Literary Devices in A Step from Heaven
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Korea is like ground zero in this book: it's where everything begins for Young Ju. It's the place that provides a template for what she thinks a home should be like ("small… that sits like a hen...
Narrator Point of View
Think of Young Ju's narration like a diary of a really precocious, self-aware, creative little girl. (And no, not quite like The Carrie Diaries—Young Ju isn't exactly your little Miss Independent...
Genre
Young Adult LiteratureYou've got a teenage protagonist who feels alone and awkward, who can't get along with at least one parent (for good reason, in our opinion), and who narrates to you like you'...
Tone
WistfulThis book is so into looking backward with longing, that even Apa—who seems kind of unredeemable toward the end of the book—gets a sepia-toned treatment from Young Ju's narration. For ex...
Writing Style
EpisodicYou know how in your typical novel the chapters actually link together chronologically to tell a whole story? Well that isn't exactly how it works in A Step From Heaven. While the chapters...
What's Up With the Title?
If you were "a step from heaven" how would you feel? Hopeful? But what if you started out with the idea that you were already going to be in heaven… And then found out that you weren't, and inste...
What's Up With the Ending?
Technically, we've got two endings—there's the last chapter, and then there's also the epilogue. Why are there two endings? Ah, dear Shmooper, let us lead the way…Think of the first ending as t...
Tough-o-Meter
This book is tough in all the right ways, meaning you can bet that it doesn't try to be difficult just for the sake of being difficult. (Infinite Jest, anyone?) In fact, any difficulty you meet wil...
Plot Analysis
What's Wrong With Korea?Nothing, that's what… at least if you look at things from Young Ju's perspective. Korea is where home is, and it's also where her grandmother Halmoni is. So there's the se...
Trivia
Young Ju may not always be gung-ho God in the book, but did you know that An Na was growing up? In fact, her Korean church was where she felt "[she] could be [herself]." (Source)You know how people...
Steaminess Rating
There isn't any sex here, so move on if that's what you're looking for. There is, however, quite a bit of violence, as in the fist-to-face variety. Not to worry, though, if you're sensitive about g...
Allusions
The Bible (Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 22) Korea Times (25.53)American immigration policies 1965-now (Chapter 19, 30.8)Wolverine, The X-Men series (Chapter 27)Spider-Man (15.5)Pennies from Heaven...