Peach Heaven - Hardcover

Choi, Yangsook

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374357617 ISBN 13: 9780374357610

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2005

Synopsis

Based on the author's childhood in South Korea

The white peaches grown in Puchon are the best in all South Korea, and a rare treat for a little girl who lives in the town. She dreams of a peach orchard where she can play and eat as much of the delicious fruit as she wishes. Then one day, after weeks of heavy downpours, the sky begins to rain peaches. Yangsook finds herself in peach heaven - until she remembers the farmers who have lost their harvest, and decides she must help them.

Paintings with scenes that evoke traditional South Korean landscapes accompany this lovingly told story from the author's childhood.

About this title

About the Author:

Yangsook Choi grew up in South Korea and has written and/or illustrated many notable books for children, including Nim and the War Effort by Milly Lee, an ALA Notable Book. She lives in New York City.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Based on an incident from the author's childhood, this story is set in Puchon, South Korea, in the summer of 1976. Although the mountain behind Yangsook's house is covered with peach orchards, the girl never gets to eat the fruit as it is so expensive. Then, during a heavy rainstorm, peaches begin to fall from the sky (apparently carried down the slope by the water) and the youngster and her family feast on the delicious, ripe fruit. That evening, she begins to think about the farmers who must be worried about the loss of their crop. The next day, she and her friends gather up all of the fallen peaches, load them into a cart, and carry them back up the mountain. The colorful illustrations clearly evoke the tale's setting and the emotions of the characters. Told from Yangsook's point of view, the narrative is sweet and direct. Choi prefaces the event by expressing the girl's longing for the peaches and, later, shows how the apparent answer to her prayers becomes an awakening of conscience and a concern for the plight of the farmers. Unfortunately, the storytelling is less extraordinary than the subject matter. Still, this is a good snapshot of a different time and place.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
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About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0374357617
• ISBN 13: 9780374357610
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32