Children’s Literature Evaluation Form

Your Name: Alexa Tribuli

Book Title: The Firekeeper’s Son
Author: Linda Park
Genre: Historical Fiction
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Publisher/Year: HMH Books / 2009
Evaluate the Book for the following elements
Style and Language: Using examples for the book, explain the following: Word
choices, dialogue, rhythm, rhyme and sentence length. Share unexpected insights or
interesting information the reader learns from this story. (5 points)

Word Choices:
The word choice for this book is very natural, there are not many large words to
extend on a child’s vocabulary but there are still new words. Some words are coal,
gleaming, and fiercely.

Dialogue:
The characters speak to each other occasionally. At the end of the story, we hear a lot
of dialogue between Sang-Hee and his father as they walk back home after Sang-Hee
lit the fire. Here is where Sang-Hee’s father says, ““Do not forget my son, that we are
part of the king’s guard just as the soldiers are. We are the very first part.” Sang-
Hee’s father smiled. “The village will be please to hear that another trustworthy
firekeeper has been born to our family.””

Rhythm:
The books rhythm is very calm and slow paced.

Rhyme:
There is no rhyming in this book.

Sentence Length:
When the characters speak to each other the sentences are rather short most of the
time. When the author is speaking the sentence lengths vary between long and short.
For example, on page five that author wrote: “Every evening at sunset Sang-Hee’s
father would climb to the top of the mountain carrying a pair of tongs and a little
brass pot filled with live coals. Coals to start a fire.”

Character: With examples from the book, provide the following- (5 points)

Main Character:
Sang-Hee

How does reader relate to main character?

The main character debates on if he should light the fire or let the military comes, he
also is continuing his family legacy.

Supporting Character:
Sang-Hee’s father
Sang-Hee’s Mother

Plot: Summarize the major events of the story (6 points)

-Sang-Hee’s father tells the history of the bonfires, and how he and his father before
him have lit them every night. They were in a time of peace.
-Sang-Hee noticed one night that his father was late to light the fire.
-Sang-Hee’s mother sends him to go after his father to find out what is wrong.
-Sang-Hee runs up the mountain and find his father sitting, his father’s ankle was
hurt.
-Sang-Hee’s father sends him to light the fire. He runs up the mountain.
-At the top of the mountain Sang-Hee debates if he should light the fire or let the
military come (he has always wanted to see the soldiers).
-Sang-Hee finally lights the fire with the final coal he had.
-Sang-Hee sees the soldiers in the fire.
-Sang-Hee makes a pile of brush for the next night and then heads down the
mountain.
-When Sang-Hee gets down the mountain he finds his father waiting for him. His
father knew that Sang-Hee wished for the soldiers to come and was proud of his
choice to still light the fire.
-Sang-Hee lit the fire while his father’s ankle healed.

Setting: Explain the place and time of this book. (2 points)

Theme: What is the main message of this book? (2 points)

Setting:
Seaside village in Korea during the early 1800’s

Theme:
Responsibility and Family Legacy

Illustration: Analyze the book you selected with the following categories
Style:
Realism: The book’s illustrations are very life-like depictions of humans and the
world. Everything is proportional.

Media Choice:
Watercolor and pastels

Give examples of describe how the following visual elements are used in the
illustrations: (3)

Line:
The lines are thin, making the scenery and the characters flow very easily and giving
the sense of naturalness in the illustrations.

Shapes:
The shapes are less pronounced making the illustrations very natural and easy
flowing. The village in the book is very small and based in the early 1800’s, so the
simplicity in the illustrations is good for convey the old times.

Color:
The color hues are very warm, with lots of orange and red shades being used and
some blue. The lightness and the brightness in the illustrations are both rather bright
for the majority of the book. The only illustration that the brightness is very dim is on
the final page where Sang-Hee is said to light the fire every night while his father’s
ankle heals.

Texture:
The texture in the illustrations is subtle but effective. An example of this is on page
two where Sang-Hee’s father is carrying straw on his back. The reader can easily see
the texture difference with the straw and the reader can almost feel the soft yet
sturdiness of the straw.

Page design (placement of the illustrations, use of borders, white and dark space and
all pages the same or different). (3)

All of the pages are completely covered in illustrations, there is no white space or
boarders around the edges.

Child Development Theory: Choose either Piaget, Erickson or Social Emotional to

describe the connection to the book Chose 1 only (5 points)

Erickson:

Stage Name: Initiative VS. Guilt

Age Range: 3 to 5

Explain the cognitive development from this stage and provide an example from the
book to support your choice:
In this stage children are beginning to assert themselves as individuals. When a
child succeeds at gaining initiative, they will feel capable and equip to lead those
around them. Children need to find a sense of purpose, otherwise they will end up
with guilt rather then initiative. The story above is a perfect example of a story where
a child gets the choice to become a leader and take the initiative to follow through
with his duties. If Sang-Hee did not light the fire his father would have been
disappointed in him being selfish and choosing himself over the truth. This would have
led Sang-Hee to have a sense of guilt. It is good that Sang-Hee lit the fire and followed
through with his duty because he gained initiative.

RATING:
Your rating of the book: 3

Why?
I had never heard of this story before reading it for this evaluation. I found it
extremely educational and interesting. I loved the theme of family legacy and for
Sang-Hee to follow through with his duty. I think this book can be very inspiring for
students and get their mind thinking the same way that it got my mind thinking. I also
loved the extra author’s note in the back of the book that gave a small background
about the real history of the bonfires in Korea.