A Single Shard (2002)

Tree-ear, an orphan, and Crane-Man, a disabled man, live under a bridge in Ch'ulp'o, a potter's village famed for delicate celadon ware. Tree-ear is fascinated with the potter's craft and especially enjoys watching old potter Min at work, because only Min possesses enough confidence to work openly. Tree-ear dreams of making a pot of his own someday. Tree-ear is delighted when Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper. Even with the backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min's irascible temper, and his own ignorance, Tree-ear comes back each day to learn all he can. Determined to prove himself, Tree-ear offers to take a sample of Min's work to Songdo, a long, solitary journey on foot, in the hope of obtaining a royal commission, even if it means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon shard.

Winner of the 2002 Newbery Medal