Approaching the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this is an own voices, very personal story written by the daughter of a Hiroshima survivorYuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing … things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and since the Japanese newspapers don’t report lost battles, the Japanese people are not entirely certain of where Japan stands. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home. When the bombs hit Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.
This is a story that offers young readers insight into how children lived during the war, while also introducing them to Japanese culture-something not done before. Based on author Kathleen Burkinshaw’s mother’s firsthand experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Last Cherry Blossom hopes to warn readers of the immense damage nuclear war can bring, while reminding them that the “enemy” in any war is often not so different from ourselves.
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The middle-grade novel, The Last Cherry Blossom, is a profoundly sad and moving tale. Even aside from the backdrop of the war story, this family has many secrets that hide much pain.
As someone whose father, uncle and grandparents were at Pearl Harbor for the beginning of (the USA’s involvement in) World War II, I have always had a preconceived idea about that conflict. Reading this book about a family in Hiroshima caught in the even more devastating end of that same war, was very eye-opening.
The book seemed to give an excellent representation of a culture other than what we typically experience in the United States. While I am unfamiliar with a Japanese lifestyle, particularly in the 1940’s, the feel of the book seemed very authentic. Some of the cultural stuff and language was hard to grasp, but most of it was at least somewhat understandable in the context of the narrative.
The main story revolves around 12-year-old Yuriko, and really seems to present a robust and detailed view of her daily life. We get to know and care for this character, as well as becoming invested to a lesser degree to those around her. It is heart-breaking to see the toll that the war takes on their community even before the main incident occurs for which that city is known.
The author deals with the events of August 6, 1945 in a straightforward and honest manner. She neither exaggerates them for effect nor ignores them for the comfort of the reader.
Amplified by the war and ultimately the atomic bomb and its aftermath, was the tragedy of Yuriko’s family situation. I found it profoundly sad how things played out in the story, let alone what became of everyone later.
I did find the ending to be rather abrupt and ambiguous. I would have liked more information about what happened to Yuriko in the following years. An epilogue of some sort, even if just a summary of her life, would have felt more fulfilling. Even if she was just a character and not an actual (fully) real person, it would be nice to know how things were for her and what become of her.
Overall, I found this to be a very thought-provoking and interesting book about a little remembered time in our world’s history. It is one that I believe everyone should read, especially older kids and young adults, many of whom may not have any real grasp of the events of that horrific day.
Set in the waning days of World War II Hiroshima, this is an extraordinary story with its universal themes of family, life, and love. Young readers will be entranced with the irrepressible Yuriko and her Japanese traditions, and grieve with her when her childhood is torn apart by the unthinkable. The Last Cherry Blossom shows that wherever they are, all children are the victims of war.
The Last Cherry Blossom is even more than a gripping story about the horrors of war. It also illustrates the emotional trauma caused by family secrets and lies, the universality of adolescent anxiety, and the sustaining power of friendship — all in a really good read.
This moving story of a young girl who survives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is a compelling testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw, is and outstanding book relating to the terrible events of the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Mrs. Burkinshaw mother, then a small child survived the bombing and tells her story of loss of family members and the horrors and destruction she witnessed. This story needed to be told, Kathleen does an excellent job in doing just that.It’s a compelling read and a page turner. As an additional bonus, the reader will get taste of the Japanese culture and traditions. Highly recommended.
I’m not a history or Japanese culture scholar, but I feel Kathleen Burkinshaw did an excellent job of conveying the emotions and ideals (both historical and cultural) of her characters. You could tell Ms. Burkinshaw had an emotional connection to the story she wrote. Her insight and ability to communicate the devastation felt by Yuriko and her neighbors is profound and emotionally rending. When I read the background information that Ms. Burkinshaw had based this book on the actual experiences of her own mother, I was that much more touched. I wish more middle grade writers would trust pre-teens with such heartfelt storytelling. There were many Japanese terms used through the course of this book, but the author provided a handy glossary in the back.
A fascinating look at World War II and its tragic conclusion from the point of view of a Japanese girl as she struggles to come to terms with love, loss, and what it means to honor one’s heritage and family.
A different perspective on WWII. Well done.