Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Back in 19th century Korea, young Sang-hee's father explains the importance of his trip every night to the nearby mountaintop. There he must start a fire, the first in a series of fires from mountain to mountain from the sea to the king's palace. The fires signal that all is well; that no enemy threatens from the sea. One evening Sang-hee does not see the fire. When he runs to see why, he finds that his father is hurt, so he must take the pot of coals to the mountaintop and light the fire. Much as he yearns to see the soldiers who would come if no fire is lit, Sang-hee realizes it is up to him to keep the peace. With great difficulty, he manages to kindle the flame, and until his father is well he does his duty. Watercolors and pastels are used to create naturalistic double-page scenes which describe the 'important village" and the mountain landscape surrounding it. There is a gentle quality to the daytime scenes; a more mellow sensitivity to those at night. Those of Sang-hee racing up the mountain with the pot of glowing coals add tension with his gestures and close-up perspectives. His anxious, fire-lit face on the jacket/cover draws us into his story. The "Author's Note" adds information on the factual background of the story. 2004, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8.

CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2005)
Sang-hee’s father plays a vital role in their Korean village near the sea. As firekeeper, he climbs to the top of the mountain each evening to light a large bonfire. When the flames are visible on the next mountain, the firekeeper there lights his bonfire. The chain of fires continues, all the way to the palace. When the king sees the fire on the mountain nearest the palace, he knows that the land is safe and that no enemies have been seen approaching by sea. “‘In your time, and my time, and your grandfather’s time, the fire has always been lit. It is good to live in a time of peace,’” Sang-hee’s father tells him. As long as the fires burn, the king will not send his soldiers to Sang-hee’s village to defend the border. But when the fire is unlit one evening, and his father lies injured with a broken ankle and unable to climb the mountain, Sang-hee thinks how thrilling it would be if the soldiers came. He imagines showing them the beach and being taught how to sword-fight. Then, remembering his father’s words about the value of peace, Sang-hee lets go of his fantasy and lights the signal fire himself. This engaging fictional story set in the early 1800s is based on the bonfire signal system used in Korea until the late nineteenth century. Sang-hee’s understandable desire for excitement is balanced with a welcome portrayal of heroic behavior during peaceful times. Although some visual details in hair and clothing lack cultural accuracy, the atmospheric watercolor and pastel illustrations glow, highlighting the flames of the fire in the evening sky. CCBC categories: Picture Books for School-Aged Children. 2004, Clarion, 37 pages, $16.00. Ages 5-8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 4))
Drawing once again on her heritage, Newbery Medalist Park tells a tale rooted in the history of Korea. Centuries ago-and through the 19th century-the lighting of fires apprised the king of the safety of his country. Darkness warned of trouble. When Sang-hee's father is injured, Sang-hee must climb the mountain with the brass pot of hot coals to start the fire that signals all is well. The first night Sang-hee contemplates whether or not he should light the fire-after all, if he does not, the soldiers will come and he would like to see the soldiers just once. In the end both Sang-hee and his father are proud that Sang-hee has become a trustworthy fire-starter as his father and grandfather were before him. Even in the darkness the watercolor illustrations glow with vibrancy. The cover illustration is especially striking: Sang-hee bright-eyed at the orange-and-yellow fire flickering before him. A lovely telling that will bring readers back to read or hear this story one more time. 2004, Clarion, 40p, $16.00. Category: Picture book. Ages 5 to 9. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sharon R. Strock (Library Media Connection, October 2004)
The fire on the cover warms the soul as this story warms the heart. Sang-hee, a young Korean boy, is the central character in a charming story set in the early 1800s. Sang-hee is intrigued with soldiers. His father, the firekeeper, is charged with the task of lighting the nightly fire to signal to the second mountain that all is well on the first mountain. Each night the firekeepers signal each other until there is a "fire on every hump of the dragon's back, all the way to the last one-the hump that could be seen from the palace walls," letting the king know his kingdom is safe. One night, Sang-hee's father does not light the fire. As with every good lesson, Sang-hee realizes he must light the fire because there is no sign of danger. As he races to light the fire, he finds his father hurt along the path. Sang-hee, encouraged by his father, successfully lights the signal fire. The story is richly complemented by the illustrations. Together they weave a tender folktale that will engage young readers. This tale is about a fictional family and the real story of the Korean bonfire signal system, which flourished into the late 19th century. Linda Park's words are suspenseful and enticing, and the illustrations bring an element of light into each page. Recommended. 2004, Clarion Books, 32pp., $16 hc. Ages 7 to 11.

Timnah Card (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 8))
Every evening, Sang-hee's father lights the fire on the mountain that will ignite the line of signal fires leading to the palace of Korea's king. This first fire must remain unlit only if their village is invaded by enemies, so the king will know to send soldiers to beat back the invaders. Sang-hee dreams of soldiers, though in this time of peace he is unlikely ever to see one. When the boy's father breaks his ankle and can't climb the mountain, Sang-hee races to the summit with his father's pot of live coals. Kneeling by the ready-made pile of brush, the boy must decide: will he realize his dream of seeing the king's brave soldiers by leaving the brush unlit, or will he do as his family, village, and nation expect and light the signal fire? In the deepening dark of the mountaintop, soldiers march in the golden flames of Sang-hee's imagination, creating a satisfyingly visual resolution to the boy's moral dilemma. His father's recognition of the difficulty of the choice serves to include the boy in the tradition of faithful service that provides protection for all in Korea--just as surely as if Sang-hee and his father were soldiers themselves. The text breaks back and forth between standard paragraphing and an almost free-verse style, punctuating the flow of exposition with fragments of thought, perception, and action. Watercolor and pastel paintings in a palette of blue, gold, purple, and green conjure the quiet stability of the pastoral setting, shades intensifying or lightening with the shifting degree of narrative tension. An attractive celebration of unity, peace, and family heritage, Sang-hee's story also emphasizes the beauty, power, and responsibility inherent in the individual's choice to participate in the social contract. An author's note gives the historical basis for the story. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004, Clarion, 40p, $16.00. Ages 4-7 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2004)
Each night Sang-hee's father lights the mountaintop fire that begins the chain of bonfires informing the king that no enemy boats have been seen. When his father is hurt, Sang-hee must take his place. Aptly capturing a young boy's point of view, this well-written story, set in nineteenth-century Korea, is accompanied by handsome if somewhat romanticized illustrations. Category: Picture Books. 2004, Clarion, 40pp, $16.00. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Dawn Cobb (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 17, No. 1))
Sang-hee’s family has lit a bonfire on a mountaintop each evening to let the emperor know that the area by the sea is safe from harm. Sang-hee helps his father continue the family tradition, after his father breaks his ankle. The firekeepers describe their bonfires as “humps on a dragon’s back.” During their family’s watch, enemies have never come by sea to interrupt the lighting of the nightly bonfires. Students may notice the differences in the Korean village, clothing, toys, hairstyles, etc. It may spark a lively discussion about the land and people of Korea. The text and illustrations make this a great book. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades K-4. 2004, Clarion Books, 37p., $16.00. Ages 5 to 10.