PEACH HEAVEN

In this newly revised version of her 2005 work, Choi draws from personal experiences to tell the story of a memorable hailstorm.

Tasked with a school assignment about what makes her hometown unusual, Yangsook decides to write about peaches. Bucheon is known for growing the finest peaches in South Korea. But what makes them unusual? Just then, Yangsook’s grandmother and brother burst in, warning that giant hailstones are raining down—an odd occurrence for August. The trio notice pink objects too big to be hail. With a rope tied around her waist, Yangsook wades out and sees…peaches! The storm must have carried the peaches from the nearby orchards. Yangsook’s family and community enjoy the fruit, but once the sky clears, the child realizes that this will be a devastating loss for the local farmers. Armed with an idea, a ball of yarn, and a pair of scissors, Yangsook recruits members of the community to collect the peaches—a loving gesture and a wonderful topic for her assignment. Choi’s quiet, meditative narrative is paired with softly blended colors, textured with simple lines; this is a gentle musing on the unexpected delights of childhood and the power of community. In her author’s note, she describes the 1976 hailstorm that inspired her story and discusses the cultural significance of peaches.

An endearing tale dripping with charm.