The Last Paper Crane is an incredibly powerful book. I loved the way that it is a combination of verse and prose, the language is so beautifully written, and so poetic. After the bomb is dropped the book is written with a sense of urgency, that you could feel the emotions of the characters so vividly. As we return to the present there was a moment where I got actual chills. The story is helped with the use of illustrations by Natsko Seki, which are so stunning and moving.
I completed this book in one sitting, I found it such a compelling and moving story that I did not want to put it down. It is rare in novels set during World War II to have the perspective of a Japanese character, but it is so important in this instance. I have some knowledge of the Hiroshima bombing, but this book deals with the aftermath to those most affected and the physical after effects on those who stayed, which is not often dealt with.
I completed this book in one sitting, I found it such a compelling and moving story that I did not want to put it down. It is rare in novels set during World War II to have the perspective of a Japanese character, but it is so important in this instance. I have some knowledge of the Hiroshima bombing, but this book deals with the aftermath to those most affected and the physical after effects on those who stayed, which is not often dealt with.