Customer Reviews

Sadako

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While a well drawn book, and very emotionally touching, the book continues to perpetuate the myth that Sadako Sasaki failed to fold 1,000 cranes. Sadako Sasaki actually finished over 1300+ cranes before her death and did this in approximately only a month. This information is listed at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum as well as on their site about Sadako Sasaki under the special exhibit section. This is directly from interviews with the Sasaki family and hospital staff.

For a child to show such dedication that few adults would have in continuing past 1000 through the pain of leukemia is am amazing feat, and for this to be "modified" for a more emotionally touch story I find to be ethically wrong in many forms. If we are to teach our children the dangers of nuclear weapons, then we cannot lie to their face and perpetuate false information for the sake of affect. Even more disheartening is that I've witnessed numerous college plays that, despite knowing the actual number estimates folded being over 1,000, picks the number in Coerr's semi-fictional book.

If we are going to start modifying history, then where is the line drawn? I would not buy my child a book or teach them a story that is based on factually in correct data of a historical event. Does that mean we can just start changing up the Anne Frank diary too. Yeah, let's just put a car chase scene in that book and maybe throw in a few romance interests too!

Don't buy this book, look up the accurate history and documents. Hopefully, someone will write a new corrected version.

This is an excellent adaptation of the story of Sadoko. The book highlights the important parts, but keeps it on a level for children. It causes tears, hope, and courage in all that read it. It has a fasinating plot for such a short book. The illustrations are breathtaking and really portray a sense of the lessons of the book. This book is well worth reading for every age level. My husband and I both cried, as well as my thirteen year old sister. There is a lesson and a tear for everybody in this book.

I realize a few people feel that this is a propaganda book. In this case I recommend telling your children about Pearl Harbor, the Rape of Nanjing, and Unit 731 and explain that in wars it's usually civilians, in some cases ones who weren't even born at the time, who end up suffering the most. What I hope people will remember about this book is a young girl's bravery and triumph over fear in facing a fatal illness, and the loving support of her classmates.

Whether you are dealing with elementary children or even high school, this book sheds a new light on United States history. We are not usually taught about the destruction that our nation caused with the atomic bomb, but this book makes it very personal. However, it is a tear-jerker! That could be helpful to expose children to the feelings that come along with death of a family member or friend.

I read this book a while back and I have always remembered the title. The book was well illustrated and the story, although sad, was very memorable.

The pictures bring a bright character to this classic story about a girl with a tragic illness. It is shorter and easier to understand for a somewhat younger audience and a good introduction to this story.

I am a history teacher and use this to explain the "other side of the story" to my high school students. Then I got a math teacher to teach them how to fold the birds.