Linda Sue Park Quotes

Powerful Linda Sue Park for Daily Growth

About Linda Sue Park

Linda Sue Park is an acclaimed American children's book author, best known for her Newbery Medal-winning novel 'A Single Shard.' Born on July 15, 1956, in New York City, Park spent much of her childhood in Korea with her missionary parents before returning to the United States. This bicultural upbringing significantly influenced her writing, particularly in her portrayal of diverse characters and settings. Park's literary career began in earnest after she graduated from Yale University with a degree in English Literature. In 1983, she published 'The Water Horse,' her first children's book, which was followed by several other works. However, it was 'A Single Shard' that brought Park international acclaim in 2001. The novel tells the story of a young orphan who becomes an apprentice to a master potter during the time of the famous Korean celadon kilns. In addition to 'A Single Shard,' Park has written numerous other celebrated books, including 'Watch the Bird,' 'The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared' (a translation of Jonas Jonasson's adult novel), and several books in the popular 'Project Mulberry' series. Park continues to write and inspire young readers with her rich, culturally diverse stories. In 2015, she was named a Library of Congress Living Legend for her significant contributions to American culture. Her work showcases the power of literature to bridge cultural gaps and foster empathy among its readers.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain."

This quote by Linda Sue Park encourages resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges or adversity. Instead of waiting for hardships to end, we should learn to find joy and live fully amidst difficulties - just as one dances in the rain rather than waiting for it to stop. In other words, life's true essence lies not in avoiding struggles, but in embracing them, finding solace, and continuing to move forward with grace and determination.


"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

This quote by Linda Sue Park highlights the importance of embracing the present moment and using it as a stepping stone to create a better future. It suggests that we cannot alter the past, but we have the power to shape our destiny starting from now. In essence, it's a call to action encouraging resilience, determination, and self-improvement in the face of adversity or regret about the past.


"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are."

This quote by Linda Sue Park underscores the transformative power of reading. It suggests that literature provides an escape, a journey or adventure, amidst the constraints of our immediate surroundings, offering readers a chance to explore new worlds, meet diverse characters, and experience different cultures - all without leaving their physical location. In essence, it highlights how books can help alleviate feelings of boredom, isolation, or confinement by opening up vast realms of imagination and knowledge.


"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." (A nod to Dr. Seuss)

This quote emphasizes the power of knowledge gained through reading. The idea is that as one reads more, their understanding and awareness of the world expand, exposing them to a multitude of ideas, cultures, and perspectives. Essentially, it suggests that education and travel can be achieved vicariously by immersing oneself in books, opening up opportunities for personal growth and exploration beyond one's immediate surroundings.


"Stories are secret doors that open so magic can enter."

This quote suggests that stories serve as conduits for the entry of magic into our lives. By reading or telling stories, we can access hidden worlds, ideas, emotions, and perspectives that may not be immediately apparent in our own reality. Stories allow us to tap into the power of imagination, broaden our understanding, empathize with others, and potentially transform ourselves.


When I was reading books for 'Seesaw Girl,' I came across several references to the fact that in the 11th and 12th centuries, Korean pottery was considered the finest in the world. I liked that - the idea of a little tiny country being the best at something.

- Linda Sue Park

Fact, Country, References, Centuries

When I'm writing, I try not to think things like, 'Gosh, I have to finish writing this book.' Books are very long and it's easy to get discouraged. Instead I think to myself, 'Wow, I have this great story idea, and today I'm going to write two pages of it. That's all - just two pages.'

- Linda Sue Park

Idea, I Think, Very, Discouraged

My first publication was a haiku in a children's magazine when I was 9 years old. I received one dollar for it! I gave the check to my dad for Christmas, and he framed it and hung it over his desk.

- Linda Sue Park

Old, Over, Dad, Publication

What I like most: Reading well-written sources that take me to another world for hours at a time - and being able to call that 'work!' Also, of course, finding a gem of information that is either exactly what I was looking for, or else fits perfectly into the story in some way.

- Linda Sue Park

Some, Perfectly, Sources, Gem

I do think that part of literature's job is to comment on and participate in the social issues of the time.

- Linda Sue Park

Think, Literature, Social, Social Issues

Each of my books has taken me a different length of time to write - eight months for 'Seesaw Girl,' eight months for 'Shard,' three years for 'When My Name Was Keoko!' The publisher takes another year and a half to work on the book, so altogether each book can take up to three or four years to publish.

- Linda Sue Park

Year, Another, Half, Publisher

After high school, I went to Stanford University and majored in English. Of course, that gave me a chance to do lots more reading and writing. I also received degrees in London and Dublin - where I moved to be near a charming Irishman who became my husband!

- Linda Sue Park

London, Dublin, Became, Stanford

With a book called 'Keeping Score,' I really did want to write a book about the Korean War, because I felt that it is the least understood war in the American cultural imagination. So I set out with the idea that Americans didn't know much about the Korean War and that I was going to try to fix a tiny bit of that.

- Linda Sue Park

Book, Idea, About, Understood

Most writers adore their editors, and I'm no exception.

- Linda Sue Park

Exception, Most, Adore, Editors

I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and reading even before that. My mom still has stories that I wrote when I was in kindergarten. I was a reader and a re-reader. That's the main reason I became a writer.

- Linda Sue Park

Reason, Been, Became, Main Reason

God bless Interlibrary Loan. I pay a lot of library fines. In the case of 'A Single Shard,' I was using books that hadn't been checked out in 30 years, so I didn't feel too bad.

- Linda Sue Park

Bad, Loan, Been, God Bless

All my books take a long time to research. I spend several months researching before I start writing, and in the middle of writing I often have to stop and look up stuff. At my local library, I am one of the best customers! The research takes several months.

- Linda Sue Park

Best, Before, Several, Customers

In my family and among Korean-Americans, there just is no occasion that people would get together without bibimbap. It's something that people eat when they're wanting to celebrate or have a good time with friends.

- Linda Sue Park

Celebrate, Occasion, Wanting, Good Time

I want all my books to provoke some kind of response in the reader, to make them think something or feel something or both, and for that to become a part of them and work into their own lives.

- Linda Sue Park

Think, Some, Lives, Response

I often have trouble falling asleep at night, so when I'm lying in bed I think up stories. That's where I do a lot of my thinking. I also get a lot of ideas while I'm reading - sometimes reading someone else's stories will make me think of one of my own.

- Linda Sue Park

Sometimes, Bed, I Think, Lying

I used to sit home with my computer and write. After the Newbery, I probably spend more than half my time on the road.

- Linda Sue Park

More, Used, Half, My Time

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!

- Linda Sue Park

Think, Give, I Think, One Word

I enjoy my family a lot. I have active teenagers, and they're in soccer and choral events.

- Linda Sue Park

Soccer, Enjoy, Lot, Teenagers

If you're trying to write about very strong horror, very strong fear or very strong emotion, it's easy to overwrite it.

- Linda Sue Park

Strong, Horror, Very, Emotion

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