Linda Sue Park became a professional writer when she published her first poem at age nine. She went on to become a journalist, a food critic, and an English teacher, but Park did not test her hand at writing fiction until she was in her midthirties, at the same time that she began to explore her Korean heritage in earnest. Her research resulted in a treasure trove of children's books, each of which delves into a different piece of Korean history. In 2002, Park was awarded the Newbery Medal for her third novel, A Single Shard becoming the first Korean American to take home the honor.