Linda Sue Park

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Linda Sue Park – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

Explore the life and career of Linda Sue Park (born March 25, 1961), acclaimed Korean-American author of A Single Shard and A Long Walk to Water. Learn her background, writing journey, major works, influence, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Linda Sue Park is a celebrated author of children’s and young adult literature, known for blending lyrical storytelling, cultural history, and emotional resonance. Her work often draws on Korean heritage, historical settings, and universal themes of perseverance, identity, and connection. Her novel A Single Shard won the 2002 Newbery Medal, catapulting her to prominence in the field of children’s literature. Over her career, she has published historical novels, contemporary works, picture books, and contributed to anthologies, while actively promoting diversity in publishing.

In this article, you will find her early life, education, career path, signature works, influence, personality traits, selected quotes, and lessons from her story.

Early Life and Family

• Linda Sue Park was born on March 25, 1960 (often cited as 1960 rather than 1961) in Urbana, Illinois, U.S.

• She grew up in a family of Korean immigrant parents.

• She was raised in Illinois (in and near Chicago) and attended local schools there.

• From a very young age, she showed literary impulse: she began writing poetry and stories as a child, and published her first poem (a haiku) in a children’s magazine when she was 9 years old.

• Her father valued libraries deeply (as an immigrant who had less access back home), and Park has spoken about growing up with libraries as a kind of refuge and resource.

Education and Formative Years

• Park attended Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.

• She went on to obtain advanced degrees in literature: one in Dublin (Trinity College) and a Master’s from the University of London.

• While developing as a writer, she pursued many jobs (before becoming a full-time author): positions in public relations, food journalism, teaching English as a second language, and others.

• Her background in diverse literary and cultural study, combined with her Korean heritage, provided rich material for her future stories.

Writing Career & Major Works

Linda Sue Park’s career has spanned multiple genres, with a particular strength in historical fiction for young readers. Below is a breakdown of her major works and themes.

Breakthrough: Seesaw Girl and Early Novels

• Her first novel, Seesaw Girl, was published in 1999. It is a historical fiction set in Joseon (Korea) about a young girl in a court setting.

• She followed with The Kite Fighters (2000), also historical, exploring sibling dynamics and Korean culture.

A Single Shard and Recognition

• Her third novel, A Single Shard, earned her the 2002 Newbery Medal, a prestigious honor in children’s literature.

• A Single Shard is set in 12th-century Korea and follows an orphan boy who becomes apprenticed to a potter, weaving themes of perseverance, integrity, and artistry.

Later Works & Diversification

Park’s subsequent writings include:

• When My Name Was Keoko (2002) — a novel set during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

• Project Mulberry (2005), Archer’s Quest (2006), Keeping Score (2008) — these often merge contemporary and historical elements.

• She also joined the 39 Clues series, writing Storm Warning (2010) and Trust No One (2012) for that shared-universe project.

• A Long Walk to Water (2010) became a New York Times bestseller; it’s based on a true story, alternating between a Sudanese boy’s refugee journey and a girl whose daily task is fetching water.

• She has also written picture books, such as Gracie Under the Waves, My Book and Me, and Smiling Eyes.

• Beyond books, she founded and curates Allida Books, an imprint focusing on children’s literature from the Korean diaspora.

• She is active on advisory boards (e.g. We Need Diverse Books) and works to promote equity and representation in children’s publishing.

Themes & Style

• Many of her novels incorporate Korean history, culture, and language (for example, Korean pottery, embroidery, silkworms, Korean food).

• Her writing tends to be richly researched and historically grounded, with author’s notes or bibliographies in many works.

• She balances universal themes — identity, justice, perseverance — with specificity of place and culture.

• Even in her “realistic” or contemporary works, she often layers cultural or moral depth (e.g. Keeping Score reflects her interest in Korean War remembrance).

Influence and Legacy

• Linda Sue Park is a trailblazer among Korean-American authors in children’s literature, helping open space for greater diversity in the field.

• Her Newbery win showed that stories rooted in non-Western culture could gain mainstream acclaim.

• Her works are widely used in classrooms to teach history, culture, empathy, and writing craft.

• As a mentor, board member, and curator, she actively contributes to nurturing new voices from underrepresented communities.

• Through Allida Books and her public engagement, she promotes the visibility and support of Korean diaspora literature.

Personality, Talents & Traits

From interviews and public statements, the traits that distinguish Linda Sue Park include:

• Curiosity & discipline: She invests months in research before writing, and pauses mid-drafting to verify facts.

• Humility & the love of reading: She emphasizes that being a reader is perhaps more vital than being a writer.

• Cross-cultural awareness: She bridges her Korean heritage and American upbringing, weaving both into her narratives.

• Empathy & moral commitment: She writes stories that provoke reflection, compassion, and awareness, not only entertainment. (She has said she wants her books to make readers “think something or feel something.”)

• Persistence: She treats writing as a long game; many books take years from conception to publication.

Selected Quotes

Here are a few notable quotes by Linda Sue Park, drawn from her interviews and works:

“A mistake made with good in your heart is still a mistake, but it is one for which you must forgive yourself.” — When My Name Was Keoko

“Reading for writers is like training for athletes.”

“I can give advice to anyone interested in writing in one word: Read! I think it’s much more important to be a reader than to be a writer!”

“I often have trouble falling asleep at night, so when I’m lying in bed I think up stories. … Sometimes reading someone else’s stories will make me think of one of my own.”

“All my books take a long time to research. I spend several months researching before I start writing … At my local library, I am one of the best customers!”

“I want all my books to provoke some kind of response in the reader, to make them think something or feel something or both … maybe one reader will think about Salva … and make their corner of the world a tiny bit better.”

These quotes reflect her values around reading, research, empathy, and writerly humility.

Lessons from Linda Sue Park’s Journey

Here are some meaningful takeaways from her life and career:

1. Cultural specificity is strength, not limitation
   Writing rooted in one’s heritage can resonate universally, opening bridges rather than closing doors.

2. Research and patience matter
   Taking time to ground stories in fact, and allowing narratives to mature, enriches credibility and depth.

3. Reading more than writing
   Her emphasis on reading as foundational for writing is a reminder that writers are readers first.

4. Perseverance through many stages
   She held many jobs before publishing, and many of her books took years to reach readers.

5. Stories carry moral weight
   She believes literature can participate in social issues, provoke reflection, and contribute to change.

6. Mentorship and community matter
   Her work in supporting other authors and promoting diverse voices underscores the responsibility of successful creators to lift others.

Conclusion

Linda Sue Park is one of the most accomplished voices in American children’s and young adult literature. With her award-winning storytelling, cultural depth, and commitment to authenticity, she has created works that educate, move, and inspire. Her journey from early poetry in childhood to becoming a globally respected author shows how talent, discipline, humility, and cultural rootedness can combine to leave a lasting literary legacy.