A Step from Heaven

A Step from Heaven, by An Na, traces Young Ju’s emigration from Korea to the United States. In her new world, Young Ju struggles with learning English, adapting to the American culture, and melding her native culture with the culture in which she is now submerged. What is most interesting about this novel is the style in which it is written. The story

begins with four-year old Young Ju and ends with an adult Young Ju reflecting on her experiences during her life. Na adapts the Young Ju’s narration to correspond to her age. As the chapters progress, the language becomes more and more sophisticated to match Young Ju’s growth. This book also uses authentic language relevant to the Korean culture, such as the traditional names for grandmother and father throughout the book.

Na’s book would be a good choice to use in a classroom because there are many different directions a teacher could take the novel. For example, this book would be a great example of a text that uses style and language to show how Young Ju changes throughout her life. While Na uses an interesting writing style, the book does not adhere to traditional grammar rules, like using quotations marks to indicate dialogue. This is not necessarily a deterrent to using the book in a classroom, but it is something to keep in mind if this book were used as a model. This book would also be an interesting choice to use if a teacher wanted to focus on themes such as assimilation, Americanism, and clash between cultures. Since the story spans many years in Young Ju’s life, there are many instances where she is challenged because of her culture. This book is an eye-opening account into the life of a young girl’s journey to adapting to new culture.