Bibliography
Yangsook,
Choi. 2005. THE NAME JAR. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375906138
Brief Summary Plot
Unhei, a young Korean girl, moves from her homeland of Korea
to the United States. As she departs her native country of Korea, her
grandmother gives her a small gift to remember where she originates. The gift
is a small red pouch with a wooden block and inkpad inside. The wooden block
has Unhei’s name embossed on it. When Unhei is riding the bus to school on her
first day, she experiences teasing from the other children over the
pronunciation of her name. Unhei begins to worry that maybe she should change
her name so that it sounds more American. When her mother learns of Unhei’s decision
to change her name, she is surprised that Unhei would want to change her
beautiful name. Her mother tells Unhei that her and her grandmother went to a
name master for her name. The children in her class decide to help Unhei by
creating a “name jar” that would offer name suggestions to choose from. After
receiving a letter from her grandmother back in Korea, who reminds Unhei of the
beauty of her name and with the help of her new friend, Joey, Unhei realizes
the uniqueness of her name and embraces it.
Critical Analysis
Yangsook Choi has written a beautiful story about how a
young Korean girl, Unhei, struggles with her identity. Unhei’s name identifies
where she has come from, yet she sees an opportunity for acceptance with the
changing of her name to match her new American home. Unhei’s story begins as
she and her family depart Korea and journey to their new home in America. The
setting is present day and is explicitly depicted with a modern airport; school
building, home, and neighborhood stores. The style of writing is light and can
be easily understood by a younger audience.
In her new country, Unhei experiences anxiety when her first
day of school approaches, as do many children having to go to a new school and
wanting to be accepted. She is ridiculed on the school bus with the teasing of
her name. Various mispronunciations of Unhei’s name are expressed. Although the
Unhei’s name was not pronounced correctly, the level of teasing should not be
considered bullying. In this picture book, Yangsook Choi has simplified the
conflict a small child experiences to assimilate into a new environment that is
foreign to them. Though Unhei worries over her name, children could easily
relate their own experience of acceptance from the storyline. With the support
of a new school friend, a neighborhood grocer, and family, Unhei ultimately
affirms her name and her identity.
Cultural markers can be seen throughout the text. The
identification of the specific culture of Korean is written as Unhei says
goodbye to her grandmother at the airport. While discussing with her mother the
possibility of changing Unhei’s name, you can see that dinner is being prepared
and will be eaten with chopsticks, held by both Unhei and her mother.
Cultural markers for first language can be seen in the
family home, specifically the kitchen, where a wall hanging can be seen in the
background with Korean writing. At Mr. Kim’s neighborhood market, signs are
posted in Korean, as well. When Grandmother gives Unhei the small gift with her
name inside a pouch, the wooden block is in Korean lettering. Unhei tells her
classmate, Joey, that she can use the block as a signature for her name to open
a bank account or write a letter. The letter Unhei receives from her grandmother
is written in Korean, but the text shows the letter in English.
Evaluating cultural markers for names of characters include
Unhei, Korean for grace, and Mr. Kim. At the end of the story, Joey selects the
name of “Chingu”, which is Korean for friend.
When looking at cultural markers for foods, Unhei and her
mother shop at the local neighborhood Korean market where they purchase
“kimchi,” a spicy pickled cabbage and seaweed. Her mother makes the comment, “Just because we moved to
America doesn’t mean we stop eating Korean food.”
Yangsook Choi has also incorporated details into the
illustrations that are accurately detailed. The illustrations were created with
rich colors of green, gold, red, blue, brown, orange, and purple. Cultural
markers for skin tone and facial features are seen as you look at Unhei’s
family. Her father’s skin is a slightly warmer tone than that of Unhei, her
mother, brother, and grandmother. The family’s eyes have the appearance of
almond shape. Diversity can be seen throughout this book with the inclusion of many
ethnicities, especially evident within the school setting.
The clothing worn by Unhei’s family is representative of a
typical American family wearing pants, shirts, blouses, skirts, and vests. Yet,
cultural markers for clothing are evident as we see Unhei’s say goodbye to her
grandmother at the airport. Her grandmother appears to be wearing a kimono.
Cultural markers for the family’s hairstyles include grandmother’s greying hair pulled back into a tight bun.
The conversation that Unhei and her mother had in the
kitchen is worth noting. While Mother is inquiring about Unhei’s day, she makes
the comment that, “ I am glad you are learning English well. You must study
hard, behave nicely, and get good grades to show that you are a good Korean.” These comments made in the story show
the high expectation that Korean parents have for their children. I also wonder
if this comment enforces some of the stereotypes help by people about Asians
and academics.
The recurring themes throughout the books include identity,
acceptance, family, and friendship. This book is an invitation for any student
who is feeling uncomfortable about entering a new school, especially when there
are cultural differences. This book supports taking pride in your heritage and to
be yourself without having to conform. The lessons of choosing our words and
behavior towards another person are addressed in the text. One misspoken word
or comment, though not intentionally meant to be hurtful, can cause irreparable
damage. This book should remind us that we are all unique and each of us brings
something special with diversity.
Awards
Sharing Cultures: Asian American Children’s Authors, 2001
ALSC American Library Association
Teachers’ Choices, 2002 International Reading Association
Review Excerpts
Horn Book Guide
reviewed April 1, 2002: The sensitively told story is illustrated with warm
paintings that portray Unhei's multicultural urban neighborhood and school.
Kirkus Review reviewed May
20, 2010: Choi
draws from her own experience, interweaving several issues into this touching
account and delicately addressing the challenges of assimilation. The paintings
are done in creamy, earth-tone oils and augment the story nicely. (Picture
book. 4-8)
The New York Times reviewed February 10, 2002: The author, who as a
Korean immigrant herself chose the name Rachel, tells an age-appropriate story
that quietly alludes to some weightier issues. Changing a name is typically
just the surface evidence of some major internal shift (Jacob to Israel, for
instance). When we move to another location spiritually (as Jacob did),
emotionally (as in a marriage or divorce) or geographically, like little Unhei,
the questions arise: What do we take with us? What do we leave behind?
Carefully weighing the input of family and new friends -- a Korean grocer and
an American classmate -- Unhei arrives at her decision. She tells her class,
''I like the beautiful names and funny names you thought of for me. . . . But I
realized that I liked my name best, so I chose it again.'' And Unhei proceeds
to instruct her classmates patiently in how to pronounce her name. Predictable?
Perhaps, but Unhei's reflection and inner strength are noteworthy; cultural
details freshen the story, and Choi's gleaming, expressive paintings are always
a treasure. ''The Name Jar'' feels very American and very accessible. Despite
the more cartoonish feel, the illustrations are again lovely, especially in the
characteristically expressive close-ups of faces. Like Unhei, Choi adapts
thoughtfully to her new environs, without submerging her unique artistic
identity. Julie Yate Walton
Connections
Students can read other books that have to do with a
character’s name. Books to include are:
Chrysanthemum by
Kevin Henkes or My Name is Yoon by
Helen Recorvits.
If any student can write in a different
language, students can write a word or phrase in another language and share.
Students can think of a symbol for their
name and draw it on a piece of paper.
References
Kirkus Review. “The
Name Jar”. Kirkusreview.com
(accessed November 5, 2015)
New York Times Review. “The Year of the Dog”. Nytimes.com
(accessed November 5, 2015)
TWU Library Database – Books In Print
(accessed November 5, 2015)
TWU
Library Database - Children’ Literature Comprehensive Database
(accessed November 5, 2015)
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