This is a very special book, which I enjoyed immensely. It’s possibly my fave read of 2020 so far.
Recounting his experience of the day the nuclear bomb was dropped on his hometown Hiroshima, a Grandfather (who was 17 at the time) unloads his secret story to his granddaughter about what happened to him, his best-friend & his best friend’s 5-year-old little sister. His actions were heroic but circumstances have forced him to spend his adult years filled with regret and guilt.
I loved the Grandfather character - and how using pages from his favourite salvaged book, he left notes on folded paper cranes all over the city looking for his lost loved.
It’s really profound and sweet and full of love but also terrifying & nail biting at the same time (especially to think these events were real) and I couldn’t put it down. It’s fascinating to learn more about this terrifying event and the Japanese civilians that lived and died because of it.
This book is also very special in its presentation: the first and last parts are written in a narrative poetry, from the point of view of the granddaughter. This style makes you much more mindful about what you’re reading & the change of pace makes you savour every word and dwell on the meaning of it all. The Hiroshima part of the story is regular dialogue & prose & is so full of action & tension it keeps you page turning late into the night.
I also appreciated the thick, white paper that this book is printed on, the gorgeous illustrations, and the haikus that intersperse the chapters.
At the back you’re given instructions & paper to make your own origami paper crane.
Recounting his experience of the day the nuclear bomb was dropped on his hometown Hiroshima, a Grandfather (who was 17 at the time) unloads his secret story to his granddaughter about what happened to him, his best-friend & his best friend’s 5-year-old little sister. His actions were heroic but circumstances have forced him to spend his adult years filled with regret and guilt.
I loved the Grandfather character - and how using pages from his favourite salvaged book, he left notes on folded paper cranes all over the city looking for his lost loved.
It’s really profound and sweet and full of love but also terrifying & nail biting at the same time (especially to think these events were real) and I couldn’t put it down. It’s fascinating to learn more about this terrifying event and the Japanese civilians that lived and died because of it.
This book is also very special in its presentation: the first and last parts are written in a narrative poetry, from the point of view of the granddaughter. This style makes you much more mindful about what you’re reading & the change of pace makes you savour every word and dwell on the meaning of it all. The Hiroshima part of the story is regular dialogue & prose & is so full of action & tension it keeps you page turning late into the night.
I also appreciated the thick, white paper that this book is printed on, the gorgeous illustrations, and the haikus that intersperse the chapters.
At the back you’re given instructions & paper to make your own origami paper crane.