The Blob

Reread the vignettes "Not Forever" and "The Blob".  Compare and contrast the Apa you see in these two vignettes.

Strong as a Man

When Joon Ho was born, Apa seemed to prefer him because he was a boy and yet in this vignette, he seems to be treating him very harshly and abusively. a) If you asked Apa why he was so harsh with him this day, what would he say? b) How would you explain why he treats him so harshly?

Rainy-Day Surprises

"Rainy-Day Surprises" ends with Young Ju's statement that she likes rainy days. Why is this significant?

Disappearing Bubbles

After reading the vignette "Disappearing Bubbles", please blog a response to the following question: Do you think there is a difference in the way Apa treats his two children? (Defend your answer.) If so, how would you account for it?

Current book summary - A Step from Heaven

In An Na's book, A Step from Heaven, we meet Young Ju, a young child who lives in Korea with Uhmma (Korean for mother), Apa (father), and Halmoni (grandmother). Apa, a fisherman, sometimes drinks and then becomes abusive. Young Ju is sad to leave Halmoni behind in Korea when she moves to Mi Gook (America) with Apa and Uhmma. After staying with Gomo (aunt) and Uncle Tim for a time, the Parks move to a rented apartment. Uhmma, very pregnant at the time, disagrees with Apa about the wisdom of paying rent instead of saving money, but is forced to comply by Apa's verbal and physical abuse. Park Joon Ho is born and Young Ju finds herself feeling quite displaced by this new baby. Apa seems to value his son more than his first born daughter.