Reviews

The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park

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ash_among_the_stars's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

So much packed into such a small book it is definitely both astute and profound. ❤️

happylilkt's review against another edition

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3.0

"What would you save?"

So many questions like this in life... "If you had one day left to live..." "If you could have one last conversation..." "If you could take one book to a desert isle..."

There is never enough we can do to prepare. We never get enough time with those we love. We will all experience loss. Yet it's a thought exercise that might motivate us to back up our computers, record our parents' stories, and say "I love you," more.

Liked the sentiment, didn't love the delivery.

mdevlin923's review against another edition

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3.0

A teacher assigns her students a discussion prompt: "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." Each student ponders this question, and arrives the next day at school to reveal their decision.

A thought-provoking book, which could be used with families or classrooms (grades 3-5) as a discussion starter. I am glad that the author included a description of the poetry at the back of the book, since it was a new (and unrecognizable) form of poetry to me. My only criticism is that there was no real way to distinguish students from one another; and that might be confusing to younger readers.

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved this poetry/novel in verse that introduces readers to Sijo, A Korean verse form related to haiku. The narrator/teacher does this by posing a question to her middle school classroom: What is the one thing you'd save if there was a fire. I think this would be a good read aloud for 5th or 6th grade and then follow it with an activity where students get to answer that question for themselves through their own Sijo poem.

alicebme's review against another edition

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5.0

Dude. This book made me cry. It’s so good. I haven’t read many children’s books since I stopped teaching and my kid became a teenager, but this one was on a staff recommended shelf at the library and the title was intriguing. I would save my engagement ring. It has a tiny little diamond chip in a kind of cat’s eye shape bevel setting. I once lost it in the yard gardening and I was inconsolable. It was in the gardening glove.