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bibliobrandie's review against another edition
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
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.
pixiechick92's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
enemiestowriters's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
annagrace43's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
nitar8's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ashleyeila's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
staarcharmed's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
A sweet verse narrative that highlights life’s true treasures. In this story, Ms. Chang asks her students a simple question: What one object would you take with you if you were fleeing from a fire? Each student’s answer is a window into their personality and their values. Some of the objects are relatively simple, some profound. Some of the students find clever ways around the rules, while others share personal stories that reveal why their object is sacred to them.
The poems in the book are written with the syllabic structure of a sijo, a short Korean form of poetry (though Park explains at the end of the book that she sometimes takes liberties with the length). Since most kids probably aren’t familiar with this form of poetry, they’ll be learning something new. (Maybe they’ll even want to try it out themselves.) Plus, it will encourage them to think about important objects in their own lives, and what special meanings their possessions might hold.
A sweet verse narrative that highlights life’s true treasures. In this story, Ms. Chang asks her students a simple question: What one object would you take with you if you were fleeing from a fire? Each student’s answer is a window into their personality and their values. Some of the objects are relatively simple, some profound. Some of the students find clever ways around the rules, while others share personal stories that reveal why their object is sacred to them.
The poems in the book are written with the syllabic structure of a sijo, a short Korean form of poetry (though Park explains at the end of the book that she sometimes takes liberties with the length). Since most kids probably aren’t familiar with this form of poetry, they’ll be learning something new. (Maybe they’ll even want to try it out themselves.) Plus, it will encourage them to think about important objects in their own lives, and what special meanings their possessions might hold.