Customer Reviews

Sadako and the thousand paper cranes

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1 star:		(11)

 

 

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr is the true story of a young girl who was born in Japan two years before the end of WWII.

Sadako lives an idyllic life with her parents and two brothers not far from where the atom bomb was dropped in 1945. Although she sees evidence of this horrific act on the faces of other people and knows that many have died from the diseases caused by the radioactive materials, her life hasn't been touched by this. But then Sadako becomes very ill as the result of the radiation. Shortly after she is diagnosed her friend tells her the story of how a thousand paper cranes can bring good luck. And so Sadako begins making origami paper cranes and wishes for good health.

This book is based on the true story of the girl Sadako who was born in Japan in 1943 and died from leukemia in 1955. Today she is a national hero to children in Japan. While this is a sad book adn may not b eright for all younger children, it does teach a wonderful lesson about the effects of war on innocent people and courage in the face of a terminal illness.

As a footnote, last spring we attended the wedding of a friends son. As a party favor at the end of the wedding, the bride made paper cranes for the guests to wish us luck as we had wished them the same. She also told the legend of a thousand paper cranes and couldn't help but think about this when I saw this book on the library shelves and as I read this book. I don't think I will ever look at a paper crane the same way now after reading this book.

A teacher used this book in her 7th grade remedial reading classroom because they were studying Japan. She started off by reading the beginning of a book called Hiroshima which talked about the airplane taking off that had the atomic bomb on it which was destined to be dropped on Hiroshima. She then had the students read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. It was a wonderful lesson. I think that the children really learned how the effects of the A bomb lasted for so long. Sadako gets leukemia from the radiation left from the A bomb. It describes rememberance day from and how the Japenese people were affected by this event in history.

I think it was a wonderful lesson for students to experience what occurred to the people of Japan from their viewpoint. I bought this book for my nephew to read because I think it is so important for kids to understand effects of war from "the other side's" viewpoint. I think that it will help build tolerance and understanding about tough issues such as the effects from the A bomb and what it did to the Japanese people.

I think this is a great book for parents to read to their upper elementary kids. It will open up a line of discussion that might otherwise be overlooked.

Inspired by a real incident after the bombing of Hiroshima, this short tale flows easily along and can be read in one sitting. Much more than a grim reminder of the horrors of atomic war (with a decade of contamination which causes death, crippling and disfigurement to its victims), this story offers hope insted of condemnation.

Ten-year-old Sadako is very active, dreaming of representing her school on the track team. Until she starts experiencing dizziness and other odd symptoms, which she hides from her family as long as she can. Ultimately she is hospitalized with the "atom bmomb disease," which causes her great physical and emotional pain, as her tender life is soon to be senselessly cut short. Must she die so young and unfulfilled, a decade after the day that stopped history? Is there no end to the list of civilian Japanese casualties?

Then her faithful girlfriend suggests a method--based on superstition--to distract her and pass the time in bed: folding 1000 paper cranes (the Japanese art called Origami). Her brother even offers to hang them. Can such a repetitive act really conquer the curse upon this innocent girl, as folklore insists? Will she live long enough to complete her self-appointed task? This short and touching read inspired both school children of Japan and later many adults to honor her commitment to life and beauty, to trust and hope. Written in a style for younger readers, the message of SADAKO will reach out to senstitive humans of all ages.

I read this to my third grade class and they loved it. It opened up a lot of great discussion. Our school's theme this year is peace..this book tied nicely into that theme while fitting into our study of the Japanese culture and the art of origami. Elementary teachers should own and share this wonderful story!

I read this book in school, during Socail Studies class. We read it to finish up our lesson on Japan, we even made paper cranes. This book was about a girl named Sadako who was 2 when the U.S. dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshma. 9 years later the doctors told her that she had the "atom bomb sickness." Sadako and her friend began to make paper cranes. As an old folk tail went, 1,000 Paper Cranes would make you better. Sadako made 643 paper cranes before she died, at age 12. This book made me cry, right in middle of class. It was really sad, I suggest you should read this book. It's a true story too.

Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes opened my eyes to a part of children's literature that I barely knew existed. I read this book as an assignment for Children's Literature at Kent State University. I an not a traditional student, nor have I ever been, and my knowledge of historical events leaves a lot to be desired.

I felt almost like a child learning of this atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima for the first time. The events in this story sparked my interest. The author, Eleanor Coerr, does a wonderful job of presenting some facts about the bombing in a way that children can relate to, while leaving enough unknown that they will want to find out more. Is this not what historical fiction should do?

The text and pictures make this book easily readable by a child as young as seven years. Including the epilogue, it is only sixty-four pages long, and the transitions throughout hold a reader's attention. The story teaches while presenting an ejoyable read. For these reasons and many others, I was very inpressed by this book.

I am 8 years old and I read this book in my third grade class. I loved this book because it reminds me to always have hope and courage. Although some parts of the book are sad, most of the story is happy. I recommend that children and adults read this book.

Dear Reader,
"Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes"is an awsome book.It starts off pretty slow at first and then you will start leaning into the book like you're watching a movie!The book is about a girl who gets an extaeme illness.Her friend tells her an old legend that says that if she make a thousand paper cranes then she will be cured.Does she do it?Find out by reading this book!

Jade N.
Age 12

I received this book free as a child when another one of my books (from a school book order) didn't arrive in time. Reading it really made a big impression on me and definitely gave me a perspective of the WWII that I would not have heard about in school. It is a short read, but really gets a lot of great information and emotion in that short space. To me this book is just as important reading as the Diary of Anne Frank.

Eleanor Coerr heard about Sadako when she lived in Japan. She wanted to write about this brave girl based on a true story. Sadako lived in Hiroshima, Japan where an atom bomb was dropped to end World War II. She was two years old. Ten years later, she had Leukemia as a result of radiation from the bomb. She started to make paper cranes believing that she would get well if she folded one thousand cranes.
Sadako loved to run. Her speed always surprised everyone around her. One day, when she ran in the school, she fainted and went to the hospital. The doctor told Sadako to be hospitalized. Her sickness was Leukemia! Chizuko, Sadako's best friend, worried about her and she went to the hospital. Chizuko said, "If a sick person folds one thousand paper cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her well again." She handed a crane to Sadako. "Here is your first one." Sadako's eyes filled with tears. From then, she made paper cranes wishing to get well. Sadako's mom, dad, and brother always supported her.
This book teaches that an atom bomb is a really scary and dangerous weapon. An atom bomb is a powerful bomb to make people sick even years later when it is dropped. I felt very sad that Sadako was not to able to realize her dream of being the best runner because of Leukemia caused by the bomb. But I like this book because it shows how Sadako didn't give up to get well.
I want to recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what happened in Japan after the atom bomb. I think it is important for us to know about this event. Reading this book makes one wish for world peace.