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The Sky We Shared
In southern Japan, Tamiko spends her time writing in her diary, dreaming of making theatrical costumes, and praying her brother Kyo makes it back from the war. She wishes she could be brave like him and help the war effort.
In rural Oregon, Nellie spends her time lying in the grass, studying the stars, and wishing for her pa to return from the war and that the boy next-door neighbor, Joey, would talk to her again like he used to.
Soon the girls' lives become inextricably linked.
Tamiko and her classmates are brought to a damp, repurposed theater to make large paper balloons to help the military.
No one knows what they are for.
Nellie and her classmates ration food, work in salvage drives, and support their community.
No one knows what's coming.
Based on Japan's Project Fu-Go during the last stretch of World War II, The Sky We Shared uses the alternating perspectives of Nellie and Tamiko to depict the shared tragedies of two countries at war.
In rural Oregon, Nellie spends her time lying in the grass, studying the stars, and wishing for her pa to return from the war and that the boy next-door neighbor, Joey, would talk to her again like he used to.
Soon the girls' lives become inextricably linked.
Tamiko and her classmates are brought to a damp, repurposed theater to make large paper balloons to help the military.
No one knows what they are for.
Nellie and her classmates ration food, work in salvage drives, and support their community.
No one knows what's coming.
Based on Japan's Project Fu-Go during the last stretch of World War II, The Sky We Shared uses the alternating perspectives of Nellie and Tamiko to depict the shared tragedies of two countries at war.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published June 7, 2022
9 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 8, 2026
my first ever novel study as a bonafide teacher! and the kids loved it! it was a good read and there was some very beautiful figurative language. it sparked good discussions, but the language was accessible for today’s 10th graders. would teach again!
September 26, 2022
✨ "Eguchi-sensei says war isn't about who is right, but who is left."
This is an emotional and harrowing story told from the perspectives of two teenage girls, who are inextricably linked despite living worlds apart in Japan and in the US. Set during the final stretch of World War II, the book sheds light on a lesser-known (but no less important) part of history.
I appreciate how the author explains why she chose to focus her novel on Project Fu-Go instead of internment camps or the nuclear bombings in Japan. She also used the real names of the victims who died in the Bly attack.
The POVs of both protagonists were well-written. The author perfectly captured the conflicting feelings and moral dilemma that Tamiko faces, as well as the rollercoaster of emotions that survivors experience whether it's guilt, anger or grief.
The Sky We Shared was heartbreaking and painful to read, but I definitely learnt a lot from it. Stories like this need to be told.
This is an emotional and harrowing story told from the perspectives of two teenage girls, who are inextricably linked despite living worlds apart in Japan and in the US. Set during the final stretch of World War II, the book sheds light on a lesser-known (but no less important) part of history.
I appreciate how the author explains why she chose to focus her novel on Project Fu-Go instead of internment camps or the nuclear bombings in Japan. She also used the real names of the victims who died in the Bly attack.
The POVs of both protagonists were well-written. The author perfectly captured the conflicting feelings and moral dilemma that Tamiko faces, as well as the rollercoaster of emotions that survivors experience whether it's guilt, anger or grief.
The Sky We Shared was heartbreaking and painful to read, but I definitely learnt a lot from it. Stories like this need to be told.
June 17, 2022
This book is based on Japan’s Project Fu-Go during the last stretch of World War II. The Sky We Shared uses the alternating perspectives of Nellie and Tamiko to depict the shared tragedies of two countries at war. I had no idea that there were WWII casualties in the continental United States, it certainly wasn’t anything I learned about in school. This book would be perfect for students who like historical fiction and World War II.
February 15, 2023
I had no idea about this part of history prior to reading this book, and I must say that Vernick did a skilled work on crafting the events into the story line. The sparse writing style did well with the historical lens, but sometimes I wish it was just a bit more emotional, or the emotions that were portrayed done so in a less obvious/heavy handed way. Still - there were a lot of good threads and viewpoints in this book!
August 5, 2022
Kudos to the author for covering a little-known fact about WWII and the continental United States. Some years ago, we visited northern Oregon with a native Oregonian. He took us to a site where balloons from Japan landed in WWII. I don't recall the details of the site, but perhaps this is where some civilians were killed, as described in the story and in the author's note.
I enjoyed reading the two perspectives about WWII from Tamiko, a Japanese girl and from Nellie in the United States, particularly about their experiences with the bomb laden balloons.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre to read, and WWII is at the top of the list, especially when I learn little known facts. In the story, Nellie worries about her father serving in the Aleutian Islands. This is where Private Jose P. Martinez born in New Mexico, became the first Hispanic American in WWII to be recognized for valor beyond the call of duty. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously in his hometown, Ault, Colorado. I wrote a corrido (ballad) about this man and believe his story needs to be told because, like the sailors killed at Pearl Harbor, Jose also was killed on American soil in WWII.
I enjoyed reading the two perspectives about WWII from Tamiko, a Japanese girl and from Nellie in the United States, particularly about their experiences with the bomb laden balloons.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre to read, and WWII is at the top of the list, especially when I learn little known facts. In the story, Nellie worries about her father serving in the Aleutian Islands. This is where Private Jose P. Martinez born in New Mexico, became the first Hispanic American in WWII to be recognized for valor beyond the call of duty. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously in his hometown, Ault, Colorado. I wrote a corrido (ballad) about this man and believe his story needs to be told because, like the sailors killed at Pearl Harbor, Jose also was killed on American soil in WWII.
November 12, 2022
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
During World War II, we meet Tamiko, who lives in rural Japan in 1944 and dreams of one day sewing costumes for the theater. Her parents are dead, and she lives with an aunt. Her brother Kyo, has worked with her in the rice fields, but food is so scarce that he decides to join the army. Tamiko is not happy, but there is little she can do but send a daruma doll with him for luck. She and her friend Suki are told that they will be going to a nearby city to work on a project, and Tamiko hopes she can use her skills. When the group has to walk, she is told that she will not be going because she is somewhat lame, having had polio. She sneaks into the group and is soon working on giant paper balloons that are washi paper with potato glue. There are twelve hour shifts, only two rice balls a day, plus some amphetamine tablets, and the girls must sleep on the cold floor. Everyone works hard, hoping to aid the soldiers who are fighting for the Emperor Hirohito in his holy war.
In Oregon, in 1945, we meet Nellie. Her father is stationed in Alaska with the army, and her best friend Joey seems distant since the death of his older brother. Life goes on, and the families must deal with rationing, scrap drives, and propaganda. Joey is angry at the local military recruiter and sets fire on his property, but Nellie covers for him, and the man is actually very understanding. Nellie's best friend, Ruby, has a grandfather who raises pigeons, and the girls go about their days, attending school and church. Since the weather has been warm, Pastor Mitchell and his wife, who is expecting, plan on taking some of the children on a picnic in the woods.
When the balloons are almost done, the soldiers let Tamiko know that they will be used to bomb the US. Tamiko tells the other workers, who are all glad to help the soldiers and hopefully bring a swift end to the war by attacking the US. Suki has been sent home because she is coughing blood, a sure sign of tuberculosis. Hiroshima is bombed, and Suki feels that attacking the US is not the best idea, but Tamiko is still so worried about her brother that she falls out with her friend over this. Conditions continue to worsen as the Japanese food supply is cut off, and even the local trader has nothing to give Tamiko for a picture frame, or even to eat herself. When Kyo comes home, but is injured, Tamiko continues her attempt to fold 1,000 origami cranes and hope that the war will soon be over.
On the church picnic, Nellie is worried about Joey, who is still struggling with his brother's death. When Mrs. Mitchell takes some of the children into the woods to look for another, Nellie is just about to head after them when there is a huge explosion. One of the balloon bombs made in Japan had landed on Gearheart Mountain but not exploded, but detonated when it was perhaps kicked. Five children, along with Mrs. Mitchell, were killed. Joey and Nellie both worried it was their fault, for various reasons, and their small town of Bly is rocked by the deaths. They don't quite understand why the Navy had to be called in to investigate, but they later find that these bombs have landed around the US, but had not killed anyone. There had been a gag on the press reporting the bombs, which was lifted for public safety, albeit too late for Bly's residents. When a family of Japanese citizens goes through town shortly after the funerals, since internment camps were being closed, the residents attempt to stone them. Nellie, however, goes out with a pitcher of water and yells at her neighbors to leave them alone. She's all too aware that her father is still out there, and that more hate is not the answer.
Just when I thought there were no more WWII stories for me to discover, here is one that is entirely new. This is based on the only civilians who were killed by enemy weapons on mainland soil, Vernick does a masterful job of weaving together both sides of the balloon bombs in a sympathetic way. Young readers might be surprised by Nellie's derogatory use of the term "Japs", but this book does manage to capture the sentiment of characters from both Japan and the US.
In addition to delving into the complicated emotions that war engenders, which were well researched and had several sensitivity readers for Tamiko's story, there are a delightful plethora of historical details about daily life. Lee and Low, now the parent company of Cinco Puntos Press, always produces books that handle cultural topics sensitively. I'm a huge fan of working the smallest details into a story, such as the teacher being (gasp!) barelegged but drawing a hosiery line up her leg, visiting the Best Novelties store to look at toys, or describing some of the meals caused by rationing. Vernick doesn't collect these details just for life in the US, but does a great job of mentioning details of clothing and food in Japan. The one inclusion that I found fascinating and wanted more elaboration for was the pills that the girls working on the balloon received with their rice balls; I knew that the Germans gave their soldiers cocaine and methamphetamine so that they could fight longer, but the stimulants for the girls was only mentioned in passing!
This was a sad but utterly riveting book detailing two sides of a devastating conflict that should have been a warning against all future wars. While Burkinshaw's The Last Cherry Blossom or Napoli's In a Flash offer rare glimpses of life in Japan during WWII, there aren't many books that cover this topic, so this is a great addition. Other than Seiple's Ghosts in the Fog or Giff's Island War, there is little about attacks on US territories during WWII. The combination of historical detail, unusual history, and exploration of the emotions of two similar girls on opposite sides of a conflict made for riveting reading. If you read just one WWII book this year, make it The Sky We Shared.
During World War II, we meet Tamiko, who lives in rural Japan in 1944 and dreams of one day sewing costumes for the theater. Her parents are dead, and she lives with an aunt. Her brother Kyo, has worked with her in the rice fields, but food is so scarce that he decides to join the army. Tamiko is not happy, but there is little she can do but send a daruma doll with him for luck. She and her friend Suki are told that they will be going to a nearby city to work on a project, and Tamiko hopes she can use her skills. When the group has to walk, she is told that she will not be going because she is somewhat lame, having had polio. She sneaks into the group and is soon working on giant paper balloons that are washi paper with potato glue. There are twelve hour shifts, only two rice balls a day, plus some amphetamine tablets, and the girls must sleep on the cold floor. Everyone works hard, hoping to aid the soldiers who are fighting for the Emperor Hirohito in his holy war.
In Oregon, in 1945, we meet Nellie. Her father is stationed in Alaska with the army, and her best friend Joey seems distant since the death of his older brother. Life goes on, and the families must deal with rationing, scrap drives, and propaganda. Joey is angry at the local military recruiter and sets fire on his property, but Nellie covers for him, and the man is actually very understanding. Nellie's best friend, Ruby, has a grandfather who raises pigeons, and the girls go about their days, attending school and church. Since the weather has been warm, Pastor Mitchell and his wife, who is expecting, plan on taking some of the children on a picnic in the woods.
When the balloons are almost done, the soldiers let Tamiko know that they will be used to bomb the US. Tamiko tells the other workers, who are all glad to help the soldiers and hopefully bring a swift end to the war by attacking the US. Suki has been sent home because she is coughing blood, a sure sign of tuberculosis. Hiroshima is bombed, and Suki feels that attacking the US is not the best idea, but Tamiko is still so worried about her brother that she falls out with her friend over this. Conditions continue to worsen as the Japanese food supply is cut off, and even the local trader has nothing to give Tamiko for a picture frame, or even to eat herself. When Kyo comes home, but is injured, Tamiko continues her attempt to fold 1,000 origami cranes and hope that the war will soon be over.
On the church picnic, Nellie is worried about Joey, who is still struggling with his brother's death. When Mrs. Mitchell takes some of the children into the woods to look for another, Nellie is just about to head after them when there is a huge explosion. One of the balloon bombs made in Japan had landed on Gearheart Mountain but not exploded, but detonated when it was perhaps kicked. Five children, along with Mrs. Mitchell, were killed. Joey and Nellie both worried it was their fault, for various reasons, and their small town of Bly is rocked by the deaths. They don't quite understand why the Navy had to be called in to investigate, but they later find that these bombs have landed around the US, but had not killed anyone. There had been a gag on the press reporting the bombs, which was lifted for public safety, albeit too late for Bly's residents. When a family of Japanese citizens goes through town shortly after the funerals, since internment camps were being closed, the residents attempt to stone them. Nellie, however, goes out with a pitcher of water and yells at her neighbors to leave them alone. She's all too aware that her father is still out there, and that more hate is not the answer.
Just when I thought there were no more WWII stories for me to discover, here is one that is entirely new. This is based on the only civilians who were killed by enemy weapons on mainland soil, Vernick does a masterful job of weaving together both sides of the balloon bombs in a sympathetic way. Young readers might be surprised by Nellie's derogatory use of the term "Japs", but this book does manage to capture the sentiment of characters from both Japan and the US.
In addition to delving into the complicated emotions that war engenders, which were well researched and had several sensitivity readers for Tamiko's story, there are a delightful plethora of historical details about daily life. Lee and Low, now the parent company of Cinco Puntos Press, always produces books that handle cultural topics sensitively. I'm a huge fan of working the smallest details into a story, such as the teacher being (gasp!) barelegged but drawing a hosiery line up her leg, visiting the Best Novelties store to look at toys, or describing some of the meals caused by rationing. Vernick doesn't collect these details just for life in the US, but does a great job of mentioning details of clothing and food in Japan. The one inclusion that I found fascinating and wanted more elaboration for was the pills that the girls working on the balloon received with their rice balls; I knew that the Germans gave their soldiers cocaine and methamphetamine so that they could fight longer, but the stimulants for the girls was only mentioned in passing!
This was a sad but utterly riveting book detailing two sides of a devastating conflict that should have been a warning against all future wars. While Burkinshaw's The Last Cherry Blossom or Napoli's In a Flash offer rare glimpses of life in Japan during WWII, there aren't many books that cover this topic, so this is a great addition. Other than Seiple's Ghosts in the Fog or Giff's Island War, there is little about attacks on US territories during WWII. The combination of historical detail, unusual history, and exploration of the emotions of two similar girls on opposite sides of a conflict made for riveting reading. If you read just one WWII book this year, make it The Sky We Shared.
October 4, 2023
In dual narratives, two adolescent girls tell of their lives during the spring of 1945, near the end of World War II. Nellie, in Oregon, worries about her Pa stationed in the Aleutian Islands, and about her friend Joey, who hasn’t been the same since his brother was killed in action. Tamiko, a polio survivor in Japan, is living with severe food shortages. She is consumed with worry about her brother Kyo, who joins the army. Both try to make sense of the messages of their governments, which promote ultra-nationalistic ideas in the guise of achieving peace. Tragedy strikes for both, and both suffer from the guilt of surviving.
I thought that dual narratives was a great way to show that war creates suffering for all, even as we assume we know who is in the right. I was struck by how each girl takes on the suffering of all of those around her, even as she tries to find her way as a person. Vernick does a great job of adding in details about what is was like to live during wartime, such as salvage drives, food shortages, and lights out after dark. The privation of those living in Japan was stunning: people were surviving on small amounts of rice, acorns, and the occasional piece of fish. I had not heard of Japan’s plan to send 10,000 balloon explosives to the U.S., and was horrified to hear of teenage girls being duped into constructing them.
I thought that dual narratives was a great way to show that war creates suffering for all, even as we assume we know who is in the right. I was struck by how each girl takes on the suffering of all of those around her, even as she tries to find her way as a person. Vernick does a great job of adding in details about what is was like to live during wartime, such as salvage drives, food shortages, and lights out after dark. The privation of those living in Japan was stunning: people were surviving on small amounts of rice, acorns, and the occasional piece of fish. I had not heard of Japan’s plan to send 10,000 balloon explosives to the U.S., and was horrified to hear of teenage girls being duped into constructing them.
February 4, 2025
While I don't enjoy historical fiction, I can appreciate the story this book is trying to tell. This book is told from a dual POV and dual timeline, even though the times are very close together. We start from the POV of Nellie an American girl living in Oregon in 1945 and Tamiko a Japanese girl living in southern Japan in 1944. All of this book takes place during WWII. Each chapter starts by telling whose POV and the date, so it was pretty easy to keep track. While the characters in the story might not have been real people, the events that take place in the book were things that really happened during that time.
I can see this being a great book used for homeschool families or as a suggested reading for a history class. Personally, this would not be a book that I picked up for fun or light reading. If you enjoy historical fiction though, I think the book would be one that you really find moving.
I can see this being a great book used for homeschool families or as a suggested reading for a history class. Personally, this would not be a book that I picked up for fun or light reading. If you enjoy historical fiction though, I think the book would be one that you really find moving.
November 23, 2023
This was a book that I went into blindly, based solely on a recommendation from a librarian. I am so glad that I read this book!
The story takes place during WWII, and alternates between the perspectives of one girl from Bly, Oregon, USA, and another girl from Japan. Each girl is on different sides of the WWII conflict, but they each have family members fighting for what they believe is right.
I don't like spoilers, so I won't give too much away, but if you want a well-written historical fiction story, based on a part of WWII history that you may not have known about previously, consider giving this book a read. If you live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, this story may be of particular interest to you. After I finished reading the book, I did some Google searching for more of the historical facts from the story. It was quite fascinating!
The story takes place during WWII, and alternates between the perspectives of one girl from Bly, Oregon, USA, and another girl from Japan. Each girl is on different sides of the WWII conflict, but they each have family members fighting for what they believe is right.
I don't like spoilers, so I won't give too much away, but if you want a well-written historical fiction story, based on a part of WWII history that you may not have known about previously, consider giving this book a read. If you live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, this story may be of particular interest to you. After I finished reading the book, I did some Google searching for more of the historical facts from the story. It was quite fascinating!
March 23, 2021
Vernick explored a side of history that I had no idea existed: the only WWII causalities in the continental United States. I never learned about this in school or college due to the emphasis being placed on Pearl Harbor with a tiny mention of Alaska. The characters Nellie and Tamiko were intertwined, despite living on different sides of the Pacific Ocean, when the actions of one directly impact the other. I loved how Vernick included the good and bad qualities of Nellie and Tamiko. They both weren't perfect and made mistakes before growing as characters by the end of the book. For example, they each endured a moment where they realized the true impact of war and that it wasn't just the good guys vs the bad guys; there was so much more tied in.
Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC.
Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC.
January 3, 2023
I read some review that made me think this was children's and order it, but it feels solidly YA to me. Dual perspective WWII stories that aren't often told.
June 16, 2023
I loved learning about a part of WWII that I was previously unfamiliar with. The dual perspective story was effective, but I feel like the plot dragged at times.
September 16, 2024
I dnfed it :/
January 14, 2025
4.5, really good plot. page flipper. I loved the dual pov it got me to think of both perspectives. loved this book.
April 24, 2025
3.75 stars because the ending was WAY too abrupt.
January 16, 2026
2.5- I had to read this book for school and needless to say I’m dreading that I have to write a 4-5 page literary analysis on this book with no substance and basic concepts
February 4, 2025
a dual pov historical fiction book from two sides of WWII that deftly humanizes two teen girls deeply affected by war. a quick read with an important message that isnt ham-handed in any way.
December 23, 2025
This was a very easy read and was required for my high school reading. Learned new history that I was not aware of, but not the best storytelling. Using a lot of telling instead of showing, and more of a Middle Grade reading instead of YA. Ending felt rushed, the plot was shallow and easily predictable. Touches on dark topics but doesn't go into them fully. More for 6th to 8th grade readers than 9th to 12th grade ones.
September 22, 2024
From what I read, so like halfway, it was kinda boring. Ik, a war book. Boring. Crazyyyyyy
December 23, 2024
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review as a possible future Maud Hart Lovelace Award nominee.
If you like historical fiction or World War II stories especially ones that take place in the United States, you'll enjoy this young adult novel that is told in alternating chapters by two teens, Nellie who lives in Bly, Oregon, United States and Tamiko who lives in Shinji-cho village near Kure City, Japan. From the fall of 1944 when Tamiko believes she is helping her country bring peace to the world to the spring of 1945 when a tragedy occurs in Nellie's life, we learn what it may have been like to be a young person growing up in a time of war.
As I finished this, I thought this may be one of those rare books that stays with me for awhile. It is one I will recommend to others, tweens, teens and adults.
If you like historical fiction or World War II stories especially ones that take place in the United States, you'll enjoy this young adult novel that is told in alternating chapters by two teens, Nellie who lives in Bly, Oregon, United States and Tamiko who lives in Shinji-cho village near Kure City, Japan. From the fall of 1944 when Tamiko believes she is helping her country bring peace to the world to the spring of 1945 when a tragedy occurs in Nellie's life, we learn what it may have been like to be a young person growing up in a time of war.
As I finished this, I thought this may be one of those rare books that stays with me for awhile. It is one I will recommend to others, tweens, teens and adults.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews