The One Thing You'd Save

In a classroom, teacher Ms. Chang poses a premise: "Imagine that your home is on fire. You're allowed to save one thing./ Your family and pets are safe, so don't worry about them./ Your Most Important Thing. Any size." The students respond--some share, others contemplate privately--traversing a wide terrain, including the practical ("MY DAD'S WALLET. DUH") and deeply personal remembrances. One child reflects silently about their "total dump" of a home ("Be glad to see it burn down"), while another secretly recalls escaping an actual burning building: "The only thing you worry about saving is your own sorry skin." Readers may not realize that the volume is a collection of poems until they read Park's closing note, which explains her inspiration: traditional Korean sijo verse, which consists of three lines of 13 to 17 syllables and is sometimes broken into six shorter lines. This relatively flexible structure creates a rhythmic variety of declarations, reflections, interjections, and occasional dialogue employed throughout, complemented by Sae-Heng's gray-toned, sketchlike illustrations. While each child's voice isn't entirely distinct, the class's camaraderie and caring spirit comes through clearly, poised to inspire thoughtful classroom discussion. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"[Park's] message is powerful: We don't need a great blazing tragedy to determine what we hold most precious in our lives; we can define what's vital through our thoughts and memories, always at hand, in our heads and hearts — safe, where the flames don't reach."—New York Times Book Review

"Park's verses provide a wonderfully nuanced portrayal of the preoccupations, loves, losses and aspirations of a diverse group of children and their teacher.... It's impossible not to feel a sense of renewal from this thoughtful book."—BookPage

★ "Newbery Medalist Park presents a provocative collection of narrative poems inspired by sijo, a 14th-century Korean syllabic verse form.... Coupled with debut illustrator Sae-Heng's accessible grayscale sketches of the objects, often in situ, Park's subjects' mementos offer middle-grade readers much food for thought regarding what one values and how others can touch one's life.... Park's extended rumination has the power to bring us home."—Kirkus, STARRED review

★ "This is an ode to learning with a savvy and caring educator who knows how to build community and empathy by having students share their stories and who joins in their exercises (and is even convinced to change her mind)."—The Horn Book, STARRED review

★ "The class's camaraderie and caring spirit comes through clearly, poised to inspire thoughtful classroom discussion."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

★ "This is a combination of piquant premise and accessible, engaging text... that will invite both reluctant and enthusiastic literati to reconsider their possessions. It also cries out to be a classroom read or even readaloud."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED review