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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
K-Gr. 2. Based on a 1976 incident from Choi's childhood, this story is set in the Punchon region of Korea, known for its magnificent peaches. Here, young Yangsook dreams of frolicking in a beautiful peach orchard, because even though the trees surround her, the fruit is too expensive for her family. Then one furiously stormy day, Yangsook and her grandmother are startled by thuds on the roof: the rain is carrying peaches down from the mountain orchards. Catching them in her umbrella, Yangsook eats to her heart's content. Then she starts worrying about the farmers who are losing their crops. The story is apparently true up to this point, but the author's note doesn't state whether Yangsook and her friends really gathered peaches and returned them to the farmers, even using yarn to hang some back on the trees. The colored-pencil artwork, single- and double-page spreads, has an appealing simplicity, though the figures are somewhat stiff. Unusual perspectives and close-ups add interest to the pictures, which use lots of greens and browns. For larger libraries, or those serving Korean communities. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"The colored-pencil artwork, full-and double-page spread, has an appealing simplicity." -- Booklist
"Yangook's vision of peace and harmony mirrors Choi's personal experiences, and her thoughtful main character embodies the same pensive tone found in the soft brownish-greenish peachy palate, making the whole experience one tasty bite."
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Deftly told and gracefully illustrated, Choi's vibrant and appealing childhood recollection is a memorable tale of a young person making a difference." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"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." -- School Library Journal
"Choi's vivid recollection of one extraordinary day takes on the timeless feel of a classic tale." -- Publishers Weekly
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.
