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The Firekeeper's Son
illustrated by Julie Downing
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (March 22, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618133372
ISBN-13: 978-0618133376
In Korea in the early 1800s, news from the countryside reached the king by means of signal fires. On one mountaintop after another, a fire was lit when all was well. If the king did not see a fire, that meant trouble, and he would send out his army.
Linda Sue Park's first picture book for Clarion is about Sang-hee, son of the village firekeeper. When his father is unable to light the fire one night, young Sang-hee must take his place. Sang-hee knows how important it is for the fire to be lit-but he wishes that he could see soldiers . . . just once.
Mountains, firelight and shadow, and Sunhee's struggle with a hard choice are rendered in radiant paintings, which tell their own story of a turning point in a child's life.
Publisher's Weekly, starred review:
Newbery Medalist Park (A Single Shard) brings an accomplished
novelist's sensibility to this suspenseful picture book set
in 19th-century Korea, fully developing her characters despite
the abbreviated format. Every night, Sang-hee's father climbs
the mountain in their seaside village and lights a fire, to
signal that no enemies have landed. Firekeepers on adjacent
mountains pass on the message, which eventually reaches the
king's palace. Sang-hee pines for a little excitement and
wishes that even one of the king's soldiers would ride out
("I could show him the beach. Where to catch the best
fish.... After that he might teach me a little about sword-fighting").
One evening, when his father is injured, Sang-hee takes over
his task. Tempted to draw the soldiers, and then almost unable
to carry out his mission because he drops a coal and another
burns out, Sang-hee kindles the fire at last, and takes pride
in being, as his father says, "part of the king's guard
just as the soldiers are." Assured, empathetic storytelling
involves readers in Sang-hee's inner conflict. Downing (Mozart,
Tonight) amplifies the tension with dramatically composed
watercolor-and-pastel illustrations. While Sang-hee debates
lighting the fire, his eyes nearly fill the spread, transfixed
on the coal he holds and reflecting its hot orange glow. Elsewhere,
sparks fly off the coal, metamorphosing into bright metal
points on the armor of the soldiers he imagines. The notion
of duty to others versus personal longing adds depth to an
already fascinating snippet of history. Ages 5-8. (Mar.) Copyright
2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus
Reviews
Drawing once again on her heritage, Newbery Medalist Park
tells a tale rooted in the history of Korea. Centuries ago-and
through the 19th century-the lighting of fires apprised the
king of the safety of his country. Darkness warned of trouble.
When Sang-hee's father is injured, Sang-hee must climb the
mountain with the brass pot of hot coals to start the fire
that signals all is well. The first night Sang-hee contemplates
whether or not he should light the fire-after all, if he does
not, the soldiers will come and he would like to see the soldiers
just once. In the end both Sang-hee and his father are proud
that Sang-hee has become a trustworthy fire-starter as his
father and grandfather were before him. Even in the darkness
the watercolor illustrations glow with vibrancy. The cover
illustration is especially striking: Sang-hee bright-eyed
at the orange-and-yellow fire flickering before him. A lovely
telling that will bring readers back to read or hear this
story one more time. (Picture book. 5-9)