Park's Quest

This could have been an interesting adult novel if it was more fleshed out. There weren't enough pages in a 150 page YA book to cover the story, and some things are simply never even addressed. Park's racism is simply put out there and left standing (whether the author intended to gently mock Park's ignorance or whether she tried not to teach her readers racial slurs they may not know, he gets it a little wrong and in his internal monologue calls his Asian half-sister "Geek, geek, geek" for an interminable two pages or so, as well as at least once to her face). I found the reading experience less satisfying and the background, as Park discovers it, less easy to follow than her other books.

Park's father died when he was just a baby in Vietnam. Park wanted to know about his father and his father's family, but never knew how to ask his mother because she would get so upset about it every time he mentioned him. Finally, his mother wrote to her in-laws and asked if Park could come visit for a couple of weeks. they agreed and Park was on his way to Virginia to visit his dad's family. Park met a Vietnamese girl, Thanh, who lived on the farm with his father's family. Frank, his uncle, married a Vietnamese woman who was pregnant with his child. The grandfather was very sick and did not socialize hardly with anyone. Park eventually found out that his parents divorced because his dad had gotten a woman pregnant while in Vietnam. show more When he went back to Vietnam, he died. The baby was Thanh and the pregnant woman was now Frank's wife. Teh grandfather cried all the time because he felt it was his fault that Park's father was dead.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a twist at the end that you kind of suspected throughout the book, but was not sure it would actually happen. I liked how it tied in some of the history in with the story. I would suggest a middle school student reading this book because of all the family drama in it. They may would understand it better. show less

So dated, I'm not sure today's kids could relate well. The protagonist was unlikeable and arrogant, but somehow transformed into a loving, tolerant kid in the blink of an eye; I found his epiphanies and his transformation unbelievable. And the King Arthur's court daydreams grew old fast. But I enjoyed the finish and wish the tone of the rest of the book matched it.

I enjoyed this book because it teaches / encourages readers to actively discover who they are, learn to accept their identity, and learn to make peace with themselves and forgive those who have wronged them. This is evident throughout the story. In the beginning, Park is frustrated with his mother for refusing to tell him about his father, a Vietnam War veteran. After making a journey to the farm his father grew up on, Park meets his family members and gradually unravels the story of his parents. Park eventually learns to accept his father, including his mistakes, and forgives his mother and father, along with his father’s mistress and their daughter, Thanh. I also appreciated how the author portrayed a foreigner under a positive show more light, despite her limited English. For example, as Mr. Frank tells Thanh to behave herself and eat Mrs. Davenport’s food, Thanh humorously replies, “Okay, okay. We little angel girl. We help our poor, tired mommy and nice Mr. Frank.” show less

Park’s Quest by Katherine Paterson. Age: 11-13. Library section 10 C (Youth: fiction.) Park can’t understand why his mother will not tell him about his father who died in Vietnam ten years ago. Park can’t remember him. But he tries to resolve this problem by finding out more about his father for himself.
He lives in the Washington, DC, area, so he begins by taking the Metro to the mall in Washington, D.C., where a kind lady helps him find his father’s name on the Vietnam War Memorial. After this his mother senses the longing her son has to know his father better. He’s getting old enough to understand family relationships. As a result, she obtains permission for him to visit his grandfather, who has been incapacitated by a show more stroke.
Park is welcomed to his grandfather’s farm in rural Virginia by his father’s brother – his uncle – who works the farm. Park didn’t even know he HAD an uncle! He also meets Thanh, a sassy girl of Vietnamese heritage. Who is this girl who is so skillful with farm work and ridicules his lack of skill? Why is she so unwelcoming? His grandfather is similarly terrifying – he shouts, “Haaaa......” over and over. Is the old man crazy? He seems so intent in what he’s trying to say, but to Park, he is a crazed, scary old shell of a man.
Park finally unlocks these all family secrets in a satisfying conclusion to this novel, by the author of Jacob Have I Loved and Bridge to Terabithia. Katherine Paterson’s novels usually involve intense family feelings and relationships which cause her readers to think about life and what is most important in it. Here, intergenerational family relationships are the themes. It’s an excellent book for our youth. show less

Found this book to be a bit boring, although it was a touching book that taught the lesson that not everything is what it seems!

trash if can't save