In this Newbery Medal-winning book set in 12th century Korea, Tree-ear, a 13-yea
r-old orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch'ulp'o, a potters' village famed for del
icate celadon ware. He has become fascinated with the potter's craft; he wants n
othing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a p
ot of his own someday. When Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper, Tree-ear is ela
ted -- until he finds obstacles in his path: the backbreaking labor of digging a
nd hauling clay, Min's irascible temper, and his own ignorance. But Tree-ear is
determined to prove himself -- even if it means taking a long, solitary journey
on foot to present Min's work in the hope of a royal commission . . . even if it
means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon sha
rd.
