What do you think?
Rate this book
Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story
This striking work of narrative nonfiction tells the true story of six-year-old Sachiko Yasui's survival of the Nagasaki atomic bomb on August 9, 1945, and the heartbreaking and lifelong aftermath. Having conducted extensive interviews with Sachiko Yasui, Caren Stelson chronicles Sachiko’s trauma and loss as well as her long journey to find peace. This book offers readers a remarkable new perspective on the final moments of World War II and their aftermath.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2016
165 people are currently reading
2614 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
July 11, 2018
This is a work of narrative nonfiction telling of six-year-old Sachiko Yasui's survival of the August 9, 1945 Nagasaki atomic bomb. It speaks of that morning when she was out in the yard making mud pies, playing house with her friends. It speaks of her four siblings, her parents and paternal uncle. It was he that pulled her out from the crushed rubble that morning when the bomb fell. It speaks of the years after, until all had died but her.
The book is most appropriate for young adults. Facts presented are clear and simple. It flips back and forth between chapters presenting historical facts and those focusing on the family members. Sachiko’s youngest sibling died at the fall of the bomb. She must tackle thyroid cancer. She loses her voices and struggles to regain it. Her father inspired her with the teaching of Mahatma Gandhi, urging her not to give up. She gained strength from Helen Keller and Martin Luther King, Jr. too. When all in her family had died from radiation sickness, she realized she remained as the only witness to tell her family’s story. She wanted to relate the stories of the Hibakusha.
She repeated to herself the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
At the 50th anniversary of the bombing, she spoke to a class of 6th graders. She involved herself in peace symposiums, spoke out against the spread of nuclear weapons and constantly emphasized the resilience of the human spirit. In 2013 she had a stroke, but I believe she is still alive. The author had many intensive interviews with Sachiko in the process of writing this book.
The audiobook is narrated by John Chancer and Katherine Fentno. Chancer reads those chapters detailing historical facts. Fentno reads those chapters related to family experiences. Chancer’s narration is strong and clear and very easy to follow. Fentno’s isn’t hard to follow either, but has more of an emotional draw. Japanese words are spoken, and they are not always translated.
The book is not childish, but short, and as a result simplified. Also, as a book for young adults, it appropriately focuses on a future based on progress and hope.
The book is most appropriate for young adults. Facts presented are clear and simple. It flips back and forth between chapters presenting historical facts and those focusing on the family members. Sachiko’s youngest sibling died at the fall of the bomb. She must tackle thyroid cancer. She loses her voices and struggles to regain it. Her father inspired her with the teaching of Mahatma Gandhi, urging her not to give up. She gained strength from Helen Keller and Martin Luther King, Jr. too. When all in her family had died from radiation sickness, she realized she remained as the only witness to tell her family’s story. She wanted to relate the stories of the Hibakusha.
She repeated to herself the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
At the 50th anniversary of the bombing, she spoke to a class of 6th graders. She involved herself in peace symposiums, spoke out against the spread of nuclear weapons and constantly emphasized the resilience of the human spirit. In 2013 she had a stroke, but I believe she is still alive. The author had many intensive interviews with Sachiko in the process of writing this book.
The audiobook is narrated by John Chancer and Katherine Fentno. Chancer reads those chapters detailing historical facts. Fentno reads those chapters related to family experiences. Chancer’s narration is strong and clear and very easy to follow. Fentno’s isn’t hard to follow either, but has more of an emotional draw. Japanese words are spoken, and they are not always translated.
The book is not childish, but short, and as a result simplified. Also, as a book for young adults, it appropriately focuses on a future based on progress and hope.
Read
January 3, 2017A total, utter gut punch of a story about a girl who survived the Nagasaki bomb. Stelson does an excellent job letting Sachiko dictate the narrative while offering great context and depth with her sidebars. The editorial voice doesn’t impede at all, but rather, serves to give just a bit more so we see the whole picture of why Sachiko’s survival tale matters so much.
Great, powerful, hard images, along with a must-read author’s note. I’d looked at the family tree before reading the last page of the author’s note and had a question…which was answered really nicely in the note and made me appreciate this book even more.
Difficult and painful but utterly necessary reading. This was a National Book Award long list title for a reason, and I hope it’s one that more and more readers pick up, as it’s an outstanding example of nonfiction for young readers.
— Kelly Jensen
from The Best Books We Read In November 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/12/01/the-be...
Great, powerful, hard images, along with a must-read author’s note. I’d looked at the family tree before reading the last page of the author’s note and had a question…which was answered really nicely in the note and made me appreciate this book even more.
Difficult and painful but utterly necessary reading. This was a National Book Award long list title for a reason, and I hope it’s one that more and more readers pick up, as it’s an outstanding example of nonfiction for young readers.
— Kelly Jensen
from The Best Books We Read In November 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/12/01/the-be...
September 24, 2016
Not long ago, I reviewed The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw, the fictionalized story about a young girl who survived the bombing on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, based on the author's mother's experience. It is a one of the most compelling books I've read about the aftermath of an atomic bomb and one that I highly recommend.
Sachiko is a riveting nonfiction narrative of one girl who survived the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Sachiko Yasui was only 6 years old when the United States dropped a second atomic bomb only 1/2 mile from she was playing house with her friends in an air raid cave. Life had been difficult for the Yasui's during the war, they were a large, but close family - older brothers Aki -14, Ichiro - 12, younger sister Misa - 4, and baby brother Toshi -2, and food shortages always left everyone hungry, usually living on only hot water with wheat balls.
On August 9, 1945, when the air raid siren went off, their father was at work at the Koyagi shipyard, so only their mother and the children went to the air raid cave. After the all clear sounded, the two older boys went their way, Mrs. Yasui, Misa and Toshi went home, Sachiko stayed behind with her friends. Suddenly, before anyone could react to the incoming enemy plane, the bomb was dropped and life for the Yasui family would never be the same.
In the immediate aftermath, the friends Sachiko was playing with were dead, as was baby brother Toshi. A few days after the bombing, the Yasui family, along with Sachiko's surviving uncle, left Nagasaki for the country. But getting away wasn't enough. Aki and Ichiro and her uncle all succumbed to radiation poisoning shortly after.
The family decided to return to Nagasaki and try to rebuild their lives, but the after effects of the atomic bomb continued to plague them, and everyone else who survived. Oddly, survivors were not allowed to talk about the bombing of Nagaski, and when Sachiko started school again, she was bullied by kids who were unaffected by what happened for the way she looked. Later, Sachiko was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, from which she recovered.
But Sachiko's experiences as a hibakusha (a survivor of the atomic bomb) left her without a way to talk about what happened and she spent years looking for the right words that would release her memories. Along the way, Sachiko discovered Gandhi, Helen Keller and Martin Luther King, Jr. who became spiritual mentors to her.
Eventually, Sachiko does find the words she has been seeking to tell her story. In 1995, on the fiftieth anniversary of the bombing, Sachiko, at 56, was finally able to address an audience of sixth-grade children and speak about that fateful day. Now, guided by her spiritual mentors and her father's memory, Sachiko's words are about peace for the future.
I started reading Sachiko one evening and didn't stop until I was finished, it is that emotionally compelling. And yet, it is hard to imagine, and therefore, difficult to write about the depth of the trauma bombing victims like Sachiko suffered. Not just physically and emotionally, but the loss of home, family, friends, neighbors, people one has known all one's life.
Caren Stelman interviewed Sachiko several times, using an interpreter, and has presented her story with a clarity that really captures what life was like for a young hibakusha. In between the narrative of Sachiko's life are sidebars and inserts that further discuss important topics such as Radiation Sickness and Long-Term Effects of Radiation. Reading these, you will immediately notice how well researched this book is, yet it never strays from Sachiko's story. Stelman has also included numerous photographs, including the few surviving photos of Sachiko and her family. Back matter consists of is a Glossary of Japanese Words, Chapter Notes, and Bibliography
Sachiko's story reminds us of the destructive power of atomic and nuclear weapons, a power that should never be taken lightly.
Sachiko is an excellent narrative of one person's experience of the bombing of Nagasaki and its aftermath, and for a fuller picture, you might want to pair it with Steve Sheinkin's 2012 outstanding work Bomb: the Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon or Edward T. Sullivans's 2007 book The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb. And, of course, do match it up with Kathleen Burkinshaw's The Last Cherry Blossom.
If you are interested in reading about other hibakuska, including Sachiko, be sure to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - Testimony of Hibakusha
FYI: As you may already know, Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story has been longlisted for the 2016 National Book Award.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
Sachiko is a riveting nonfiction narrative of one girl who survived the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Sachiko Yasui was only 6 years old when the United States dropped a second atomic bomb only 1/2 mile from she was playing house with her friends in an air raid cave. Life had been difficult for the Yasui's during the war, they were a large, but close family - older brothers Aki -14, Ichiro - 12, younger sister Misa - 4, and baby brother Toshi -2, and food shortages always left everyone hungry, usually living on only hot water with wheat balls.
On August 9, 1945, when the air raid siren went off, their father was at work at the Koyagi shipyard, so only their mother and the children went to the air raid cave. After the all clear sounded, the two older boys went their way, Mrs. Yasui, Misa and Toshi went home, Sachiko stayed behind with her friends. Suddenly, before anyone could react to the incoming enemy plane, the bomb was dropped and life for the Yasui family would never be the same.
In the immediate aftermath, the friends Sachiko was playing with were dead, as was baby brother Toshi. A few days after the bombing, the Yasui family, along with Sachiko's surviving uncle, left Nagasaki for the country. But getting away wasn't enough. Aki and Ichiro and her uncle all succumbed to radiation poisoning shortly after.
The family decided to return to Nagasaki and try to rebuild their lives, but the after effects of the atomic bomb continued to plague them, and everyone else who survived. Oddly, survivors were not allowed to talk about the bombing of Nagaski, and when Sachiko started school again, she was bullied by kids who were unaffected by what happened for the way she looked. Later, Sachiko was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, from which she recovered.
But Sachiko's experiences as a hibakusha (a survivor of the atomic bomb) left her without a way to talk about what happened and she spent years looking for the right words that would release her memories. Along the way, Sachiko discovered Gandhi, Helen Keller and Martin Luther King, Jr. who became spiritual mentors to her.
Eventually, Sachiko does find the words she has been seeking to tell her story. In 1995, on the fiftieth anniversary of the bombing, Sachiko, at 56, was finally able to address an audience of sixth-grade children and speak about that fateful day. Now, guided by her spiritual mentors and her father's memory, Sachiko's words are about peace for the future.
I started reading Sachiko one evening and didn't stop until I was finished, it is that emotionally compelling. And yet, it is hard to imagine, and therefore, difficult to write about the depth of the trauma bombing victims like Sachiko suffered. Not just physically and emotionally, but the loss of home, family, friends, neighbors, people one has known all one's life.
Caren Stelman interviewed Sachiko several times, using an interpreter, and has presented her story with a clarity that really captures what life was like for a young hibakusha. In between the narrative of Sachiko's life are sidebars and inserts that further discuss important topics such as Radiation Sickness and Long-Term Effects of Radiation. Reading these, you will immediately notice how well researched this book is, yet it never strays from Sachiko's story. Stelman has also included numerous photographs, including the few surviving photos of Sachiko and her family. Back matter consists of is a Glossary of Japanese Words, Chapter Notes, and Bibliography
Sachiko's story reminds us of the destructive power of atomic and nuclear weapons, a power that should never be taken lightly.
Sachiko is an excellent narrative of one person's experience of the bombing of Nagasaki and its aftermath, and for a fuller picture, you might want to pair it with Steve Sheinkin's 2012 outstanding work Bomb: the Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon or Edward T. Sullivans's 2007 book The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb. And, of course, do match it up with Kathleen Burkinshaw's The Last Cherry Blossom.
If you are interested in reading about other hibakuska, including Sachiko, be sure to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - Testimony of Hibakusha
FYI: As you may already know, Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story has been longlisted for the 2016 National Book Award.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
October 22, 2021
truly, fuck the U.S. government and military
January 22, 2025
This is a book that was on my TBR (To Be Read) list for way too long. Now almost 8 years after it was first put on my TBR list and 9 years after it was originally published, I read it. Author Caren Stelson's shares Sachiko Yasui's story of what it was like to live through the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945 as a young child.
IMO, this is one of those important books that we should all read and share with the tween and teens in our lives. Less than 150 pages and with many photos and generous white space, it is an accessible book to most that will open up discussions of whether the dropping of a nuclear bomb to end World War II was justified. Lastly, it is a story to build empathy. Much like Hitler's Holocaust, remembering the United States of America's dropping of two bombs on Japan is an event that our young people and subsequent generations should know about.
IMO, this is one of those important books that we should all read and share with the tween and teens in our lives. Less than 150 pages and with many photos and generous white space, it is an accessible book to most that will open up discussions of whether the dropping of a nuclear bomb to end World War II was justified. Lastly, it is a story to build empathy. Much like Hitler's Holocaust, remembering the United States of America's dropping of two bombs on Japan is an event that our young people and subsequent generations should know about.
March 1, 2017
4.75
The first half of this book is absolutely heartbreaking. The delicate and intimate writing style mixed with the devastating account of one of the most horrific events in history really is powerful. The second half of the book is a little more rushed as the author attempts to span sixty years of history while describing what life was like after the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan. This is where I wish the author had spent more time as she connected important figures in history to the development of the main character's struggle to live with the ghosts of the past.
The first half of this book is absolutely heartbreaking. The delicate and intimate writing style mixed with the devastating account of one of the most horrific events in history really is powerful. The second half of the book is a little more rushed as the author attempts to span sixty years of history while describing what life was like after the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan. This is where I wish the author had spent more time as she connected important figures in history to the development of the main character's struggle to live with the ghosts of the past.
December 26, 2016
I don't read these types of books as much as I should. However, the few times I do read them, I realize how little I know about the history of the world that holds my life and the lives of others in its hands. This book was beautiful and amazingly raw. It told of finding peace, living life and experiencing loss. I always knew that there were people who had suffered terrible things, but I never knew how to think of these terrible things. I know the feelings that they are supposed to feel, but I myself have never experienced those feelings on their level. This story helped me understand, though. Understanding made me happy and yet sad at the same time. I wanted to know, but I didn't want to feel.
This is a story that happened. It told me things that I had never known about. And I am glad that Caren Stelson took it upon herself to get this story out into the open. I definitely recommend that people read this book. It is wonderful, painful and amazingly beautiful.
This is a story that happened. It told me things that I had never known about. And I am glad that Caren Stelson took it upon herself to get this story out into the open. I definitely recommend that people read this book. It is wonderful, painful and amazingly beautiful.
August 7, 2017
Wow. I literally couldn't stop reading this book once I started, finishing in one sitting within a few hours. Tears filled my eyes several times while reading Sachiko's story. I highly, highly recommend this book!
I've read a little about the Pacific War, but this book gives a personal account of one of the survivors immediately before, during, and after the atomic bomb dropped in Nagasaki as well as her lifetime spent living with the effects of surviving an atomic blast. Weaved throughout the compelling narrative is factual information about specific, well-researched events and concepts. These nonfiction inserts by Caren Stelson added further dimension and understand to Sachiko's amazing story; Sachiko wouldn't have necessarily known all of the information as a child or young woman, but we can see how it impacted her life regardless.
Caren Stelson does a great job conveying Sachiko Yasui's overall message: peace. The modern world can only survive if people offer compassion and understanding to each other, if they seek peace and avoid hate.
The narrative nonfiction does have a strong bias against the dropping of the atomic bombs. The author does include the purported reasons cited by the United States to justify the use of such mass destruction. A reader can't help but feel that a country that creates that much destruction and damage to so many citizens and non-combative units went too far and crossed a line. I feel like Sachiko's narrative can be used to support never crossing that line again.
I've read a little about the Pacific War, but this book gives a personal account of one of the survivors immediately before, during, and after the atomic bomb dropped in Nagasaki as well as her lifetime spent living with the effects of surviving an atomic blast. Weaved throughout the compelling narrative is factual information about specific, well-researched events and concepts. These nonfiction inserts by Caren Stelson added further dimension and understand to Sachiko's amazing story; Sachiko wouldn't have necessarily known all of the information as a child or young woman, but we can see how it impacted her life regardless.
Caren Stelson does a great job conveying Sachiko Yasui's overall message: peace. The modern world can only survive if people offer compassion and understanding to each other, if they seek peace and avoid hate.
The narrative nonfiction does have a strong bias against the dropping of the atomic bombs. The author does include the purported reasons cited by the United States to justify the use of such mass destruction. A reader can't help but feel that a country that creates that much destruction and damage to so many citizens and non-combative units went too far and crossed a line. I feel like Sachiko's narrative can be used to support never crossing that line again.
February 7, 2020
Sachiko is the story of a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. It follows her story from when she was six years old and hit by the bomb all the way until late in her life. The book also offers side pages of WWII information to help you put Sachiko’s story into context. And while I found it interesting to read, I wasn’t blown away. The writing felt very removed from the incident, and even after reading a whole book about Sachiko, I feel I barely know her. In fact, the book sorta felt like a Wikipedia article written by a distant friend. I wanted more depth and feeling and less facts. But I still think this book has value in educating people about the consequences of our bomb, so it gets 3 stars.
June 12, 2020
Very reminiscent of John Hersey's Hiroshima.
This book - and a few others recently - have reminded me that when you learn math, or English... Physics... you learn math, or English... or Physics... But learning history is mostly relearning history. And unlearning history. Unlearning and then relearning. And learning that you haven't learned.
There's some of that in the other content areas and subjects, but there's not a willful manipulation of math the way there is with history, you know?
Jack Handy said, "Instead of building newer and larger weapons of mass destruction, I think mankind should try to get more use out of the ones we have."
And Louis Armstrong said, "But I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
This book - and a few others recently - have reminded me that when you learn math, or English... Physics... you learn math, or English... or Physics... But learning history is mostly relearning history. And unlearning history. Unlearning and then relearning. And learning that you haven't learned.
There's some of that in the other content areas and subjects, but there's not a willful manipulation of math the way there is with history, you know?
Jack Handy said, "Instead of building newer and larger weapons of mass destruction, I think mankind should try to get more use out of the ones we have."
And Louis Armstrong said, "But I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
May 6, 2018
A heartbreaking nonfiction account of a Nagasaki bombing survivor. This was a topic I had previously only learned about from the "history textbook point-of-view," and the personal memoir aspects of this book wrecked me. Very quick and informative read that I couldn't put down once I started.
March 18, 2021
Really great book would recommend
April 2, 2017
Caren Stelson made 5 visits to Japan to interview and collaborate with Sachiko Yashui. This book tells Sachiko's story about surviving the Nagasaki atomic bomb and growing up to try to decide how to make sense of a life that is so filled with loss. It's a horrific story beautifully told: the message is one of hope, not despair. The exploration of Sachiko's search to find a voice to give meaning to her experiences is a powerful model for all readers - particularly the Middle School readers for whom this text seems to be designed. The text ends with Sachiko's advice from a 2014 address to young people:
"What is peace?"
"What kind of person should I be?"
"Keep pursuing answers to these questions."
"What is peace?"
"What kind of person should I be?"
"Keep pursuing answers to these questions."
March 12, 2019
My 12 year old recommended this book to me having read it for school. After reading Sachiko's story, I agree with the author when she says, "the wartime censorship and propaganda has skewed our understanding of why the United States chose to drop the atomic bombs." I thought the author did a great job of weaving Sachiko's personal story in between the larger historical picture of that time.
September 3, 2018
I usually don't like nonfiction books. But I don't mind nonfiction books that have a character, someone who experienced the event. It gives the facts more life and feeling, more emotion and depth, and really when I'm reading nonfiction books, that's what I'm looking for. And let me tell you, this book gave me exactly that. It was such a beautiful and heartbreaking book. I loved how determined Sachiko was and how she dealt with everything she had to go through in her life. She really is a very inspiring woman and I hope that someday I can gain some of her confidence and courage also.
July 8, 2018
A must-read work of non-fiction. The poignant details of a little girl's life before and after the bombing of Nagasaki should be made known to everyone. This is a story that will likely remain relevant to generations to come, and the human factor it presents should be part of international conversations about humanity, peace, and weapons of mass destruction. How many other survivors' stories have gone untold? How much could we have learned?
May 14, 2018
"When you grow up, remember to tell my story." --Sachiko Yasui
April 29, 2024
Great! Important! However, readers need to understand both sides of the story.
November 26, 2023
un llibre maquissim, una mica trist i dur però explica la història tal qual com és. és una història real i m’ha encantat la nota de l’autora ja que explica com ha arribat a la protagonista i com ara encara tenen relació. nose moolt bé ❤️🩹❤️🩹
February 2, 2017
Fascinating true story of Sachiko Yasui, who was 6-years-old when the atomic bomb dropped on her family's home in Nagasaki. In stark words, she tells how her family members died--cancers, radiation sickness and severe burns, all while letting readers know how those things weren't to be discussed. Horrific.
My only fault was that there were too many interrupting side stories during Sachiko's tale at the beginning of the book. I wanted to read about her and wanted the background info to be available in smaller columns on the side so I could skip when needed.
I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of Helen Keller, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.--who knew?
My only fault was that there were too many interrupting side stories during Sachiko's tale at the beginning of the book. I wanted to read about her and wanted the background info to be available in smaller columns on the side so I could skip when needed.
I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of Helen Keller, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.--who knew?
March 27, 2017
Wow. What a heartbreaking and horrifying story, yet also uplifting and hopeful. The author weaves Sachiko’s story with historical context throughout the book, which made for an emotional and informative read. We are given a personal account at what it was really like to survive the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.
Honestly Sachiko’s account reminded me of pictures and media coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. It felt many of the same feelings I did as a 14-year-old kid watching the coverage of the terrorist attacks on TV: horror, fear, anger, and sorrow.
This book also questions the decision of the United States to use nuclear weapons before really knowing the effects the bombs would have both short and long term. Truman rationalized his decision by saying that dropping the atomic bombs saved hundreds of thousands of American lives we would have lost if we would have sent troops to Japan to fight a war in the east. HOWEVER there were most likely other motives in play here as well. Was it worth the instant death of 120,000 Japanese people? How about the countless number of Japanese people who died in the aftermath from injuries, radiation sickness, and years later – cancer?
Sachiko definitely gave me a lot to think about.
Honestly Sachiko’s account reminded me of pictures and media coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. It felt many of the same feelings I did as a 14-year-old kid watching the coverage of the terrorist attacks on TV: horror, fear, anger, and sorrow.
This book also questions the decision of the United States to use nuclear weapons before really knowing the effects the bombs would have both short and long term. Truman rationalized his decision by saying that dropping the atomic bombs saved hundreds of thousands of American lives we would have lost if we would have sent troops to Japan to fight a war in the east. HOWEVER there were most likely other motives in play here as well. Was it worth the instant death of 120,000 Japanese people? How about the countless number of Japanese people who died in the aftermath from injuries, radiation sickness, and years later – cancer?
Sachiko definitely gave me a lot to think about.
August 24, 2016
Sachiko tells the story of one young girl's survival of the bomb dropped on Nagasaki to end WWII. It is a powerful story about a subject that is often glossed over. Whether you agree with the bombing of Japan or not, you have to sympathize with the bomb survivors who went through hell during the bombing and for the majority of their lives afterwards. Stelson does a great job of telling Sachiko's story, but also teaching the reader about what was going on at the time. She did extensive research which is reflected in the backmatter of the book.
Sachiko was six when the bomb fell on Nagasaki. She was with friends who all died during the explosion. Her youngest brother also died immediately. Two brothers and a beloved uncle died soon after from radiation poisoning and burns. Her father and mother both died of cancer and Sachiko herself survived thyroid cancer. Sachiko took the words of peace that her father and Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and Helen Keller all preached and used them as her personal philosophy and message. She spreads her story throughout the world and advocates for peace and the end of nuclear weapons.
I received this book from Netgalley.
Sachiko was six when the bomb fell on Nagasaki. She was with friends who all died during the explosion. Her youngest brother also died immediately. Two brothers and a beloved uncle died soon after from radiation poisoning and burns. Her father and mother both died of cancer and Sachiko herself survived thyroid cancer. Sachiko took the words of peace that her father and Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and Helen Keller all preached and used them as her personal philosophy and message. She spreads her story throughout the world and advocates for peace and the end of nuclear weapons.
I received this book from Netgalley.
April 1, 2018
A powerful story for middle school students, all the more powerful as it focuses on just one victim of the atomic bombing of Japan. Sachiko Yasui was a six-year-old girl living in Nagasaki when it was destroyed by an atomic bomb on August 9, 1945. She survived, but thousands of others kept dying from radiation sickness. As a hibakusha-atomic bomb survivor-she spoke about her experiences. After hearing Sachiko, Caren Stelson interviewed her and the result is this book.
February 7, 2017
This should be mandatory reading for kids in junior high all the way to adults. An extremely powerful and important book. Just read it.
June 19, 2019
This book would be a great social studies book.
Remembering
What event took place that caused America to join World War II?
Understanding
In your own words, describe Sachiko’s life before the nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Applying
If you had a chance to interview Sachiko’s mother, what questions would you ask her?
What kept you going after four of your children died?
Will you be able to forgive America for what they did to your family?
What is something positive that came out of the bombing?
Did America make life better or worse for the people of Japan after the war?
What were you feeling when your husband found your mother’s bowl in the ash where your house once stood?
What was the hardest part about returning to Nagasaki?
Other then the shrine with your children’s and brother-in-law’s ashes, how do you honor the family that you lost?
Analyzing
What was the relationship between Sachiko and her father?
Evaluating
Do you agree with President Truman’s decision to drop the bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima? Why or why not?
Creating
If you could go back in time and change one thing about Sachiko’s life, what would it be and why? By changing this how would you change Sachiko’s story?
If I could change one thing about Sachiko’s life it would be keeping Ichiro, her brother, alive. In the book Sachiko never says how close her and her brother were. Yet, whenever something stressful happens or something changes in her life, she speaks to him her head. This makes me think that they had a really close relationship, because she doesn’t do this with any of her other family members that have passed. Sachiko is the only child in her family that survived the bomb or the effects of the bomb. We find out later that she has a sister that is born after the bomb. Throughout the book we see how isolated and lonely Sachiko is. The other students at school don’t know what Sachiko went through because the American government kept the bombing censored from the Japanese people. This resulted in Sachiko being bullied because she was behind in school, wore the same clothes every day, and had bald spots on her scalp from where the radiation caused her hair to fall out. If Ichiro would have survived and had been able to go to school with Sachiko, I don’t think she would have felt so alone. She would have had someone that knew her experiences and understood how she was feeling. She also mentioned in the book that if her older brothers would have survived; they would have protected her the bullies. In the moment this would have been a positive, but it would also be a positive in her future. Ichiro could support his sisters’ idea to share their story and become an activist for peace. They would help each other cope with their traumas. When Sachiko was going through surgery to remove her thyroid cancer, Ichiro would have been there to comfort her and take of their mother who couldn’t bare to lose another child.
Remembering
What event took place that caused America to join World War II?
Understanding
In your own words, describe Sachiko’s life before the nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Applying
If you had a chance to interview Sachiko’s mother, what questions would you ask her?
What kept you going after four of your children died?
Will you be able to forgive America for what they did to your family?
What is something positive that came out of the bombing?
Did America make life better or worse for the people of Japan after the war?
What were you feeling when your husband found your mother’s bowl in the ash where your house once stood?
What was the hardest part about returning to Nagasaki?
Other then the shrine with your children’s and brother-in-law’s ashes, how do you honor the family that you lost?
Analyzing
What was the relationship between Sachiko and her father?
Evaluating
Do you agree with President Truman’s decision to drop the bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima? Why or why not?
Creating
If you could go back in time and change one thing about Sachiko’s life, what would it be and why? By changing this how would you change Sachiko’s story?
If I could change one thing about Sachiko’s life it would be keeping Ichiro, her brother, alive. In the book Sachiko never says how close her and her brother were. Yet, whenever something stressful happens or something changes in her life, she speaks to him her head. This makes me think that they had a really close relationship, because she doesn’t do this with any of her other family members that have passed. Sachiko is the only child in her family that survived the bomb or the effects of the bomb. We find out later that she has a sister that is born after the bomb. Throughout the book we see how isolated and lonely Sachiko is. The other students at school don’t know what Sachiko went through because the American government kept the bombing censored from the Japanese people. This resulted in Sachiko being bullied because she was behind in school, wore the same clothes every day, and had bald spots on her scalp from where the radiation caused her hair to fall out. If Ichiro would have survived and had been able to go to school with Sachiko, I don’t think she would have felt so alone. She would have had someone that knew her experiences and understood how she was feeling. She also mentioned in the book that if her older brothers would have survived; they would have protected her the bullies. In the moment this would have been a positive, but it would also be a positive in her future. Ichiro could support his sisters’ idea to share their story and become an activist for peace. They would help each other cope with their traumas. When Sachiko was going through surgery to remove her thyroid cancer, Ichiro would have been there to comfort her and take of their mother who couldn’t bare to lose another child.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2019
To be completely honest, I didn't really know what this book was about when I chose it for my informational text. I just ended up with it because it was the cheapest option of the books on the syllabus under this category for me to rent from Textbook Brokers. However, I feel so lucky that I did end up with this book because it really changed my outlook on certain aspects of life and I learned a lot of new information. I never really learned about how the US bombed Japan in school- I feel like all of the information we learned about World War II was centered around the Holocaust and what was happening in Germany. I knew that we had used nuclear bombs on Hiroshima, but I didn't know just how catastrophic it was, how many cities we actually bombed, and I didn't know about the extent of the aftereffects either. Unfortunately, it seems like a majority of the population (both Japanese and American) didn't know about the aftereffects of being exposed to radiation even years after the bombings because talking about it was so heavily censored by the American Government.
I made the mistake of starting to read this book while I was at work. I work at a preschool, and while the kids are asleep (after all of the chores are done) we will often read books or work on homework until it is time for them to wake up. I read about the first 50 pages of this book during naptime on Monday until I had to stop because I was crying so hard I was afraid I was going to wake up my class. It continued on like that until about halfway through the book. The amount of pain that Sachiko and her family and everyone else that was affected by nuclear strikes is almost incomprehensible to me. I can't imagine going through so much trauma at such a young age.
For being an informational book, Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story was actually a fairly fast-paced read for me, I think because a majority of it is written like a memoir and so much of it focuses on Sachiko's story and her strength. Sachiko's story is so inspiring, and I would definitely want to use this book in my classroom, however, I probably wouldn't use it for anyone younger than middle school just because it is such a heavy topic. I am so glad that I read this book. I learned so much, and I have been thinking about Sachiko constantly since I finished it. I'm sure her story will live with me for a very long time. Also, this book inspired me to check some books about Gandhi, MLK Jr, and Helen Keller out of the library!
I made the mistake of starting to read this book while I was at work. I work at a preschool, and while the kids are asleep (after all of the chores are done) we will often read books or work on homework until it is time for them to wake up. I read about the first 50 pages of this book during naptime on Monday until I had to stop because I was crying so hard I was afraid I was going to wake up my class. It continued on like that until about halfway through the book. The amount of pain that Sachiko and her family and everyone else that was affected by nuclear strikes is almost incomprehensible to me. I can't imagine going through so much trauma at such a young age.
For being an informational book, Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story was actually a fairly fast-paced read for me, I think because a majority of it is written like a memoir and so much of it focuses on Sachiko's story and her strength. Sachiko's story is so inspiring, and I would definitely want to use this book in my classroom, however, I probably wouldn't use it for anyone younger than middle school just because it is such a heavy topic. I am so glad that I read this book. I learned so much, and I have been thinking about Sachiko constantly since I finished it. I'm sure her story will live with me for a very long time. Also, this book inspired me to check some books about Gandhi, MLK Jr, and Helen Keller out of the library!
September 25, 2021
Read all pls
5.5 literally one of the most inspiring books I have ever read.this young gurl losing her siblings from the bombing of Nagasaki was literally a tear jerker(Om manae peme hun for them).I loved how the author provided sachiko real thoughts about peace and what making peace is.this. Literally I wanted to punch mr Franklin Roosevelt’s frisking face because of what he did to her family and others.her 2 year old brother literally died because of your respectfulness to your country.what about other countries.your country was full of fricking immigrants why bomb them because they only bomb you one time and you had to bomb them 4 times with radioactive bombs you leaders of America.I wished Amala and Pala immigrated to Britain.at least they are good on fighting for there continent.sure they teased America and caused the war of 1812 and colonized everything but I think they understood there past.sachiko literally wanted peace and she read about Gandhi and joined the civil rights movement with superstar Martin Luther King jr. i want peace you know?I read a part where US soilders who bombed Nagasaki and orphan young children made fun with fun of tiny children.even memoirs of the geisha sowed how disrespectful American soilders are.they suck.I don’t mean the nice ones and armies now but the bad racist ones.quoting Ms.Sachiko here,”what happened to me must never happen to you.”she cares. Oh don’t want war and so does she so we have something in common.what do I learn from this.number one America in the early 20 century were horrible and selfish.number two,people lost family members.number three sachiko us an role model for me.number four peace is good for everybody.literally I am just listening to photograph from Ed Sheeran and this song is like sachiko family singing to her.😞😞😞😢😢😭😭😭.if you made it this through congrats you read my rant.Acha if you have questions to ask please text me to call me so I can rant to you and also I want more goodreads friends so feel free to tell your friends to follow me.and Jhamdol if you have questions please tell me.
5.5 literally one of the most inspiring books I have ever read.this young gurl losing her siblings from the bombing of Nagasaki was literally a tear jerker(Om manae peme hun for them).I loved how the author provided sachiko real thoughts about peace and what making peace is.this. Literally I wanted to punch mr Franklin Roosevelt’s frisking face because of what he did to her family and others.her 2 year old brother literally died because of your respectfulness to your country.what about other countries.your country was full of fricking immigrants why bomb them because they only bomb you one time and you had to bomb them 4 times with radioactive bombs you leaders of America.I wished Amala and Pala immigrated to Britain.at least they are good on fighting for there continent.sure they teased America and caused the war of 1812 and colonized everything but I think they understood there past.sachiko literally wanted peace and she read about Gandhi and joined the civil rights movement with superstar Martin Luther King jr. i want peace you know?I read a part where US soilders who bombed Nagasaki and orphan young children made fun with fun of tiny children.even memoirs of the geisha sowed how disrespectful American soilders are.they suck.I don’t mean the nice ones and armies now but the bad racist ones.quoting Ms.Sachiko here,”what happened to me must never happen to you.”she cares. Oh don’t want war and so does she so we have something in common.what do I learn from this.number one America in the early 20 century were horrible and selfish.number two,people lost family members.number three sachiko us an role model for me.number four peace is good for everybody.literally I am just listening to photograph from Ed Sheeran and this song is like sachiko family singing to her.😞😞😞😢😢😭😭😭.if you made it this through congrats you read my rant.Acha if you have questions to ask please text me to call me so I can rant to you and also I want more goodreads friends so feel free to tell your friends to follow me.and Jhamdol if you have questions please tell me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2018
Content-area: Social Studies
Creating:
After reading Sachiko’s story, compose a letter to share with her. Include a significant moment, new learning, or express how much you liked her story and why.
Evaluating:
Discuss how Sachiko's father, Helen Keller, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. were influential figures in her life.
Answer: Sachiko learned about the challenges and discrimination that these individuals faced. However, they found their voice and continued to embrace the world. In the words of her father, Sachiko, "Faced forward. Kept walking. Saw the light of hope."
Analyze:
Sachiko was bullied in the second grade and then again in the fourth grade for different reasons. Explain why the other kids in her class taunted her on both occasions.
Answer: In the second grade, children who survived the bomb were often teased and called names such as baldy, monster, or tempura- a reference to a Japanese style of deep-fried foods. They were teased for wearing the same clothes and because of their hygiene. In the fourth grade, Sachiko was bullied because she was intelligent. Also, the leader of a gang did not want her friends to get to know Sachiko. It wasn't until Sachiko wrote her story and had it published in the school newspaper that the bullying stopped.
Apply:
Sachiko’s father shared many words of wisdom with her. If you had to pick one piece of advice, which line would you choose to practice and why?
Understanding:
Summarize Sachiko’s morning leading up to the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945.
Remembering:
After the bombing, Sachiko and her family returned to Nagasaki. Digging through the ashes and rubble where their house once rested, they discovered a significant object. Identify what that object was.
Answer: Sachiko’s grandmother’s bowl was found without a crack or chip.
Creating:
After reading Sachiko’s story, compose a letter to share with her. Include a significant moment, new learning, or express how much you liked her story and why.
Evaluating:
Discuss how Sachiko's father, Helen Keller, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. were influential figures in her life.
Answer: Sachiko learned about the challenges and discrimination that these individuals faced. However, they found their voice and continued to embrace the world. In the words of her father, Sachiko, "Faced forward. Kept walking. Saw the light of hope."
Analyze:
Sachiko was bullied in the second grade and then again in the fourth grade for different reasons. Explain why the other kids in her class taunted her on both occasions.
Answer: In the second grade, children who survived the bomb were often teased and called names such as baldy, monster, or tempura- a reference to a Japanese style of deep-fried foods. They were teased for wearing the same clothes and because of their hygiene. In the fourth grade, Sachiko was bullied because she was intelligent. Also, the leader of a gang did not want her friends to get to know Sachiko. It wasn't until Sachiko wrote her story and had it published in the school newspaper that the bullying stopped.
Apply:
Sachiko’s father shared many words of wisdom with her. If you had to pick one piece of advice, which line would you choose to practice and why?
Understanding:
Summarize Sachiko’s morning leading up to the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945.
Remembering:
After the bombing, Sachiko and her family returned to Nagasaki. Digging through the ashes and rubble where their house once rested, they discovered a significant object. Identify what that object was.
Answer: Sachiko’s grandmother’s bowl was found without a crack or chip.
June 4, 2018
SACHIKO
By Caren Stelson
I liked this book. I enjoy learning about history and this book helped me to understand the ramifications of the Nagasaki bomb. Not just the typical ramifications you would expect such as loss of life, but of the effects to the lives of the survivors and it showed what struggles Sachiko went through and how she lived after that day. At age 5 Sachiko and her family survived the Nagasaki bombing of August 9th, 1945, her family was only 900 meters from the blast.
This book helped me to “get into Sachiko’s shoes” and understand what happened that day as it described Sachiko’s thoughts as it was happening. Her description of the blast “ An eerie, blinding light burst in the sky. Red, blues, greens spiraled, hot deafening, hurricane force winds roared and at the center of the explosion, a giant fireball flamed, hotter than the surface of the sun.”
You would expect that Sachiko and her family after surviving the blast would have to move to an area that was not contaminated by the radiation but what you would not expect was the ill treatment that they received from others. Sachiko was bullied in school because of her loss of hair, calling her baldy and monster. She also had difficulties in school with learning. Most Japanese at the time did not have much information on the bombing due to censorship so they did not understand what made her this way.
I would recommend this book.
Zach Zientko
By Caren Stelson
I liked this book. I enjoy learning about history and this book helped me to understand the ramifications of the Nagasaki bomb. Not just the typical ramifications you would expect such as loss of life, but of the effects to the lives of the survivors and it showed what struggles Sachiko went through and how she lived after that day. At age 5 Sachiko and her family survived the Nagasaki bombing of August 9th, 1945, her family was only 900 meters from the blast.
This book helped me to “get into Sachiko’s shoes” and understand what happened that day as it described Sachiko’s thoughts as it was happening. Her description of the blast “ An eerie, blinding light burst in the sky. Red, blues, greens spiraled, hot deafening, hurricane force winds roared and at the center of the explosion, a giant fireball flamed, hotter than the surface of the sun.”
You would expect that Sachiko and her family after surviving the blast would have to move to an area that was not contaminated by the radiation but what you would not expect was the ill treatment that they received from others. Sachiko was bullied in school because of her loss of hair, calling her baldy and monster. She also had difficulties in school with learning. Most Japanese at the time did not have much information on the bombing due to censorship so they did not understand what made her this way.
I would recommend this book.
Zach Zientko
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2017
Touching story of a woman who was six years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. She and her family survived the blast--from only half a mile away!--but they endured horrors and eventually within a few days, weeks, months and years, she'd lost three brothers, an uncle, her father and a sister to the burns, wounds, radiation sickness and cancer caused by the bomb (in addition to many more relatives). It took her fifty years to finally speak publicly about her experiences; the author saw her speak in Minnesota and reached out to her to ask if she could tell her story in a book for children. They became friends over the course of several years' visits to Japan. Sachiko studied the nonviolent peaceful teachings of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr and eventually became a peace activist. The author tells Sachiko's story in third person omnicient point of view, as Sachiko told it to her, with many sidebars to explain information relating to World War II and the various people conducting it (Hirohito, Truman etc), and concepts like radiation sickness, etc. The book has extensive sources outside of Sachiko's firsthand accounts, and maps and photographs. A very important book that reminds you to be grateful for your family and for peace, and to try to do what you can every day to support both.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews