The Crystal Heart: A Vietnamese Legend (25th Anniversary Edition)

By Aaron Shepard

Book Overview

As the daughter of a great mandarin, Mi Nuong leads a sheltered life. But one day, sitting in her tower, a song floats to her from a distant fishing boat on the river.

"My love is like a blossom in the breeze.

My love is like a moonbeam on the waves."

The voice is so beautiful, she knows the singer must be young and handsome -- perhaps even a mandarin's son in disguise. Could it be that the song is for her? She longs to meet him, but how? And what will she find if she does?

In this poignant legend, a young lady discovers that appearances can deceive, but the heart speaks true.

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE," OR FREE ON AARON'S WEB SITE.

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Aaron Shepard's many books for young people have won honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the American Folklore Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Once a professional storyteller, he specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature.

Joseph Daniel Fiedler, besides illustrating several picture books, has had work appear in numerous national and international publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times. He has received many awards, including a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators, and his paintings have been shown in over 75 gallery and museum exhibitions in four countries.

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1999 Best Children's Books, Bank Street College of Education

1999-2000 Recommended Reading List, Kansas Reading Circle

"Haunting tale of unrequited love.... Shepard paces his polished storytelling to accommodate atmospheric details. Despite the Vietnamese setting, this sophisticated story has much in common with Hans Christian Andersen's sorrowful romances, and its words and images will likely linger with readers." -- Publishers Weekly, July 6, 1998

"A keen tale of false expectations and confused priorities.... For his first picture book, Fiedler produces exquisite artwork; the landscapes are magically transporting, while the lustrous colors radiate an antique, spiritual quality." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Shepard's retelling captures all the romantic feeling in an economical use of text without forfeiting any of the haunting mood. This could provide a lovely segue into thoughtful discussion on expectations, disappointment, and reparation." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July-Aug. 1998

"Shepard's simple yet elegant prose meshes well with Fiedler's dramatic artwork. A good choice for storytellers, this romantic tale will be popular with a wide range of audiences." -- Kay Weisman, American Library Association Booklist, Oct. 1, 1998

"Beautifully retold and illustrated." -- Children's Book Committee, Bank Street College of Education, Best Children's Books for the Year, 1999

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1620356309
• ISBN13: 9781620356302
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Shepard Publications
• Length: 36 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

a heart touching story

Being a beautiful daughter of a wealthy mandarin, My Nuong had always been staying in her great house with the servants and surrounded herself with richness. But, she was very unhappy for she often felt lonely and had no friend to share her feeling with. One day, she heard a lovely piece of music which come from a bamboo flute of a fisherman name Truong Chi from the nearby sea. The music was so mesmerizing that it has capture her heart immidiately. She never felt anything like this and she has began thinking of it as "true love". Although she had never know of the fisherman's face, she has made a promise of giving him her hand in marriage. For some reason, the fisherman did not come to the sea to play the music anymore and this affect My Nuong deeply. She is very upseting and start to misses the music which make her now very ill. Her father try to find doctors who could cure her of this illness but none succeed. When My Nuong told him about the man and the music she had fall in love with, he sent for Truong Chi. But fate had been cruel to them for at the moment she look at him, she was disgust with his ugliness that she hated him. Truong Chi, with the first time saw My Nuong, had fall in love with her too. But My Nuong cast him away and being too heart-broken, Truong Chi died of a silent death. His heart had magically become crystal and unknowingly, My Nuong had carved it into a beautiful cup to use when drinking tea. But somehow, My Nuong heard the same music of Truong chi from the crystal cup and she had cry in regrets and sorrow for the unfortunate fisherman. Her tears roll down into the cup and had broking the seal which set Truong Chi's soul free. Such a loving story and a must-read one that no one could forget but thinking of it always. Love come from heart not appearances just as this story tells us.