Have you ever wondered what you would save in a fire? No? Well, I have and it turns out, when faced with that reality, I tried to save my computer.

Linda Sue Park has posed the same question in her latest work of fiction. It all begins when middle grade teacher Ms. Chang gives her students a homework assignment challenging her students to think about the Most Important Thing they would rescue if their home were burning. But it can only be one thing, size and weight don't matter, and it doesn't have to be family members or pets because they are already safe, much to the relief of one student who would want to save her slowly walking arthritic Nana.

The one most important thing these students pick vary from a cell phone to call 911 and a dad's wallet to have money once they are out of their burning home, to an ugly blue sweater, to a Mets-Cubs program, to a sketchbook full of flaming dragons. One student silently decides they would take nothing, glad to see their total dump-of-a-building burn down.

But as the students begin to go into why they would save what they think is their one most precious thing the tone of the discussion changes. That ugly blue sweater links three generations of a family together. One grandmother knit a blue sweater for the girl's father, then another grandmother unraveled it and made a sweater for her. A collection of 93 china animal figurines, prizes in boxes of tea, connects two friends to each other more deeply than meets the eye.

Slowly, the discussion about objects becomes one of memories attached to those objects. I loved reading that process, and how the student's stories evolved. Even Ms. Chang, who thought she would save her 18 grade books and class pictures, changes her mind about what's important. In the end, what makes this book so interesting is what the students and teacher learn about themselves and their classmates.

In her Author's Note, Linda Sue Park calls this a collection of poems, but it really reads like a coherent whole. At first, it may seem confusing, but it won't take long to figure out the different voices of the students and the teacher, who actually has her own font. Park has used an ancient traditional Korean poetic form called sijo (SHEE-zho). But while sijo generally has three lines of thirteen to seventeen syllables, she didn't stick strictly to that structure, proving how organic nature of poetic forms can evolve over time.

Artist Robert Sae-Heng's grey-toned illustration are sketched in shades of grey, black and white reminding me of the kind of charcoal that burnt wood becomes and giving the accompanying class discussion an after-the-fire atmosphere. And although the discussion takes place in the classroom, as each student talks about what they would rescue, Sae-Heng has given readers an intimate view into their rooms at home showing their meaningful item, for example, the blue sweater:

The One Thing You'd Save is a thought-provoking, conversation generating work. Even though my young readers are way too young for this book, I asked them the same question Ms. Chang asked her students, and the answers were just as amazing. There's a lot to think about in this slender novel-in-verse that asks a question we have all probably thought about at one time or another.

So...what do you hold most precious that you would want to save in a fire?
You can find a useful discussion guide for this book HERE

This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalle

The characters in this book do not read like kids written by adults. Linda Sue Park did a great job showcasing the inner thoughts and feelings of upper elementary students and I think that kids will make lots of connections with the characters in this book. I really liked how you could see the individual voices and tell the difference between speakers even though it was not labeled who was speaking. I think this will be great for classroom use and invoke great discussions. I also think that this book is accessible for readers of all ages and levels.

Thank you Houghton Mufflin and NetGalley for sharing an early copy in exchange for an honest review. I finished this book in one sitting and hope to read again, but to my students this time. What a fantastic book all centered around one question-what would you save if your house was burning down? Your choice is your identity and I loved how it connected the characters in this book.

I was sad when it ended. I wanted more. I loved the way the conversations created connections. What a wonderful read aloud to launch the same kind of project. What would you save if you could only save one thing and your family was safe.

A collection of short stories that details what children would grab if they had to pack up and leave and never return. The book introduces the concept in a way that is not scary and would be excellent to start an upper elementary or early middle school conversation. This would also be an excellent read-aloud that could be followed up with a class assigned essay.

In this short story told in Sijo style prose, a class and their teacher discuss what they'd save in a fire if all family members and pets were accounted for. The items and the student's reasoning behind each one ranges from heart wrenching to comical. This would be a wonderful discussion starter for 4th and 5th grade teachers to have in their own classrooms, and it's a quick and beautiful read.

Every middle schooler should read this story of what to do if you ever have to pick up and leave a previous life. What is the one thing YOU would save?

Perfect story for schools' reading and writing workshops.

Loved the format and the concept. Such thought provoking content presented to children in an accessible way.

In this beautiful children’s novel in verse, a teacher asks her students a question: Your home is on fire and your family and pets are safe. You are allowed to save one thing. Which item would you save? What follows are sweet and heartwarming answers ranging from a baseball card, cellphone, sweater, or an entire bookcase. Each item holds sentimental value to the child and their explanations are at times beautiful and sad. With wonderful illustrations throughout, this little novel should not be missed.

What a remarkable book! It captures so many life lessons in a unique manner.
Readers, myself included, are introduced to the Korean poetry form, sijo. which is fascinating. The idea of not having to write down the assignment and discuss it verbally with the class will be especially appealing. The title question provides so much thinking fodder. There is such variety in the responses. The themes of love, loss, memory, joy and so many more are explored. There's the practical in the answers as well as the imaginative
Park covered all bases, reiterating that if there really was a fire, the most important aspect was to get out. She was sure to point out that all family and pets were safe so the sky was the limit in thinking about it.
I just loved this book and know my older students will also.

This is a charming little book that is deeper than it appears at first glance. Both astute and profound. I love that it introduces reader to a new (to me, at least) style of poetry, and I love the whole conceit of this. An excellent addition to any collection, but particularly one with a focus on poetry or verse.

I was sure The One Thing You Would Save by Linda Sue Park would be good and I wasn’t mistaken! This is a great quick read for 3rd-6th graders and I think it will really make them think. This would be the perfect book to read to your class and then answer the question as an assignment or class discussion.

I really enjoyed the way the book was written and the idea of it. The illustrations also conveyed the messages and I really enjoyed reading it. This is a great book for kids ages 7-11.

This was a beautiful book with a very unique approach to narrative. I loved the way the pictures told stories as much as the words did. This was reminiscent of “The Things They Carried” but for a younger audience, still beautiful and incredibly touching.

March 2021 has been quite a good month for middle grades books in verse. The One Thing You'd Save is a great addition to that list. This short book gives a glimpse into a middle grade classroom where the teacher and students are having a discussion about the one thing they would each save from a fire. Some of the entries in this book are thought provoking and heartbreaking. I felt like every child would be able to relate to at least one of the items and the reason for keeping.

Quick read in verse. Teacher is discussing with the class if their house was on fire and all people/animals were safe already, what would be the one thing they would save? Fascinating discussions and deep dives about value of things that goes beyond money. This one really had me thinking!

The One Thing You’d Save is a thought-provoking and engaging book based on the exchanges between a class of students who are prompted by their teacher to identify the one thing they would save if their home caught on fire. Their responses run the gamut from sentimental to silly, but all provide insight into the lives of the students in the class. The poetry format used for the book does a beautiful job of presenting the dialog between the students as they share their thoughts and the reasoning behind them. This text would be a helpful tool for initiating a similar conversation or writing assignment in an upper elementary grade classroom. I’m still thinking about what my one thing would be!

Mrs. Chang asks her students to name one thing they would save if their home was on fire. Some can immediately identify what they would grab, while some are slow to choose. The class has both sentimental and pragmatic choices, and as the discussion progresses some change their mind. Very meaningful discussion is presented in the ancient form of Korean poetry know as Sijo, which is 3 lines of 13-17 syllables. Sometimes the three lines are divided into 6 shorter ones. Definitely recommend!

This story is written in verse and has a wonderful reading rhythm. The black and white illustrations are charming and I loved the entire layout of the book, as well as the cover art.

What did the students want to save from the fire if their family and pets were already safe? The items might surprise you! Things with memories attached, possessions they worked hard saving up for... or collected, things they could help others with; and we are given each excellent reason why. This is a delightful story from beginning to end.

A "profound" and "astute" conversation about what we cherish most. The poetry form is striking and works well for the topic and the conversational style. The illustrations tie it all together nicely.