Hiroshima (Apple Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Laurence Yep (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Apple Paperbacks

Describes the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, particularly as it affects Sachi, who becomes one of the Hiroshima Maidens.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Yep's account of the bombing of Hiroshima and its devastating aftermath is at once chilling and searing, hushed and thundering. Within a factual framework, the author sets the fictional story of a girl named Sachi, allegedly a composite of several young residents of the bombed city. On the morning of August 6, 1945, 12-year-old Sachi and her classmates pull on their pitifully inadequate air-raid hoods when an alarm sounds, signifying the approach of an American bomber. They and others feel, ironically, a deep sense of relief when the aircraft passes by-the plane's mission, in fact, is to scout out the weather over Hiroshima; if there are clouds, the Enola Gay will be directed to drop its atom bomb on another city. But a single gap opens in the clouds directly over the target site, and "the sunlight pours through the hole on to the city." This is the last bit of brightness in Yep's story, which with haunting simplicity describes the actual bombing: "There is a blinding light like a sun. There is a boom like a giant drum. There is a terrible wind. Houses collapse like boxes. Windows break everywhere. Broken glass swirls like angry insects." Though Yep's spare, deliberate description of the bomb's consequences delivers a brutal emotional punch-and though it is on the whole extremely well suited to the target audience-his novella has some jarring stylistic elements. Broken into brief chapters ("The Bomb," "The City," "The Attack," "Destruction," "Peace?"), the narrative is choppy. The text, for example, makes a hasty chronological jump from the announcement that WWII is over to Sachi's experience as one of 25 "Hiroshima Maidens," who in 1955 traveled to the United States for plastic surgery to correct disfiguring burns. And although expressing an opinion is clearly the novelist's prerogative, it should be noted that the story Yep relays is hardly balanced; witness the two simple sentences about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, which make no mention of the resulting human casualties: "Four years before, on December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked American ships in Hawaii without warning. Caught by surprise, many ships and planes were wrecked at the naval base, Pearl Harbor." Yet in what is one of his tale's most haunting moments, Yep interjects the resonant words of an American-the Enola Gay's copilot-who, surveying the destruction just after the bomb has hit Hiroshima, scribbles a note to himself: "What have we done?" This powerful chronicle ensures that what was done on that awful day will remain in readers' memories for a very long time. Ages 8-11.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?Through a stacatto, present-tense narration that moves back and forth between the experiences of a 12-year-old girl and the men on the Enola Gay, Yep's novella tells the events of the day the first atomic bomb was dropped and its aftermath. Sachi survives but is badly burned; her sister dies and her soldier father is killed in action. For three years the girl spends most of her time indoors, as newcomers to the city fear the scarred survivors. Then she travels to America for plastic surgery, which enables her to take part in her society again. She returns to Japan, hoping to help other victims. Yep ends with two chapters on the destructive potential of nuclear warfare and on some of the efforts being made toward disarmament. His words are powerful and compelling, and the facts he presents make readers realize the horrors of that day and its impact beyond. As a fictional character, Sachi never becomes much more than a name, but even so, readers will be moved by her tale. Hiroshima has a more adult format than Junko Morimoto's more personal My Hiroshima (Viking, 1990) or Toshi Maruki's Hiroshima No Pika (Lothrop, 1982), both of which tell the story in pictures as well as in words.?Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Reprint edition (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590208330
• ISBN-13: 978-0590208338
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laurence Yep has been fascinated with tales of sibling rivalry from the day he was born. His older brother, Tom, chose his name Laurence - after a saint who died a particularly gruesome death. Laurence has been trying to get even ever since. Laurence Yep now lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife and is one of children's literature's most respected authors. His award-winning titles include Newbery Honor Books Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hiroshima (A novella by Laurence Yep), January 5, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hiroshima: A Novella (Hardcover)

Hiroshima, A Novella by Laurence Yep is a colorful and compelling story about the terrible and twisted story of the bombing of the Japanese City, Hiroshima. This powerful book follows two Japanese girls, Sachi and Riko, who are forced to work for the Japanese military in the city. Their lives are changed forever when the Enola Gay, a US bomber, drops one bomb on the city, the Atom Bomb. Now Hiroshima and the girls have to overcome the terrible bombing. In the midst of all the bombing and killing, Sachi and Riko are forced to flee the city. The only question is, will they make it out in time? I recommend this book to older kids and adults. It's straightforward and it also is very terrifying and descriptive. It is a perfect biography of Hiroshima. It talks about the town, and people in it. It also talks about the Americans. This book does something that most books can't do; it appeals to most-all ages. This is mostly non-fiction, however Sachi and Riko are fiction. If you have not read this book, I recommend you to do so. Although this book is very exciting, it makes some kids feel sad. Th story talks about death and cruelty. It may be too strong for some young kids to read. It is still a very good book and even if it is strong, you should still read it. I give this book and 8 out of ten. SO READ THIS BOOK! -Zack Friendly

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An excellent presentation on bombing of Hiroshima., May 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hiroshima: A Novella (Hardcover)

I am in the fourth grade and read Hiroshima for a study class on World War II. It is mostly fact, and very informative.I recommend this book to anyone studying World War II, fourth grade and up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to a difficult subject, August 3, 2004

By 

F. Orion Pozo "Orion Pozo" (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hiroshima (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

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.