I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying Archer’s Quest, Linda Sue Park (2006, 167 pages). At the opening of the story Kevin is doing his homework at his desk in his room. His boredom comes to a sudden end when someone shoots his baseball cap off his head with an arrow, pinning it to the wall!  His surprise visitor turns out to be Koh Chu-mong, ancient ruler of Korea, born in 55 B.C. Chu-mong was known for his amazing talent with a bow and arrow, as well as his skill as ruler.

Chu-mong feels a great responsibility to his people and wants to return to his own time. He doesn’t have a clue how to make that happen. Kevin is of Korean descent and uses the small knowledge he has about Korean history to try to find Chu-mong a way home. I liked how Kevin used his brain, drawing on resources in his college town such as the zoo and museum that he thought might be helpful. It is the last day of the year of the Tiger when Chu-mong finds himself in Kevin’s room in New York State. Chu-mong has to get back home before the year changes. All the action of this story takes place during only one day as Kevin tries different ideas to try to get Chu-mong back home.

Chu-mong’s reaction to objects of our time were LOL funny. I loved the scene where Kevin tries to call his grandmother (Ah-jee) on the phone but Chu-mong thinks Kevin is talking to him.

“Ah-jee, hold on for just one second, okay?”

“Sure thing, Kevin.”

“Hold on to what?” Archie said. Kevin put his hand over the mouthpiece.  “Archer. I. Am. Not. Talking.To. You.” He spoke slowly, trying to force himself to be patient.  “I’m talking to my grandparents.”

“Your grandparents?” Archie leapt to his feet and looked around the room.

“No, no!” Kevin said.  Sheesh, the things he had to explain. “They don’t live here. I’m talking to them through-through this.”

Kevin also has to explain cars, the Internet, and glass.

Chu-mong is a unique character I will remember. He has great dignity, but also a sense of humor. He never “runs his mouth” but rather keeps in mind what is important and chooses his words carefully. He is a natural teacher, and teaches Kevin something about the physical as well as mental discipline of archery.

I liked the parts about archery. Although I hated archery in high school P.E., for some strange reason I have lately believed I would now love archery and have been wanting to give it another shot.

Archer’s Quest has my favorite kind of plot– one where the action is as much if not more about what is happening between the main characters, as in the world around them. I love this kind of writing– thoughtful, humorous without going for obvious jokes, with no wasted words. I can understand why this author won a Newberry award for another book (A Single Shard.)

Youtube interview with author about writing:

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