BIBLOGRAPHY
Park, Linda Sue and Tseng, Jean and Tseng, Mou-sien. 1999. SEESAW GIRL. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-395-91514-7
PLOT SUMMARY
Jade Blossom is a very spirited young girl in Korea in a time where well off women were not allowed outside the home. She longed to go on trips with her father, a counselor to the king, and her brother, Tiger Heart, to see beyond the walls of her home. Jade Blossom likes to create mischief within the household but her world is turned upside down when her Aunt, Willow, is married and moves out of the family home to live with her husband’s family. Jade Blossom even escapes the confines of her home to try and visit Willow who refuses to see her. Jade Blossom experiences many things on this adventure beyond the walls and is fueled by her desires to know more of the outside world.
There is an Author’s note at the end as well as a bibliography of references regarding the prisoner’s mentioned in story.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story takes place in past before motorized transportation. There are very few illustrations in the book which are in grayscale. They show the people with a different eye shape and black hair. The women mostly have their hair high up on their heads. The females are wearing a kimono style clothing. The men have pants with a tunic style shirt. The housing is shown with rice paper doors, shoes being left outside, screens, and low furniture. The culture represented is Korean. Jade Blossom learns how to do embroidery on silk and longs to have educational lessons like her brother. She does not seem to like the rules imposed on her simply for being a girl. Jade Blossom also has difficulty accepting without questioning.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Park, Linda Sue and Tseng, Jean and Tseng, Mou-sien. 1999. SEESAW GIRL. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-395-91514-7
PLOT SUMMARY
Jade Blossom is a very spirited young girl in Korea in a time where well off women were not allowed outside the home. She longed to go on trips with her father, a counselor to the king, and her brother, Tiger Heart, to see beyond the walls of her home. Jade Blossom likes to create mischief within the household but her world is turned upside down when her Aunt, Willow, is married and moves out of the family home to live with her husband’s family. Jade Blossom even escapes the confines of her home to try and visit Willow who refuses to see her. Jade Blossom experiences many things on this adventure beyond the walls and is fueled by her desires to know more of the outside world.
There is an Author’s note at the end as well as a bibliography of references regarding the prisoner’s mentioned in story.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story takes place in past before motorized transportation. There are very few illustrations in the book which are in grayscale. They show the people with a different eye shape and black hair. The women mostly have their hair high up on their heads. The females are wearing a kimono style clothing. The men have pants with a tunic style shirt. The housing is shown with rice paper doors, shoes being left outside, screens, and low furniture. The culture represented is Korean. Jade Blossom learns how to do embroidery on silk and longs to have educational lessons like her brother. She does not seem to like the rules imposed on her simply for being a girl. Jade Blossom also has difficulty accepting without questioning.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal Best Books, 2001
ALA Booklist Editors' Choice, 2001
New York Public Library, "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing", 2001
Parents' Choice Memorable New Title, Fall 2001
(accessed from http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/seesawgirl/seesawrev.html)
Children’s Literature – “In this historical look at Korea, readers are taken to the third century of the Choson Period (1300-1880), when upper class females were not allowed to leave the inner court of their family compound. Young Jade Blossom feels so confined by this and other confining traditions that she plays pranks on the boys, escapes to the outside world for a brief time, and even dabbles in the male art of painting.”
School Library Journal – “Her mother recognizes Jade's longings and shows her that it is possible to be content with her life. Like Jade's stand-up seesaw, Park's novel offers readers a brief but enticing glimpse at another time.”
Kirkus Reviews-“Park's afterword tells of a Dutch ship that ran aground in Korea near the time of the story, and what happened to the prisoners Jade's father defended. The evocative descriptions and Jade's intensity in creating new ways to learn will capture and hold readers.”
CONNECTIONS
The book could be used as a way to show how the Korean culture has changed throughout the years. It can also be used to compare and contrast how women were and are viewed in various cultures in the world.
Kristof, Nicholas D. and WuDunn, Sheryl. HALF THE SKY: TURNING OPPRESSION INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE. ISBN: 9780307387097
Thomsen, Natasha. WOMEN’S RIGHTS. ISBN: 9780816068098
Alter, Judy. WOMEN’S RIGHTS.ISBN: 9781602791336
Book cover image from Barnes & Noble.
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