Jade never ventures beyond the walls of her family's Inner Court; in seventeenth-century Korea, a girl of good family does not leave home until she marries. She is enthralled by her older brother's stories about trips to the market and to the ancestral grave sites in the mountains, about reading and painting, about his conversations with their father about business and politics and adventures only boys can have. Jade accepts her destiny, and yet she is endlessly curious about what lies beyond the walls. A lively story with a vividly realized historical setting, "Seesaw Girl" recounts Jade Blossom's daring attempts to enlarge her world.
Review
In seventeenth-century Korea, a 12-year-old girl becomes aware of the
complexities of class and gender differences in this historically enlightening
story. Being of good family, Jade Blossom is forbidden to leave home until she
marries. But curiosity leads Jade to secretly leave the Inner Court, a brief but
eye-opening adventure that reveals heart-wrenching poverty, unexpected beauty,
and the knowledge that her home's high walls offer both shelter and
imprisonment. However, Jade discovers that creativity and imagination are
powerful tools that can provide comfort and internal freedom. In descriptive,
engaging prose, the story portrays the culture, traditions, and daily lives of
the Korean aristocracy in a time of political and cultural change. Park
sympathetically conveys the challenges and joys of becoming an adult, and offers
perspective on the many meanings of "privileged." The lovely, delicate
illustrations detail traditional clothing, architecture, and decorative arts for
visualization and context. An author's note briefly explains Korean history and
the lives of aristocratic women in the 1600s. Bibliography.
Booklist,
ALA
"The evocative descriptions and Jade's intensity in creating new ways
to learn will capture and hold readers." Kirkus Reviews
"Park's novel
offers readers a brief but enticing glimpose at another time and place." School
Library Journal
"A wonderful and exciting book." Children's Book Review
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