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Hiroshima
Recounts the development of the atomic bomb, describes the historical background of World War II, and looks at the decision to bomb Hiroshima
128 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1994
7 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Sherrow
120 books10 followersVictoria discovered her interest in reading and writing both in early adolescence. In 1978 she moved to Los Angeles and worked two jobs. It was at that time she read Writing for Children and Teenagers by Lee Wyndham , and that is when her fate as a writer was sealed. Victoria had decided to write a children's novel. She went to an annual L.A. conference on writing for children where she learned the basics of marketing and submitting work for writers. Then she started writing.
Her first stories were rejected but she kept strong at it. The year after(1979), she managed to sell a story. Then she sold more. And since she has become a multiple award winning author with over 100 published titles to her name. Sherrow has written poetry, short stories, picture books, and articles.
Victoria has taught writing for over twenty years, reviewed children’s books for newspapers, judged writing contests, and done numerous presentations at schools, libraries, and bookstores. She is a long-time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and served as a judge for the SCBWI’s Golden Kite Award.
Her first stories were rejected but she kept strong at it. The year after(1979), she managed to sell a story. Then she sold more. And since she has become a multiple award winning author with over 100 published titles to her name. Sherrow has written poetry, short stories, picture books, and articles.
Victoria has taught writing for over twenty years, reviewed children’s books for newspapers, judged writing contests, and done numerous presentations at schools, libraries, and bookstores. She is a long-time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and served as a judge for the SCBWI’s Golden Kite Award.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 15, 2019
A comprehensive and chronological history of the research, creation and use of nuclear weapons against Japan during WWII. It covers the feelings and atmospheres of the time in both the US and Japan and gives eye witness accounts from survivors.
An easy to follow book without drowning the reader in dates, figures or jumping around different periods and view points.
An easy to follow book without drowning the reader in dates, figures or jumping around different periods and view points.
October 16, 2013
Hiroshima
Rating
I would give this book a 4 out 5. I thought there was a great deal of background knowledge as to why we dropped this bomb on Japan. I thought the author did a great job of telling me how it all went down. Finally she did an excellent job of telling me about not only the short term effects, but how this community is still effected today.
Summary:
The book starts out with a great deal of information about the building of the atomic bomb. It then transitions into Japans first involvement of WWII at Pearl Harbor and increasing hostilities between the US and Japan. Later on it discusses the reasons to use the atomic bomb rather than a land invasion of Japan. A land invasion would cost an estimated 1,000,000 American lives. Also, the government had spent $2 billion dollars on this experimental weapon. Did they really spend all that money not to use the weapon that could end the war? The book also goes into detail about the devastating aftermath of the bombing. Great informational read.
Characters:
Harry Truman- President of the US who makes the decision to drop the atomic bomb.
Emperor Hirohito- Leader of the Japanese government.
J Robert Oppenheimer- Creator of the atomic bomb.
Themes:
War, opposition, tough choices, right vs. wrong and devastation.
Other Interesting Details:
This book offers a great story about everything that went into the decision to drop the atomic bomb. This is a must read for history buffs looking to increase their understanding of this very controversial topic.
Rating
I would give this book a 4 out 5. I thought there was a great deal of background knowledge as to why we dropped this bomb on Japan. I thought the author did a great job of telling me how it all went down. Finally she did an excellent job of telling me about not only the short term effects, but how this community is still effected today.
Summary:
The book starts out with a great deal of information about the building of the atomic bomb. It then transitions into Japans first involvement of WWII at Pearl Harbor and increasing hostilities between the US and Japan. Later on it discusses the reasons to use the atomic bomb rather than a land invasion of Japan. A land invasion would cost an estimated 1,000,000 American lives. Also, the government had spent $2 billion dollars on this experimental weapon. Did they really spend all that money not to use the weapon that could end the war? The book also goes into detail about the devastating aftermath of the bombing. Great informational read.
Characters:
Harry Truman- President of the US who makes the decision to drop the atomic bomb.
Emperor Hirohito- Leader of the Japanese government.
J Robert Oppenheimer- Creator of the atomic bomb.
Themes:
War, opposition, tough choices, right vs. wrong and devastation.
Other Interesting Details:
This book offers a great story about everything that went into the decision to drop the atomic bomb. This is a must read for history buffs looking to increase their understanding of this very controversial topic.
February 12, 2016
Chapter 1 is about the bombing of the city. The second chapter goes into the general history of Japan and the specific history of the Hiroshima area and city. It also reveals something I have not read elsewhere.
Perry's journey to Japan was not just to force Japan to open its trading doors, but also to release some American sailors that had shipwrecked there and that the Japanese had refused to allow to leave.
The chapter also talks about the Japanese military advances that led up to World War II. Chapter 2 is about the start of WWII through the battle of Midway.
Chapter 3 is about the early work on the development of the atomic bomb. Chapter 4 is about the change of fortune for Japan in the latter part of the war, and the severe conditions that were developing (as far as food, etc. goes) in the cities, including Hiroshima.
Chapter 5 goes into some of the arguments for and against the use of the atomic bomb. Chapter 6 is about the actual dropping of the bomb. Some of the description is very, very graphic and could be upsetting to younger readers.
Chapter 7 talks about the aftermath of the bombing. One of the strangest things to try to understand is how many Japanese people made fun of and disliked survivors of the bombing who were disfigured with scars from the effects of the blast. (These people are called hibakusha). The last chapter is on Hiroshima today, and the anti-bomb movement.
Perry's journey to Japan was not just to force Japan to open its trading doors, but also to release some American sailors that had shipwrecked there and that the Japanese had refused to allow to leave.
The chapter also talks about the Japanese military advances that led up to World War II. Chapter 2 is about the start of WWII through the battle of Midway.
Chapter 3 is about the early work on the development of the atomic bomb. Chapter 4 is about the change of fortune for Japan in the latter part of the war, and the severe conditions that were developing (as far as food, etc. goes) in the cities, including Hiroshima.
Chapter 5 goes into some of the arguments for and against the use of the atomic bomb. Chapter 6 is about the actual dropping of the bomb. Some of the description is very, very graphic and could be upsetting to younger readers.
Chapter 7 talks about the aftermath of the bombing. One of the strangest things to try to understand is how many Japanese people made fun of and disliked survivors of the bombing who were disfigured with scars from the effects of the blast. (These people are called hibakusha). The last chapter is on Hiroshima today, and the anti-bomb movement.
January 8, 2015
The book I just finished reading was called Hiroshima.
It was written by Victoria Sherrow and the genre of this book was Informative Non-Fiction.
The Enola Gay took off to Japan. The crew had cargo that would change the course of mankind. The first atomic bomb in war was taking off to Hiroshima to bomb Japan. Before that, Japan was an ally of the axis nations, and they were invading the countries around them. When they decided that the war was too much, the US decided to start the Manhattan Project, which was secret even to the workers there. How? They worked in different areas where they only knew about few specific things about the project. Much later, they succeeded in making the bomb and they sent it out for testing. They didn't see the full harm of the bomb until they bombed the two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The effects were devastating. In the war, all-in-all, many people from both sides died. The effect of the bomb was horrible. If they didn't die in the explosion and fires, they have to deal with radiation sickness. In that time, little was known what the adverse effects the atomic bomb had on human beings or the environment. After the second bombing, Japan eventually gave up and became allies with the United States over time.
I would recommend this book for people who like history, and true stories. Thank you for reading my blog.
It was written by Victoria Sherrow and the genre of this book was Informative Non-Fiction.
The Enola Gay took off to Japan. The crew had cargo that would change the course of mankind. The first atomic bomb in war was taking off to Hiroshima to bomb Japan. Before that, Japan was an ally of the axis nations, and they were invading the countries around them. When they decided that the war was too much, the US decided to start the Manhattan Project, which was secret even to the workers there. How? They worked in different areas where they only knew about few specific things about the project. Much later, they succeeded in making the bomb and they sent it out for testing. They didn't see the full harm of the bomb until they bombed the two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The effects were devastating. In the war, all-in-all, many people from both sides died. The effect of the bomb was horrible. If they didn't die in the explosion and fires, they have to deal with radiation sickness. In that time, little was known what the adverse effects the atomic bomb had on human beings or the environment. After the second bombing, Japan eventually gave up and became allies with the United States over time.
I would recommend this book for people who like history, and true stories. Thank you for reading my blog.
November 21, 2014
Victoria Sherrow, the author of one of the many Hiroshima books, describes the dropping of the atomic bomb in Japan. Victoria gives a whole new aspect and includes the development and the making of the bomb, along with the decisions on dropping it. There is immediate facts, but also experiences from people who suffered physically and emotionally. She provides a full timeline of before the bombing, during, after and many years later. The on going effects of Hiroshima are presented in her writing and so is her knowledge. I now have learned even more about Hiroshima, and have more knowledge about that day.
December 21, 2014
Sobering and terrifying...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews