I recently finished listening to A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park.  What an interesting tale of a time period (12th century), place (Korea), and skill (Pottery) that was not well-known by me.  I can't imagine all the research and imagination that went into creating this story of an orphan boy named Tree Ear, and his life.  I really enjoyed this simple tale and I definitely think it is worth reading with students as it will expose them to a life they have never even considered before.  It also is somewhat of a "coming-of-age" story about Tree Ear and how he finds his place and sense of belonging in his small, secluded world.  Beautifully written and very intriguing!