A Step From Heaven by An Na

1. Bibliography
Na, An. A STEP FROM HEAVEN. New York, NY: Penguin. ISBN 0142500275.

2. Plot Summary
Young Ju Park is a Korean-born American girl who tells her life story from the time she leaves Korea at the age of four throughout her childhood and adolescence. The book takes the reader on a journey with Young Ju and her family as they face many challenges and struggles that seem to them constantly as a family.

3. Critical Analysis
Young Ju is a character that is easy for young readers to identify with especially if they themselves have had to migrate to America from another country. As the reader progresses throughout the book, he or she began to feel a kinship toward Young Ju and her family to the point where he or she may genuinely care for them as if they are real people.
     The plot of this book often involves obstacles to overcome. This is especially true when it comes to physical and verbal abuse, alcoholism, financial struggles, and social status. What Young Ju seems to represent in this story is strength, fortitude, and a questioning of norms. She does not simply accept her father's abuse toward her, her mother and brother just because it is traditional or commonplace. She challenges him at the risk of her own well-being at times. This particular aspect could also be counted as the underlying theme of the book.
     The style and language is consistent and distinct for each character. An Na is effective in illustrating the presence of the Korean culture in some of the words that are spoken by the main characters, yet she makes the language "American" enough for American readers to be able to understand and relate to.

4. Review Excerpts
Booklist-"This isn't a quick read . . . but the coming-of-age drama will grab teens and make them think of their own conflicts between home and outside."
School Library Journal-"A beautifully written, affecting work."

5. Connections
The following is a great activity for young readers to participate in after reading A Step from Heaven by An Na:

Young readers may get into small groups to discuss the complex questions raised by immigration. They may answer the following questions:


What would make an individual, family, or group of people leave their homeland and seek to    establish a new life in another country?
Imagine what immigration would feel like.
What kinds of problems might be encountered in the process?


Have the young readers consider language/communication, cultural and religious differences, and ethnic and racial intolerance as potential issues while answering these questions (activity courtesy of http://www.teachervision.fen.com/fiction/asian-americans/20010.html).

Other great books with related themes may include:

• Alexie, Sherman. THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN. ISBN 0316013692.
• Jaramillo, Ann. LA LINEA. ISBN 0312373546.
• Yang, Gene Luan. AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. ISBN 0312384483.