A Step From Heaven

By An Na

ISBN: 9781886910584

Bibliography:

Na, An. 2001. A Step from Heaven. Asheville, NC: Front Street.

Plot:

Young Ju and her Korean family immigrate to the United States with hopes and dreams of having better lives but experience many problems while adjusting to life in America.

Analysis:

This story is told from the perspective of Young Ju from the age of four until she prepares to leave for college. It begins in Korea where four-year old Young Ju learns that her family will soon be moving to the United States. Adjusting to life in the United States is a major theme in this story. Ironically, four-year old Young Ju confuses Mi Gook (the United States) with heaven and thinks she will find her late grandfather there. America ends up being anything but heaven as the family deals with surviving the harsh realities of trying to fit into a new world where the customs, traditions, and language are completely different from their homeland.Young Ju and her brother search for their own identities while dealing with an abusive, alcoholic father.

Cultural markers in this story include the language, struggles of assimilating into a new culture, names of the characters, and forms of address. Na gives us a glimpse of the difficulties of learning a new language in many situations throughout the text. Young Ju and her parents must depend on their children to help them interpret English, which is a common trend for immigrants. In the following quote Young Ju meets her aunt's American husband for the first time, and we observe Young Ju's first experience with making sense of English, "His hair is wavy brown seaweed. He says to call him Uhing Kel Thim (Uncle Tim). That is Mi Gook (American) talk for Sahmchun (uncle), but my mouth does not want to make those words. He says it is fine to call him Sahmchun until my mouth is ready to learn."

This novel speaks to the difficulties that many immigrants face when they come to America in search of a better way of life. Many sacrifices are made by parents so that their children will have better opportunities to experience success. This particular family was torn apart by the stresses associated with such sacrifice. In the following quote this sacrifice is described: "Uhmma said her hands were her life. But for us, she only wished to see our hands holding books. You must use this, she said and pointed to her mind. Uhmma's hands worked hard to make sure our hands would not resemble hers."

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal: “The loosely structured plot is a series of vignettes that touch upon the difficulties immigrants face: adjusting to strange customs, learning a new language, dealing with government bureaucracy, adults working two jobs each, and children embarrassed by their parents' behavior. Woven throughout is the underlying theme of dealing with an alcoholic and abusive father. Na has effectively evoked the horror and small joys of the girl's home life while creating sympathetic portraits of all of the members of the family. A beautifully written, affecting work.”

Horn Book: "From childhood through adolescence, Young Ju's voice is convincingly articulated. Throughout the novel, images of reaching and dreaming poignantly convey the young narrator's desire to survive her father's brutality and its devastating effect on her family. Mother and daughter exhibit a quiet strength; similarly, each of these vignettes by first-time author An Na displays an astonishing and memorable force."

Connections:

*An Na's Website:

http://www.anwriting.com/

*Other Works by An Na:

The Fold ISBN: 9780399242762

Wait for Me ISBN: 9780142409183