Hiroshima: A Novella

This is a wonderful children's book about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It tells the story in simple yet thoughtful and elegant language. Starting with the bomber crew, the book explains the bombing in context of World War II and its effects on the city and people of Hiroshima. The author takes you into the lives of two sisters and shows how the bomb changed everything. Then the book goes on to explain the aftermath with people dying of radiation sickness even years after the bomb was used. Lastly, it describes the current state of the world's nuclear powers and the threat of nuclear winter. Older children and teens might prefer the manga or anime Barefoot Gen, but this is a better introduction for young children to a difficult subject.

Do you know anything about the atom bomb? This book has facts about the atom bomb and what happened during that day the United States dropped a bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. Sachi, the main character of this story lost her sister and father. She was really sad about it. That means that the atom bomb is really powerful and affected other people's lives. I really like this book after I was done with it. By the look of this cover, it looks really boring. When you actually open the book, you can't stop reading it. There are some interesting facts in this book such as how much the atom bomb weighs and how many people died when the bomb dropped.Riko, Sachi's sister died from the bomb. Does it hurt to die? Why did the book not explain how it felt to die? Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who also died from this bomb folded 934 paper cranes because if she folded 1000 of them, the gods would make her healthy again. I think this is an interesting idea but there is no such things as magic so it wouldn't work. If you want to learn more about Sadako's life, you should read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.Recently, I heard that Suddam Hussein, expresident of Iraq was hiding or coming up with ideas for another atom bomb. What if he drops it in the United States? Is it as powerful as the first one that dropped in Hiroshima?I recommend this book to anyone that reads or likes historical fiction and facts about the atom bomb because this book really has great facts. You should also read other books by Laurence Yep such as The Star Fisher, Child of The Owl, Dragon's Gate and American Dragons. Laurence Yep's drawings are very unique from other illustrators because his drawing look Chinese, like me! Do you want to know more about Sachi's life, well what are you waiting for? Pick it up!

Brandon BrownHIROSHIMA by Laurence Yep From the author of Dragonwings (1975) a new book is here called Hiroshima, taking place in 1945 during World War 2. Laurence Yep takes you through Hiroshima and the life of a girl named Sachi who lives there. Suddenly someone from the town yells "B-29 B-29." After that day will 12 year old Sachi ever see her family again in the smoke and radiation filled air.The war genre takes your mind deep into the war setting. The explosions ring in your head. Closing the book is not an option. "When the bomb's uranium breaks up, bits of atoms zip away. They go right through peoples skin and hurt the bodies inside." illustrates the horror experienced throughout that time. Twelve year old Sachi and her friends from school tear down houses to contribute to the war effort. Suddenly a blinding light like the sun and a boom like a base drum. The bomber called the "Enola Gay" dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima. To find out if Sachi ever sees her family again and if her father comes home from the war. You will have to read Hiroshima! The major theme of Yelp's epic masterpiece is "When things get tough bounce back and rebuild!"You have to find out if they do.Laurence Yep (the wonderful author of Hiroshima) was born and raised in San Francisco, California. In addition to his novels Laurence Yep has also written plays. Now he lives in Grove, California with his wife, fellow author Joanne Rider.His parents are Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep.

This is an excellent companion to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. The details of the day's events during the attack on Hiroshima and the years after bring the reader closer to understanding the surprise of the attack, and the devastation that followed for years. My sixth graders read this book in conjunction with their Social Studies class and the study of World Cultures. They love it. This is truely a book to be added to any classroom library!

I read this book three or four years ago, but the visual imagery created by this simply written book has stayed with me all this time. It is one of the most powerful and haunting books I have ever read. With all the World War II literature written from the perspective of the jews and the Allies, it is wonderful to include the perspective of others affected by the war.