Title: A Step From Heaven   

Author: An Na

Genre:  Fiction

Publisher: Publishers Group West

Place of Publication: United States

Copyright: 2001

Number of Pages: 156 

Star Rating: ***** 

 

Summary:

            A Step from Heaven is a novel about a young girl named Young Ju. While going up and up to the sky, Young Ju thought she was going to heaven. This novel describes her life in the United State after their immigration from Korea.  Young Ju and her family had a lot of difficulties with learning the new language, English. Coming to the new country made her family struggle with some problems, while Young Ju grows from a child to an adult. 

 

Review:

            A Step from Heaven is the first novel that An Na wrote in 2001 about the challenges after immigration to a new country. The main character, whose name is Young  Ju describes her family’s bittersweet experience in the United States after their immigration from Korea. Young Ju thought that she was moving to heaven but after flying  up to the sky.  She finds out that they are actually moving to a regular earthly place called America. For the first years in the U.S., Young Ju lived with her mom and dad and her little brother Joon. 

            Even with all the problems they had, young Ju grows from a kid to an adult. When her grandma died, they were living in the U.S.  Young Ju’s dad got really upset that he couldn't see his mom for the last moment of her life. After his mom’s death, his attitude changed negatively towards life. 

            Young Ju is a young brave girl. Young Ju must struggle to become the "Mi Gook girl" her mother wants for a daughter, which means losing some of her American identity. She tries her best to learn the new language and find new friends, but her dad wouldn't let her hang around American girls. Her dad would get drunk and drive. He would hit his wife and his children. Young Ju stopped his actions by calling the police. Her mom worked manyhours to get enough money to feed her kids. Moving to America as Young Jo thought at first, heaven didn't make their life easier, it even separated the family .   

            Be aware that if you see someone who is different then others, who can’t speak English  well , who has difficulties understanding what you are saying but still looks nice , that person might be Young Ju when she just had moved to U.S . Well, if you enjoy a kind of a novel which starts with a happy beginning and ends with a sad ending you might want to read this book.  This book feels real. You might have been experiencing all the pains that the family went trough. This book might look painful to you but it is beautiful too. A Step from Heaven is such a remarkable and memorable book.

 

Reviewer:  Neda D

House:      Androscoggin

Teacher:   Ms.Deschambeault

Date:       January 3, 2005