Note: The author of this book employs anglicized spellings instead of traditional Korean Words. For example, “Mi Guk,” meaning America, is spelled as “Mi Gook” in the book. You will notice more of these unique spellings throughout the article.
Young Ju is only four years old, but she understands the concept of heaven — it is a flawless utopia, that after a bumpy plane ride, she will call home. But it is not evident to her rosy anticipation that this foreign place, Mi Gook (Mi Guk), is not heaven. In fact, it is a faraway land called America.
“A Step From Heaven” written by An Na was released in 2001 as her debut novel. She weaves her experiences as a South Korean-born American into this award-winning book, faltering between adversities immigrants commonly face and its fictional plot line.
The structure of Young Ju’s family is comprised of Uhmma (Umma), the maternal figure, Joon Ho, the treasured son, and Apa (Appa), the alcoholic. This family dynamic shapes Young Ju’s trajectory in America from an optimistic kindergartener to a resilient young adult.
Na uses the concept of perspective throughout “A Step From Heaven,” but it is most heavily (and obviously) utilized in the beginning. The book opens with Young Ju as a four-year-old. This detail is not expressly told within a sentence, but rather hinted through the mannerisms of Young Ju — incomplete thoughts, metaphorical sentences, and succinct dialogue. But as the plot grows from there, so does Young Ju. You start to see her gather the previously dispersed thoughts and take authority over her life as she realizes her boundaries and how her dad’s (Apa) abuse is not acceptable. She finds her voice, courage, and tenacity, which is an open window through Na’s writing.
Na’s writing style is almost poetry. There is symbolism carved into each chapter that revists and uncovers the significance of chapped hands to blankets veiling over cigarette burn holes. Though this genre is miles away from murder mystery, I nearly felt like a detective having to connect the motifs.
“A Step From Heaven” is a powerful book that challenges the reader to understand what identity boils down to. I not only read it, but I pondered and asked questions about abuse, sacrifice, and heritage (What is an American? Is Young Ju Korean or American?). And this perfectly captures what I love most about this book: how mere words spread across its 156 pages could propel me to such reflection.
