A Step from Heaven

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, and YA – Realistic Fiction

Na, An. A Step From Heaven. New York: Penguin, 2001. Read by Jina Oh. Audiobook. Random House Audio, 2002.

Young Ju Park is a little Korean girl on her way to America.  Just stepping on the plane, she thinks she is going to heaven.  When Young Ju and her family arrive in America, she begins to discover that it isn’t quite as “heavenly” as she originally thought.  She struggles to learn English and find her way, even with her disapproving father impeding her along the way. 

This is the story of Korean emigrants in America.  You see the daily struggle they go through just trying to survive.  Young Ju grows up in America with a father who beats her and a brother who can do no wrong.  Parts of the Korean culture can be seen through the reading by the proud actions of the family and trying to keep some tradition from Korea with them.  Young Ju is not allowed to speak English at home and when she makes friends, her father tells her to stop seeing them because they are a bad influence.  As the father becomes an alcoholic, Young Ju struggles with how he treats the family.  Jina Oh’s reading really brings out the emotions and feelings of Young Ju. 

Notable Reviews and Awards:

“As in the best writing, the particulars make the story, a first novel, universal.” – Booklist

“This beautifully written book, a tale of both tragedy and eventual triumph, is likely to bring tears to the eyes of any reader. Its author must be considered an important new voice in Asian American literature.” – VOYA

“A beautifully written, affecting work.” – School Library Journal

“An Na displays an astonishing and memorable force.” – The Horn Book

“A Step from Heaven is endowed with a haunting grace by the exquisite voice of a young new writer.” – The New York Times Book Review

Winner of the 2002 Michael L. Printz Award

A 2001 National Book Award Finalist

An ALA Notable Book

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

An IRA Young Adult Choice Book

A Horn Book Fanfare Book

A New York Times Best Book of the Year

A Publisher’s Weekly best Book of the Year

2001 Kiriyama Prize Notable Book Shortlist

A Publisher’s Weekly Best-Seller

Many types of classroom discussions can come from reading this novel.  The chapters are not given numbers but names related to the topic in the chapter.  Discussions on the narrative point of view of Young Ju as a child versus Young Ju as a young adult can be compared.  Family situations can also be discussed as they arise within the context of the story.

Other notable Asian American authors include Gish Jen, Jhumpa Lahiri, Ha Jin, Amy Tan, and Gus Lee.