The Firekeeper's Son

The Firekeeper’s Son

Author Linda Sue Park

Illustrator Julie Downing

Publisher: Clarion Books

Copyright 2004

39 Pages

Fiction/ Multicultural

        This book was talked about in our EED 312 during a book talk and I was so interested in the book and how it might end that I wanted to read the book for myself. In The Firekeeper’s Son, Sang- hee lives in Korea and his father is responsible for lighting the first fire every night to allow the king to know that everything is at peace in the land. Sang-hee wishes just once he could see the soldiers that would come to the rescue if the fire was not lit. One afternoon, Sang-hee notices that his father has not lit the fire yet to show the other villages that all is well so he goes in search of his father. Sang-hee finds his father and realizes that his ankle his hurt so it is left to Sang-hee to light the fire. So Sang-hee climbs the mountain and all the while he is thinking that he would like to see the soldiers just once. However, Sang-hee overcomes his own wants and lights the fire for the other villages and the king to see that there is peace in the land and that he is trustworthy enough to light the fire.

        Julie Downing completed these illustrations using watercolor and pastel. The illustrations have light hues and are very detailed. The grass on the huts and other small details stand out to the reader. Downing also used many shades of blue and green throughout the book. The text placement is formal and there is no negative space throughout the illustrations. The illustrator filled every page with details from the text to allow the story to come alive to the reader.

        Children of most any age will enjoy reading this book because most all children can relate to Sang-hee wanting to see the soldiers. Teachers can use this book in their classroom to teacher character education and knowing how to be reliable. Also teachers could use this book as an introduction to the Korean culture and history.