard-hitting story that intertwines an immigrant narrative with domestic abuse.
- The protagonist is Korean, and it starts when she is 4 and ends around the time she is about to leave home for college.
- This book does explore domestic abuse at the hands of the protagonist's father... and I found it really difficult to read because it was just so hurtful and awful. The narrative does frame the father's character with a bit of nuance without condoning his actions.
- The first part of the book was very strong, but the end felt a little rushed. Whilst it explores a lot of challenges that immigrants face, further compounded by the protagonist's abusive father, it wasn't an amazing book - it's just good. Nonetheless, I appreciate its importance as a story.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse
- This was such a difficult book to listen to (I listened to the audiobook) but it is such a hard-hitting story that intertwines an immigrant narrative with domestic abuse.
- The protagonist is Korean, and it starts when she is 4 and ends around the time she is about to leave home for college.
- This book does explore domestic abuse at the hands of the protagonist's father... and I found it really difficult to read because it was just so hurtful and awful. The narrative does frame the father's character with a bit of nuance without condoning his actions.
- The first part of the book was very strong, but the end felt a little rushed. Whilst it explores a lot of challenges that immigrants face, further compounded by the protagonist's abusive father, it wasn't an amazing book - it's just good. Nonetheless, I appreciate its importance as a story.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse
September 30, 2021
Honestly, wow, the nostalgia is hitting hard. The last two chapter (including the epilogue) were beautifully orchestrated. The secretive, tightly wound web that An Na created has finally unraveled. (Only discussing the ending of the book)
For instance, An Na's reference to and explanation of the very first chapter, "Sea Bubble", made me, and probably other readers as well, feel such heartache for what Apa has become. He used to be this wonderful man who taught a little girl to be brave, and then he turned into a cruel monster that abused his family. An Na uses this juxtaposition to put emphasis on the duality and versatility of the human race. No one is meant to be good or evil, who you are is just a sum of the experiences and choices you've lived through. Personalities will ALWAYS change. The factor that further enhanced this scene, however, was Young Ju's misconception in believing that the person who helped her with "Sea Bubbles" was her mother, not her father. This misinterpretation represents Young Ju's inability to see Apa in a positive light. This idea brings us back to the theme of variations in human character and makes the reader wonder, what happened for Apa to turn out this way? Anyway, I felt such pity and anguish for Young Ju's past memories compared to her current ones.
Another addition to An Na's mesmerizing ending are the subtle hints of symbolism that have evolved throughout the story, seen in her ending lines, "Uhmma tucks a wisp of my long, straight black hair behind my ear and then puts her arm around my waist (pg.148)." I really want to draw attention to the phrase "long, straight black hair" since it symbolizes Young Ju's independence and the fact that she's broken free of the chains that have long held her back. Now, thereis evidence behind this lucrative claim. If you recall, early on in the book, Young Ju is forced to cut her hair and curl it in order to fit in with the American girls (Ch. "Hair"). By changing her hair into something she feels comfortable with, Young Ju is finally accepting who she truly is. This is such a subtle hint yet it demonstrates immense character growth in Young Ju.
And yes, my rant has finished for today. Once again, I would like to commemorate the author for manipulating multiple factors in the story to finally come together in a dazzling ending.
For instance, An Na's reference to and explanation of the very first chapter, "Sea Bubble", made me, and probably other readers as well, feel such heartache for what Apa has become. He used to be this wonderful man who taught a little girl to be brave, and then he turned into a cruel monster that abused his family. An Na uses this juxtaposition to put emphasis on the duality and versatility of the human race. No one is meant to be good or evil, who you are is just a sum of the experiences and choices you've lived through. Personalities will ALWAYS change. The factor that further enhanced this scene, however, was Young Ju's misconception in believing that the person who helped her with "Sea Bubbles" was her mother, not her father. This misinterpretation represents Young Ju's inability to see Apa in a positive light. This idea brings us back to the theme of variations in human character and makes the reader wonder, what happened for Apa to turn out this way? Anyway, I felt such pity and anguish for Young Ju's past memories compared to her current ones.
Another addition to An Na's mesmerizing ending are the subtle hints of symbolism that have evolved throughout the story, seen in her ending lines, "Uhmma tucks a wisp of my long, straight black hair behind my ear and then puts her arm around my waist (pg.148)." I really want to draw attention to the phrase "long, straight black hair" since it symbolizes Young Ju's independence and the fact that she's broken free of the chains that have long held her back. Now, thereis evidence behind this lucrative claim. If you recall, early on in the book, Young Ju is forced to cut her hair and curl it in order to fit in with the American girls (Ch. "Hair"). By changing her hair into something she feels comfortable with, Young Ju is finally accepting who she truly is. This is such a subtle hint yet it demonstrates immense character growth in Young Ju.
And yes, my rant has finished for today. Once again, I would like to commemorate the author for manipulating multiple factors in the story to finally come together in a dazzling ending.
July 3, 2020
What a sad story.
😢
😢
January 2, 2011
This could have been four stars. It had the potential to be a really great book. But unfortunately it just isn't there. If it were longer it could have the chance to flesh out something other than the abuse. Any book dealing with abuse seems to revolve around it.
This book is about a young Korean girl, Young Ju, who immigrates to America with her family. While the summary says that they have difficulty learning English, that is only brought to light a few times. Young Ju learns it easily, as does her brother Joon Ho. I thought it would be a far bigger issue, but it only poses as a problem when Young Ju needs to get her green card renewed.
Their difficulty adjusting to American culture is briefly touched upon. Young Ju has hardly any problems in school. This is all brushed over to focus on the deterioration of her family. The problem is that I don't fully understand why the family is deteriorating because it is never elaborated on. I know that the father is a jerk, he can't speak English well and refuses to get help from his daughter who does. He refuses to accept American culture, he refuses to allow his children to fit in with American culture, he refuses to adjust to life in a new country and wants to keep the notions of Korea with him that just don't fit in with his new life.
Keeping your culture isn't bad, but refusing the culture of the country you live in is another thing entirely. The failure of this book to focus on anything but the problems of the father and the abuse that results from this makes it a three star book. We learn nothing about Young Ju's friend Amanda or the problems that he brother goes through. Her mother's job is barely touched upon, church is also rarely mentioned even thought they are supposed to be very religious.
I know that's a lot of things to deal with, but other books about immigrants have handled them fairly well. Although they are second generation immigrants in Kira-Kira, we see their difficulty adjusting to American life and we deal with a variety of issues -- and that is just a middle grade book.
The book jacket says that they have difficulty leaving behind their culture, they have trouble learning English, and that their insular life weighs them down. I barely see any of that. By choosing to make this revolve around abuse, rather than making it just one issue -- which would have made it a much better book -- we are subject to yet another novel with a one dimensional abusive father. Young Ju is at best two dimensional. Her mother is barely two dimensional, as well as her brother. And everyone else is just a cardboard cut-out. The writing style barely saved it.
This book is about a young Korean girl, Young Ju, who immigrates to America with her family. While the summary says that they have difficulty learning English, that is only brought to light a few times. Young Ju learns it easily, as does her brother Joon Ho. I thought it would be a far bigger issue, but it only poses as a problem when Young Ju needs to get her green card renewed.
Their difficulty adjusting to American culture is briefly touched upon. Young Ju has hardly any problems in school. This is all brushed over to focus on the deterioration of her family. The problem is that I don't fully understand why the family is deteriorating because it is never elaborated on. I know that the father is a jerk, he can't speak English well and refuses to get help from his daughter who does. He refuses to accept American culture, he refuses to allow his children to fit in with American culture, he refuses to adjust to life in a new country and wants to keep the notions of Korea with him that just don't fit in with his new life.
Keeping your culture isn't bad, but refusing the culture of the country you live in is another thing entirely. The failure of this book to focus on anything but the problems of the father and the abuse that results from this makes it a three star book. We learn nothing about Young Ju's friend Amanda or the problems that he brother goes through. Her mother's job is barely touched upon, church is also rarely mentioned even thought they are supposed to be very religious.
I know that's a lot of things to deal with, but other books about immigrants have handled them fairly well. Although they are second generation immigrants in Kira-Kira, we see their difficulty adjusting to American life and we deal with a variety of issues -- and that is just a middle grade book.
The book jacket says that they have difficulty leaving behind their culture, they have trouble learning English, and that their insular life weighs them down. I barely see any of that. By choosing to make this revolve around abuse, rather than making it just one issue -- which would have made it a much better book -- we are subject to yet another novel with a one dimensional abusive father. Young Ju is at best two dimensional. Her mother is barely two dimensional, as well as her brother. And everyone else is just a cardboard cut-out. The writing style barely saved it.
March 5, 2009
A Korean family emigrates to the United States in search of a better life. Told from the viewpoint of the daughter, the story follows her from age four to age sixteen. She and her family encounter language difficulties, feelings of isolation, a struggle for identity, and an abusive relationship with her father. Young Ju, the daughter, goes to school with no understanding of English, and develops into one of the top members of her class. Apa, the father, begins to resent her acquisition of English and her successful assimilation into American culture. He resents those who understand English, mistrusts the intensions of Americans, and becomes abusive with his family. Uhmma, the mother, adapts much more readily, is able to stay focused on the dream of becoming American and allowing her children to live a better life. She and the children join a church, in order to become more accepted and further assimilated into the culture. Apa; however, holds the family back, punishing them for their successes. Eventually, the struggle to fit in becomes too much for Apa, and he moves back to Korea. The rest of the family remains in America and is finally allowed to develop as Americans.
The book exhibits especially unique literary quality. It challenges the reader through Young Ju’s translation of English, particularly in the early chapters. The intermixing of Korean and the youth of the narrator also provide credibility to the story. Young Ju’s life experience, or lack thereof, pose additional challenges to both the reader’s and Young Ju’s understanding of various situations. In spite of the challenges, the story is engaging and clever. The division of chapters into small vignettes about the family’s experience helps the book flow without seeming too disjointed.
I really enjoyed this book. There were sections that were difficult to get through, such as the various abusive scenes with the father, but by that point in the story, I was so interested and vested in the story that I couldn’t stop. This book would appeal to YAs because of the format of short chapters, which makes is more accessible. Also, the fact that Young Ju doesn’t feel as though she is part of her own family is something that some YAs might identify with fairly closely. The most interesting aspect of the book is the way the reader can see Young Ju’s literary and verbal growth and grasp of English as the story progresses. I would absolutely recommend this book to YA and adults.
The book exhibits especially unique literary quality. It challenges the reader through Young Ju’s translation of English, particularly in the early chapters. The intermixing of Korean and the youth of the narrator also provide credibility to the story. Young Ju’s life experience, or lack thereof, pose additional challenges to both the reader’s and Young Ju’s understanding of various situations. In spite of the challenges, the story is engaging and clever. The division of chapters into small vignettes about the family’s experience helps the book flow without seeming too disjointed.
I really enjoyed this book. There were sections that were difficult to get through, such as the various abusive scenes with the father, but by that point in the story, I was so interested and vested in the story that I couldn’t stop. This book would appeal to YAs because of the format of short chapters, which makes is more accessible. Also, the fact that Young Ju doesn’t feel as though she is part of her own family is something that some YAs might identify with fairly closely. The most interesting aspect of the book is the way the reader can see Young Ju’s literary and verbal growth and grasp of English as the story progresses. I would absolutely recommend this book to YA and adults.
February 5, 2009
This is the story of a Korean immigrant family who are looking for the American dream. They come to America when Young is five and believe it will solve all of their problems. They quickly discover that all of their personal problems and most of their everyday life problems have come with them. Young, eventually, advocates for her mother against her abusive, alcoholic father who leaves and the family begins to heal.
This book will appeal to teens who have an interest in poetry because it is written in a poetic style. It will appeal to teens who are immigrants and have themselves tried to fit into two cultures and teens who have dysfunctional, abusive family issues.
This book addresses several Developmental Assets. Caring Neighborhood is addressed through the family who becomes Young's safe haven from her dysfunctional family and support for her academic achievements. Young shows a great amount of Caring for her family members when they suffer through her father's abuse and ultimately saves her mother's life. When Young chooses to call 911 and save her mother from her father's abuse, she illustrates a great deal of Personal Power.
The characters in this book are very believable. The pattern of abuse is believable as well as how Young's views of it change from childhood into early adulthood. The way her brother chooses to deal with it and the way her mother chooses to deal with it are also believable.
This book would be easily promoted to teens through the controversial topic of abuse and dysfunctional family relationships. Immigrant issues are also another way this book could be promoted depending on your audience of teens. Finally, the poetic writing style would be another way to promote it, however, this may make it less desirable to certain groups of teens. It would be important to know your audience when promoting this book.
5Q, 3P, S
This book will appeal to teens who have an interest in poetry because it is written in a poetic style. It will appeal to teens who are immigrants and have themselves tried to fit into two cultures and teens who have dysfunctional, abusive family issues.
This book addresses several Developmental Assets. Caring Neighborhood is addressed through the family who becomes Young's safe haven from her dysfunctional family and support for her academic achievements. Young shows a great amount of Caring for her family members when they suffer through her father's abuse and ultimately saves her mother's life. When Young chooses to call 911 and save her mother from her father's abuse, she illustrates a great deal of Personal Power.
The characters in this book are very believable. The pattern of abuse is believable as well as how Young's views of it change from childhood into early adulthood. The way her brother chooses to deal with it and the way her mother chooses to deal with it are also believable.
This book would be easily promoted to teens through the controversial topic of abuse and dysfunctional family relationships. Immigrant issues are also another way this book could be promoted depending on your audience of teens. Finally, the poetic writing style would be another way to promote it, however, this may make it less desirable to certain groups of teens. It would be important to know your audience when promoting this book.
5Q, 3P, S
November 14, 2017
This book seems to have inspired a lot of passion from readers, both pro and con. I enjoyed it. I thought it was well-written, with a sympathetic main character and a thought-provoking look at Korean immigrant culture.
It's not perfect; there are a few plot holes and there are scenes that are probably too intense for some young readers. I would recommend it, depending on maturity level, for middle school and older.
It's not perfect; there are a few plot holes and there are scenes that are probably too intense for some young readers. I would recommend it, depending on maturity level, for middle school and older.
April 5, 2020
Wow, talk about an absolutely heartbreaking book. It took me a while to get into the flow of reading this book, especially from a young child’s perspective. However, once I got the hang of it, I quickly realized the magnitude of the story Young Ju had to tell.
Young Ju and her family live in Korea briefly in the beginning of the book. Her father is abusive towards her mother, but the one thing that could distract him from his abusiveness is thinking about how great life would be in America. When the family actually does move to America, it seems that the problem should be solved. However, getting started proves to be much more difficult than they imagined. As Young Ju grows up, she realizes the things she has to do to fit in America and to survive under her absent and abusive father.
Young Ju and her family live in Korea briefly in the beginning of the book. Her father is abusive towards her mother, but the one thing that could distract him from his abusiveness is thinking about how great life would be in America. When the family actually does move to America, it seems that the problem should be solved. However, getting started proves to be much more difficult than they imagined. As Young Ju grows up, she realizes the things she has to do to fit in America and to survive under her absent and abusive father.
November 19, 2024
I adore this book- it’s so incredibly heartbreaking but extremely skillful. We read this in my Freshman year English class and now I’ve reread it while mentoring in that same class as a Senior 🥹
Also, ever since I first read it I’ve thought of Uhmma every time I listen to happiness by Taylor Swift (it’s spot on I swear).
Also, ever since I first read it I’ve thought of Uhmma every time I listen to happiness by Taylor Swift (it’s spot on I swear).
June 21, 2024
This book was okay. I don't think I was the right audience for it but there were moments where the words did impact me and make me emotional. I think this book is written for a very specific type of person, however I appreciated the linear storytelling and the maturing of the language as we follow Young growing up and figuring out more and more about life in America.
February 13, 2012
Not only does An Na’s A Step from Heaven tell an excellent story, but the manner in which she tells this story and the issues brought up within it make it a fantastic book.
The story describes the childhood of Young Ju, a South Korean girl who moves to America very early in her life. Young Ju’s growth is not only shown through her experiences in the story, but it is also shown in the writing style. As the story begins, the sentences are short and choppy. They are what one might expect from a four year old. As the story continues and Young Ju learns more English, the writing becomes clearer and more grammatically correct. This style is so fascinating because as the sentences increase in complexity so do the thoughts of Young Ju.
One of the main issues discussed in this book is the treatment of females in traditional Korean society. Young Ju’s father explicitly tells her that she is not as important to him as his son is, and that she will never be as important. These harsh words and the love he withholds from her cause Young Ju much pain. He was a terrible father in more ways than this one, but I do not think that he fully realized how hurt she was by his actions toward her. In my life, and the lives of adolescent readers of this book, we probably do not always understand how much hurt we can cause with our comments toward others. We may say something that we mean to be funny or sarcastic that the recipient of the statement is actually really hurt by. A Step from Heaven clearly articulates that the words we say to one another do matter.
Another aspect of this book that makes it excellent is the way that Young Ju overcomes the trials that she faces. She enters a country that speaks a different language, her father is abusive both physically and emotionally, her mother is distanced because she has to work so much to provide for the family, she partially raises her younger brother because her parents are gone so much, yet she overcomes all of these struggles and graduates high school with excellent grades and a plan to go to college. Young Ju has so many problems affecting her life, but instead of falling under the weight of them, she uses them to fuel her motivation to better herself. Any adolescent reader and even I can find encouragement in this story. We may never have to face as many struggles as she did, but the fact that she did face them and overcame them can motivate us to overcome our own personal struggles.
The story describes the childhood of Young Ju, a South Korean girl who moves to America very early in her life. Young Ju’s growth is not only shown through her experiences in the story, but it is also shown in the writing style. As the story begins, the sentences are short and choppy. They are what one might expect from a four year old. As the story continues and Young Ju learns more English, the writing becomes clearer and more grammatically correct. This style is so fascinating because as the sentences increase in complexity so do the thoughts of Young Ju.
One of the main issues discussed in this book is the treatment of females in traditional Korean society. Young Ju’s father explicitly tells her that she is not as important to him as his son is, and that she will never be as important. These harsh words and the love he withholds from her cause Young Ju much pain. He was a terrible father in more ways than this one, but I do not think that he fully realized how hurt she was by his actions toward her. In my life, and the lives of adolescent readers of this book, we probably do not always understand how much hurt we can cause with our comments toward others. We may say something that we mean to be funny or sarcastic that the recipient of the statement is actually really hurt by. A Step from Heaven clearly articulates that the words we say to one another do matter.
Another aspect of this book that makes it excellent is the way that Young Ju overcomes the trials that she faces. She enters a country that speaks a different language, her father is abusive both physically and emotionally, her mother is distanced because she has to work so much to provide for the family, she partially raises her younger brother because her parents are gone so much, yet she overcomes all of these struggles and graduates high school with excellent grades and a plan to go to college. Young Ju has so many problems affecting her life, but instead of falling under the weight of them, she uses them to fuel her motivation to better herself. Any adolescent reader and even I can find encouragement in this story. We may never have to face as many struggles as she did, but the fact that she did face them and overcame them can motivate us to overcome our own personal struggles.
September 23, 2024
huh, i think i've found truly ageless writing.
the thing is, i also think the primary sell of A Step from Heaven, it's emotionally poignant and jarring stream-of-consciousness style, can also be its downfall: depending on the reader you are, the potent, sometimes suffocating imagery of the grass and the clouds and the hair and the waves and every other symbolically charged object can be a little much. it can feel like every turn of every page is immediately followed by another attempt at crystallizing central themes here, another chunk of stylistically loaded and figuratively rich writing, which doesn't, as far as i know, appeal the most to everyone who's not an English teacher leading a dwindling Socratic seminar. the story can drag and feel aimless at times, and the underlying links connecting each vignette can fade into nonexistence before a new chapter makes a straying detail relevant again.
however, fear not, if your English teacher also assigns this to you.
there's still a lot to gain here, regardless of initial impressions, regardless of which type of reader you are. there's certainly a layer of the plot that can feel forceful and spoon-fed at times, but there's ample material to toil over and lengthy discussion to be had if you're willing to look further. if everything seems a little too neatly packaged at first, there's always the option of tearing everything apart a little (respectfully, of course)—a lot of nuance is hidden under wraps. good things will happen if you overthink a little, entertain the idea that style is a poetry and not a gimmick. (oof, i apologize as i see i have exceeded my pretentiousness quota for the day. )
or, if you just want a cathartic read and to jointly bash protag's dad, fine also.
the thing is, i also think the primary sell of A Step from Heaven, it's emotionally poignant and jarring stream-of-consciousness style, can also be its downfall: depending on the reader you are, the potent, sometimes suffocating imagery of the grass and the clouds and the hair and the waves and every other symbolically charged object can be a little much. it can feel like every turn of every page is immediately followed by another attempt at crystallizing central themes here, another chunk of stylistically loaded and figuratively rich writing, which doesn't, as far as i know, appeal the most to everyone who's not an English teacher leading a dwindling Socratic seminar. the story can drag and feel aimless at times, and the underlying links connecting each vignette can fade into nonexistence before a new chapter makes a straying detail relevant again.
however, fear not, if your English teacher also assigns this to you.
there's still a lot to gain here, regardless of initial impressions, regardless of which type of reader you are. there's certainly a layer of the plot that can feel forceful and spoon-fed at times, but there's ample material to toil over and lengthy discussion to be had if you're willing to look further. if everything seems a little too neatly packaged at first, there's always the option of tearing everything apart a little (respectfully, of course)—a lot of nuance is hidden under wraps. good things will happen if you overthink a little, entertain the idea that style is a poetry and not a gimmick. (oof, i apologize as i see i have exceeded my pretentiousness quota for the day. )
or, if you just want a cathartic read and to jointly bash protag's dad, fine also.
April 2, 2009
4Q 2P MJ
A Step From Heaven is about a Korean girl who moves to America with her parents at a young age. As a child of immigrants, Young Ju feels torn between loyalty toward her family and culture and the American way of life. Her parents work long hours in unpleasant jobs and struggle to instill traditional Korean culture into their children. The writing style is very poetic and the narrator’s descriptions are very emotional.
The book is similar to others that I read, such as American Born Chinese and and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian because it shares the common theme of feeling torn between cultures and never really fitting in anywhere. Likewise, in all of them, there are some very funny parts, but also sections that are really sad and make you feel helpless. Teens who like poetry and lots of description, and not necessarily lots of fast-paced action, would like this book. I would highly recommend listening to this book on CD because the narrator does an amazing job at capturing the characters and their feelings and I was drawn into the story quickly. The book covers a wide range of time, from when the narrator is a small child to right before she goes to college. The reader can watch her grow up and change, experiencing both great joy in small things, such as goldfish crackers and pet dogs, as well as the physical and emotional pain of domestic violence and poverty in a new country.
A Step From Heaven is about a Korean girl who moves to America with her parents at a young age. As a child of immigrants, Young Ju feels torn between loyalty toward her family and culture and the American way of life. Her parents work long hours in unpleasant jobs and struggle to instill traditional Korean culture into their children. The writing style is very poetic and the narrator’s descriptions are very emotional.
The book is similar to others that I read, such as American Born Chinese and and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian because it shares the common theme of feeling torn between cultures and never really fitting in anywhere. Likewise, in all of them, there are some very funny parts, but also sections that are really sad and make you feel helpless. Teens who like poetry and lots of description, and not necessarily lots of fast-paced action, would like this book. I would highly recommend listening to this book on CD because the narrator does an amazing job at capturing the characters and their feelings and I was drawn into the story quickly. The book covers a wide range of time, from when the narrator is a small child to right before she goes to college. The reader can watch her grow up and change, experiencing both great joy in small things, such as goldfish crackers and pet dogs, as well as the physical and emotional pain of domestic violence and poverty in a new country.
May 3, 2008
This is a book about a Korean girl in America and her family. It starts out with memories from Korea which end up having strong significance at the end of the story. The protagonist is the daughter of an alcoholic and abusive father. The book is very well written and believable. It is sad but also shows the strength of the characters. The mother encourages her daughter to dream because she says in America women can be anything. There are a lot of family dynamics present: frustration, embarrassment, shame, anger, sadness, guilt, duty etc. It is interesting and powerful to watch the struggle of this family. It is a very good book to use for understanding cultural differences and the difficulties of people coming here from other countries.
May 14, 2018
This was simultaneously beautiful and brutal, but stayed with me for a long time after I finished reading. It's a story of Young Ju as she and her family move from small Korean village to the USA. It's told from Young Ju's POV as she's growing up and I thought that An Na did an amazing job at portraying the world through a child's eyes. The story isn't very complicated but it's at the same time raw and poetic, very realisting and moving. I'm glad that I decided to pick it up and would recommend it to anyone.
February 11, 2016
A very quick but beautifully written book. Told from Young Ju, a Korean immigrant who traveled to California with her parents when she was 4 years old. There was so much heart put into the words that I couldn't just put it down. A story about wanting a better life for their family, struggling with changes and cultures, and working hard to keep on dreaming until it becomes more than a dream.
September 29, 2021
Drastic plot changes with little to no detail or set-up. The ending is somehow still heart-touching but would not reco.
September 21, 2023
Wow... What a book!
I have never read a book so realistic, yet depressing at the same time. This is the finish-in-a-sitting kind of book, and although you may not be pulled in at first, I promise you will.
This is the kind of book I go out of my way to avoid, and in some ways, this wasn’t my type of book, But what surprised me was how realistic this was; every detail, wording, character. This feels like a whole new genre, An Na’s own genre.
Sure, it was slow-paced at first. There’s some Korean words that might stump readers. You didn’t get why it had meanings until the end, but when you do, a sudden rage of backstories floods over you, with so much emotions combined. This book has so much Korean culture, and after you read this book, I guarantee you will learn a few Korean words, culture, and experience the life of a girl and her family through your own eyes.
It’s very magical how An Na writes the progress of age for Young Ju, and her brother. You seem to be growing with them, and do not realize they had been so young before.
This was the saddest book I have ever read in my life, and I think it “emotionally scarred” me! Don’t worry, I usually stay away from these types of books, but this holds so much wisdom, perspective, human nature, and the whole experience of growing up.
I can see why it is not as famous as some other books, but it definitely should be a lot more known. In other words, this is an underrated book, and you should definitely try this to experience things you will never do, and find yourself living a different life. :)
I have never read a book so realistic, yet depressing at the same time. This is the finish-in-a-sitting kind of book, and although you may not be pulled in at first, I promise you will.
This is the kind of book I go out of my way to avoid, and in some ways, this wasn’t my type of book, But what surprised me was how realistic this was; every detail, wording, character. This feels like a whole new genre, An Na’s own genre.
Sure, it was slow-paced at first. There’s some Korean words that might stump readers. You didn’t get why it had meanings until the end, but when you do, a sudden rage of backstories floods over you, with so much emotions combined. This book has so much Korean culture, and after you read this book, I guarantee you will learn a few Korean words, culture, and experience the life of a girl and her family through your own eyes.
It’s very magical how An Na writes the progress of age for Young Ju, and her brother. You seem to be growing with them, and do not realize they had been so young before.
This was the saddest book I have ever read in my life, and I think it “emotionally scarred” me! Don’t worry, I usually stay away from these types of books, but this holds so much wisdom, perspective, human nature, and the whole experience of growing up.
I can see why it is not as famous as some other books, but it definitely should be a lot more known. In other words, this is an underrated book, and you should definitely try this to experience things you will never do, and find yourself living a different life. :)
September 2, 2024
Chugging through the TIME list now—home stretch!
What A Step from Heaven does so effectively, at least to me, is distill so many emotional moments across one character's childhood and adolescence into powerful vignettes that resonate. This book is very short, and packs a powerful punch. Young Ju's narration begins when she is just four or so years old, learning that her family is moving to America (and I loved how the narration reflected the gaps in her knowledge and how she understood the world at four years old), and ends right on the eve of her going to college after a truly tumultuous time. I love how Jacqueline Woodson phrased it in the foreword: "Na's writing style in this novel—a series of taut, eloquent vignettes—broke ground for young writers who did not yet even know their alphabet but who one day would grow up to read, copy, and aspire toward."
My heart was breaking at the end for Young Ju and her family, but there was one moment near the end, where it is revealed who taught Young Ju to be brave and jump in the waves in the first chapter, that I will remember above all else.
What A Step from Heaven does so effectively, at least to me, is distill so many emotional moments across one character's childhood and adolescence into powerful vignettes that resonate. This book is very short, and packs a powerful punch. Young Ju's narration begins when she is just four or so years old, learning that her family is moving to America (and I loved how the narration reflected the gaps in her knowledge and how she understood the world at four years old), and ends right on the eve of her going to college after a truly tumultuous time. I love how Jacqueline Woodson phrased it in the foreword: "Na's writing style in this novel—a series of taut, eloquent vignettes—broke ground for young writers who did not yet even know their alphabet but who one day would grow up to read, copy, and aspire toward."
My heart was breaking at the end for Young Ju and her family, but there was one moment near the end, where it is revealed who taught Young Ju to be brave and jump in the waves in the first chapter, that I will remember above all else.
October 28, 2021
A Step from Heaven is about little Young Ju and her family, who migrated from Korea to America in hope for a better life. This book has quite a slow beginning for me at first, and then it became harder and harder for me to read later on. Not because the book was bad, it was good, so good that I feel so sad towards Young Ju and her mother.
Young Ju, her little brother Joon Ho and her mother lived in abusive hands of her father after they settled down in America. In some parts of the book, I silently pleaded their mother to just leave because the abuses seemed so unbearable, but she didn't, so she and Young Ju had to endure them even more. Young Ju was a strong person in my opinion. She endured the abuses for years and still standing strong beside her mother and she did what she did best; she studied hard. This book is quite hard on me, because no one deserves to be abused like Young Ju and her mother did. But it also opens my eyes that sometimes, somewhere, patriarchy still exists and women and children are still being abuse in every part of the world. So, what can I say is, A Step from Heaven gave quite an impact on me.
Young Ju, her little brother Joon Ho and her mother lived in abusive hands of her father after they settled down in America. In some parts of the book, I silently pleaded their mother to just leave because the abuses seemed so unbearable, but she didn't, so she and Young Ju had to endure them even more. Young Ju was a strong person in my opinion. She endured the abuses for years and still standing strong beside her mother and she did what she did best; she studied hard. This book is quite hard on me, because no one deserves to be abused like Young Ju and her mother did. But it also opens my eyes that sometimes, somewhere, patriarchy still exists and women and children are still being abuse in every part of the world. So, what can I say is, A Step from Heaven gave quite an impact on me.
September 19, 2019
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. It had such an impact, even with covering so many years in so few pages. Young Ju goes through so much in those few years before college... I can't imagine going through so much at such a young age. Even though many years are covered quickly, Na writes in such a way that you still feel an emotional connection to Young Ju. I really enjoyed this quick read.
September 10, 2023
3 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book has such a sweet ending and if a book makes me tear up a little, it’s always a good sign. Glad I’ve gained some insight from this story ❤️
This book has such a sweet ending and if a book makes me tear up a little, it’s always a good sign. Glad I’ve gained some insight from this story ❤️
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