Review Summaries

• Readers praise the novel’s painful depiction of cultural dislocation and family breakdown. Its quiet prose still carries strong coming-of-age force.

Reviews

• I read this book as part of the requirement for a graduate class, and I was engaged from the very first page. A Step From Heaven is the story of a Korean family, told from the point of view of the female protagonist Young Ju, who at the age of four emigrates with her family from a tiny fishing village in Korea to Mi Gook, i.e. the United States. As a young child, Young Ju thinks Mi Gook is heaven, based on all the praises heaped upon it by her relatives. However, Young Ju and her family quickly come to realize that life in the United States is not easy as both of Young Ju's parents are forced to take on menial jobs in order to support the family. The main characters are credibly portrayed. Young Ju is portrayed as an intelligent and sensitive young woman who goes against the cultural stereotype of a submissive Asian girl. She is vocal when she feels that she has been misunderstood or unfairly treated, especially with regards to her father. Apa, the father character in this story is portrayed in a negative light, yet does not come across as a caricature. As the story progresses, the reader becomes aware that there are extenuating circumstances which have caused Apa to turn to alcohol as a means of drowning his frustrations and sorrow. I did feel that Uhmma was rather weak-willed, and for most of the story, appeared to embody the cultural stereotype of the weak-willed and subjugated Asian wife. For many years, Uhmma suffers physical and emotional abuse, and watches as her children get beaten by their father, and it was hard to sympathize with this character until she sort of redeems herself towards the end. Though the story has lots of Korean cultural references, these references enhance the storytelling and do not overwhelm the story. The author's writing style is quite simple, with easy, unadorned language that conveys the main characters' experiences. Korean words and expressions are woven into the story in a manner that is not jarring, and do not detract from the reader's engagement with the story. Due to the difficult life led by the characters, the mood is bleak for the most part, though this is offset by the brilliant portrayal of Young Ju, who is kind, gentle and ever hopeful of a better life. It is this sense of hope that shines through at the end.

• Tutto ok

• Its a very different book, simple but touching, lovely mix of korean and american language and culture.. and yes a fast paced book.

• I first read this novel when I was 12, and it has always stuck with me since. An Na weaves a tale about Korean immigrants in America, dealing with issues on identity, domestic violence and the American Dream. The story is about a girl named Yung Ju, who emigrated to the USA when she was a child with her parents, leaving behind her childhood home in Korea. Her family take on many jobs to support themselves, and introduce another baby. The cracks begin to show when Yung Ju battles sexism from her own father and the constant juggling of two cultures. A Step From Heaven is perfect. It’s a story that many including myself can relate too and one that is incredibly underrated. I recommend anyone and everyone to read this.

• This book was really lovely, it told an incredibly touching story yet somehow still managed to be an easy read. I did cry at the end, it is quite an emotional rollercoaster. It is the story of a young girl who comes from Korea to America with her family in search of better opportunities. She then faces many struggles, such as language barriers, and has to contend with her abusive father. I have knocked off only one star as I was slightly distracted by a mistake in the Korean - I am not fluent but it seemed like her younger brother was calling her 언니, when I think it should have been 누나. So when he was saying uh-nee it should have been noona? This small mistake took away from the authenticity to me.

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