Book Three

A Step from Heaven, by An Na

A Step from Heaven, by An Na is an excellent book that is hard to put down and will indeed bring tears to your eyes. This is a coming-of-age novel as well as a coming-into-the-country novel. This is a story about an Asian immigrant, Young Ju, who comes to America only to find herself entering into a life long game of tug-of-war between two distinct cultures. The story is also about Young Ju growing up in the shadow of an abusive father, and of how she gains the courage to choose freedom for herself and her family. A Step from Heaven, allows readers to step outside themselves for a moment and walk in the shoes of an outsider. Readers gain the opportunity to experience a story of a culture, and of an abused child, both voices that are often overlooked in today’s society. An Na writes with lyrical inventiveness that as the ability to bring forth so much emotion, and to really help the reader experience the pain, sorrow and joy of Young Ju. An Na uses short, powerful strokes of language to propel us great distances – from foreign to familiar, from happiness to a domestic nightmare- all which allows readers to look at situations with new eyes. Na laces Young Ju’s tale with Korean words, their meaning evident from the context, making the experience feel all the more real for the reader. Readers are able to see the transformation of a young, scared child to a strong, admirable young woman with a future full of hope. Anyone who has lived in America all their life and never felt like an outsider, as well as those who have moved to here from another country and had to struggle fitting into American culture, will be able to connect to Young Ju's struggles and eventual triumph. The voice of this story is one that is not often seen in children’s literature. This book successful makes the voice Young Ju’s heard which in turn makes the voice of those who can relate can finally be heard as well.

Na, An. A Step from Heaven. United States: Front Street, 2000. Print.