chapter_adventure's Reviews (801)

Orphaned at a young age and taken under the care of a homeless and crippled old man named Crane-man, Tree-ear spends his days stealing moments to admire the village potters at work. He dreams of making beautiful creations like theirs some day. The most celebrated and admired potter, Min, begrudgingly allows Tree-ear to work for him. Min is cold, callous, and insulting towards Tree-ear and the work is back breaking and difficult. No matter the struggle, Tree-ear will not give up and is determined to prove to himself, Min, and the other potters that he is capable of the task. He takes on the important job of transporting Min’s greatest creation to the king in the hopes of obtaining a royal commission for Min. Tree-ear’s journey is full of obstacles but the true lesson is in his fortitude and determination. Despite losing all of Min’s pottery, but one single shard, along the journey, Tree-ear continues on and humbly presents it to the king. A heartwarming tale of a young boys’ courage in the face of hardship, A Single Shard demonstrates that belief in yourself and continued perseverance are always worth the outcome. A perfect story for any youth with goals and dreams.

Unexpectedly orphaned Kit Tyler must now move from her beloved Caribbean home and go to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Free thinking and unaccustomed to the devote Puritan ways of the tight community, Kit struggles to find a place for herself. It doesn’t help that Goodwife Cruff, a member of the community and fellow passenger on the sea journey over, has already formed a negative opinion of Kit. Feeling alone, even amongst her own relatives, she retreats to a special place in the meadows. It is here that she meets and befriends Quaker woman, Hannah Tupper. Hannah is kind and caring and Kit cannot understand her outcast from the town or everyone’s insistence that she is a witch. When an illness strikes the town, a mob ascends on Hannah’s home. When it discovered that Kit has helped her escape, Kit is quickly accused of witchcraft. Kit must bravely face the mean spirited Goody Cruff and the rest of the town to prove her innocence. An invigorating and daring story about the power of prejudices and the strength of one girl willing to stand up for what’s right and true.