Which Linda Sue Park novel won the 2002 Newbery Medal?

A Single Shard won the 2002 Newbery Medal. Linda Sue Park’s historical novel follows Tree-ear, an orphan in 12th-century Korea who dreams of becoming a potter and studies the work of the master craftsman Min.

The story is rooted in Korea’s celebrated celadon tradition, especially the sophisticated green-glazed pottery associated with the Goryeo period. Tree-ear’s journey involves apprenticeship, craftsmanship, perseverance, and the difficult journey of carrying Min’s work to a royal commission.

The title refers to a fragment that survives after a pot is broken, symbolizing both loss and the possibility of rebuilding. Park’s other novels can cause confusion: Seesaw Girl was her first novel, The Kite Fighters explores kite contests, and Project Mulberry centers on silkworms. None of those books won the Newbery; A Single Shard did.