What do you think?
Rate this book
One Thousand Paper Cranes: The Story of Sadako and the Children's Peace Statue
The inspirational story of the Japanese national campaign to build the Children's Peace Statue honoring Sadako and hundreds of other children who died as a result of the bombing of Hiroshima.
Ten years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki died as a result of atomic bomb disease. Sadako's determination to fold one thousand paper cranes and her courageous struggle with her illness inspired her classmates. After her death, they started a national campaign to build the Children's Peace Statue to remember Sadako and the many other children who were victims of the Hiroshima bombing. On top of the statue is a girl holding a large crane in her outstretched arms. Today in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, this statue of Sadako is beautifully decorated with thousands of paper cranes given by people throughout the world.
Ten years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki died as a result of atomic bomb disease. Sadako's determination to fold one thousand paper cranes and her courageous struggle with her illness inspired her classmates. After her death, they started a national campaign to build the Children's Peace Statue to remember Sadako and the many other children who were victims of the Hiroshima bombing. On top of the statue is a girl holding a large crane in her outstretched arms. Today in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, this statue of Sadako is beautifully decorated with thousands of paper cranes given by people throughout the world.
112 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 9, 2001
91 people are currently reading
2086 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 158 reviews
Read
January 7, 2021This book is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It covers the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the story of the girl behind the Children's Peace Statue. Knowing that information alone will probably clue you in as to why this one was rather heartbreaking. It was hard to read at times because of how heavy it was, but I loved learning about Sadako and her determination to fold one thousand cranes and seeing her holding on to the wish that one day she'd get better. This was a nice way to ease myself back into the nonfiction pool and I hope to pick up more throughout 2021.
June 12, 2022
“Every war invariably results in terrible tragedies, immense waste and sinful destruction. All wars, no matter how big or small, how nearby or far away, diminish OUR humanity to a barbaric level”.
One Thousand Paper Cranes es un libro que relata la historia real de Sadako, una niña que sobrevivió a la bomba nuclear de Hiroshima, pero que unos años después murió por complicaciones causadas por la radiactividad. Durante sus meses de enfermedad en el hospital, Sadako se dedicó a hacer mil grullas de origami, pues pensaba que, si lograba completarlas, podría pedir el deseo de volver a recuperar su salud. Tristemente, Sadako no vivió lo suficiente como para hacerlas todas y murió. Sin embargo, esta niña se convirtió en todo un símbolo y sus compañeros de la escuela recolectaron fondos para crear uno de los monumentos más especiales de Japón: el Children’s Peace Monument.
Este libro es un relato muy duro de leer, uno que nos recuerda que las guerras son absurdas y que quienes pagan el precio más alto por estas barbaridades son las personas comunes y corrientes, los niños, las familias.
One Thousand Paper Cranes es un libro que relata la historia real de Sadako, una niña que sobrevivió a la bomba nuclear de Hiroshima, pero que unos años después murió por complicaciones causadas por la radiactividad. Durante sus meses de enfermedad en el hospital, Sadako se dedicó a hacer mil grullas de origami, pues pensaba que, si lograba completarlas, podría pedir el deseo de volver a recuperar su salud. Tristemente, Sadako no vivió lo suficiente como para hacerlas todas y murió. Sin embargo, esta niña se convirtió en todo un símbolo y sus compañeros de la escuela recolectaron fondos para crear uno de los monumentos más especiales de Japón: el Children’s Peace Monument.
Este libro es un relato muy duro de leer, uno que nos recuerda que las guerras son absurdas y que quienes pagan el precio más alto por estas barbaridades son las personas comunes y corrientes, los niños, las familias.
June 8, 2011
Thousand origami cranes (千羽鶴 Senbadsuru) is a group of one thousand origami cranes together by strings. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise), and is said to live for a thousand years. In Japan, it is commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family.
No. of paper cranes folded by Sadako before she died: Coerr: 644; Ishii: 1,000+
Sadako wrote her first kimono: Coerr: before she died; Ishii: before she was hospitalized
Name of her younger friend who died earlier: Coerr: Kenji; Ishii: Yukiko
Who gave her the idea about the thousand cranes: Coerr:her friend; Ishii: her mother
Ishii’s 1997 non-fiction book is more comprehensive as it gives more facts not only about Sadako and her family but also about the day of the bombing itself and the death of her grandmother, who was mentioned in Coerr’s 1977 novel. Being Tokyo-born and still fluent in Japanese, Ishii was able to get first-hand information about Sadako from her immediate family members who were still alive during the writing of the book. He also incorporated actual pictures of Sadako: as a first grader, as a school runner, during her hospitalization while she was bloated because of leukemia. However, maybe since I read Coerr’s work first, this book was not able to elicit the same reaction from me. Or maybe, Coerr writes better than Ishii since she knew how to twist some facts to make her story more interesting or heart-tugging. Talk about poetic license.
As she and her paper cranes have become symbols for world peace, her statue can now be seen in Hiroshima as well as other parts of Japan:
This is my 2nd book about Sadako Sasaki, the 12-y/o Japanese girl who died of leukemia in 1955, 10 years after the bombing of her hometown Hiroshima. She was located outside the half-mile radius from the epicenter so she survived only to die later. During her 9-month stay in the hospital, she was able to complete folding all the 1,000 paper cranes. Despite achieving the target, she did not get well so she was already on her way to fold another 1,000 when she died.
Tokyo-born Takayuki Ishii published this 1997 non-fiction book Sadako Sasaki that debunked or clarified some of the salient points in the 1977 novel by Eleanor Coerr entitled Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes:
No. of paper cranes folded by Sadako before she died: Coerr: 644; Ishii: 1,000+
Sadako wrote her first kimono: Coerr: before she died; Ishii: before she was hospitalized
Name of her younger friend who died earlier: Coerr: Kenji; Ishii: Yukiko
Who gave her the idea about the thousand cranes: Coerr:her friend; Ishii: her mother
Ishii’s 1997 non-fiction book is more comprehensive as it gives more facts not only about Sadako and her family but also about the day of the bombing itself and the death of her grandmother, who was mentioned in Coerr’s 1977 novel. Being Tokyo-born and still fluent in Japanese, Ishii was able to get first-hand information about Sadako from her immediate family members who were still alive during the writing of the book. He also incorporated actual pictures of Sadako: as a first grader, as a school runner, during her hospitalization while she was bloated because of leukemia. However, maybe since I read Coerr’s work first, this book was not able to elicit the same reaction from me. Or maybe, Coerr writes better than Ishii since she knew how to twist some facts to make her story more interesting or heart-tugging. Talk about poetic license.
As she and her paper cranes have become symbols for world peace, her statue can now be seen in Hiroshima as well as other parts of Japan:
[image error]
November 1, 2016
“Every war invariably results in terrible tragedies, immense waste and sinful destruction. All wars, no matter how big or small, how nearby or far away, diminish OUR humanity to a barbaric level.”
On August 6, 1945,based on the Pacific island of Tinian (Hawaii) the United States dropped an atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in an attempt to end World War II.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes , tells the true story of a young girl named Sadako Sasaki, who died in 1955 of leukemia resulting from radiation poisoning. Eleven year old Sadako Chan was a fast strong runner, her dream was to become the best runner in school ,one afternoon after finishing first in school race ,Sodako chan felt dizzy but decides to keep it a secret. A few weeks later Sodako chan was diagnosed with Leukemia. During her stay in the hospital, Sadako's friend told her about the thousand paper cranes. The story goes that if you fold a thousand paper cranes, the Gods will grant you health again. After hearing this story Sodako is determined to make a thousand paper cranes.
I’m always fascinated with how supportive and dedicated Japanese people are, I admire how keen they are to their culture and traditions. Japanese stories always hit deep, this short story reminded me of the sad movie entitled A grave of fireflies, which tells the story of two siblings and their desperate struggle to survive during the final months of WWII. Sodako story will always with me .I felt really sad reading about Sodako’s struggle with leukemia and very overwhelmed when her friends decided to complete her dream of folding the thousand paper cranes. It was so touching, so sad ,very inspirational and very humane.
On August 6, 1945,based on the Pacific island of Tinian (Hawaii) the United States dropped an atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in an attempt to end World War II.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes , tells the true story of a young girl named Sadako Sasaki, who died in 1955 of leukemia resulting from radiation poisoning. Eleven year old Sadako Chan was a fast strong runner, her dream was to become the best runner in school ,one afternoon after finishing first in school race ,Sodako chan felt dizzy but decides to keep it a secret. A few weeks later Sodako chan was diagnosed with Leukemia. During her stay in the hospital, Sadako's friend told her about the thousand paper cranes. The story goes that if you fold a thousand paper cranes, the Gods will grant you health again. After hearing this story Sodako is determined to make a thousand paper cranes.
I’m always fascinated with how supportive and dedicated Japanese people are, I admire how keen they are to their culture and traditions. Japanese stories always hit deep, this short story reminded me of the sad movie entitled A grave of fireflies, which tells the story of two siblings and their desperate struggle to survive during the final months of WWII. Sodako story will always with me .I felt really sad reading about Sodako’s struggle with leukemia and very overwhelmed when her friends decided to complete her dream of folding the thousand paper cranes. It was so touching, so sad ,very inspirational and very humane.
January 2, 2021
This book is so sad that I almost didn’t want to finish it. I’m so glad I did. This little girl and so many innocent people suffered years later from the affects of the atomic bomb. She suffered a great deal and through her determination to get better something good was born from that. Peace. Last words in the book are.. Peace must prevail.
October 28, 2018
เรื่องเล่าแบบสารคดี เรียบเรียงจากการสัมภาษณ์ครอบครัวของซาดาโกะ เพื่อนร่วมชั้น ครูประจำชั้น และเพื่อนร่วมห้องพักในโรงพยาบาลที่ยังมีชีวิตอยู่ และในเล่มก็มีภาพวาดประกอบ รวมทั้งรูปถ่ายอีกหลายใบ ด้วยสำนวนการเล่าแบบเน้นข้อมูลมันอาจทำให้เราอินไม่มากเท่าไหร่ แต่ในส่วนของความกระทบกระเทือนใจในผลของสงครามนี่ยังไงก็ชวนหดหู่อยู่ดี
May 14, 2021
Anoche terminé de leer Mil pájaros de papel.
Este libro nos trae la historia de Sadako Sasaki, una niña que cuando tenía 2 años vivió junto a su familia la caída de la bomba en Hiroshima, su casa destrozada, su exposición a la radiación, a la lluvia radioactiva, y que después de tantas penurias pensaban que se trataba de una niña sana, hasta casi que de un día para el otro, cuando tenía tan solo 12 años, la diagnosticaron con leucemia. Y desde febrero hasta octubre vivió el avance de una enfermedad dolorosa, y sin embargo nunca se rindió, deseaba recuperarse, y para ello hizo más de mil grullas de papel. Gracias a su carisma era muy querida en la escuela, sus compañeros (con el apoyo de algunas figuras claves) decidieron homenajearla para que nunca se la olvidara a ella, y a los niños que fallecieron a causa de la bomba nuclear, y realizaron una carrera frenética para juntar fondos y construír el memorial que hasta el día de hoy se puede visitar en Hiroshima.
Diría que el enfoque de este libro es casi que con fines educativos para jóvenes, por la manera que está plasmada la historia, dado que contiene ilustraciones y fotografías, pero también tiene partes que parecen novelizadas recreando diálogos.
Así mismo, cabe aclarar que no nos encontramos con un documento lleno de evidencias (en el sentido de encontrarnos con una lectura más informativa) sino que busca llegar a nuestro lado más sensible. Es una historia que en primer lugar conmueve, por la lucha de Sadako, generando empatía con ella y sus seres queridos; pero por otro lado también indigna, al conocer las consecuencias de la guerra, y especialmente de la bomba atómica.
Este libro nos trae la historia de Sadako Sasaki, una niña que cuando tenía 2 años vivió junto a su familia la caída de la bomba en Hiroshima, su casa destrozada, su exposición a la radiación, a la lluvia radioactiva, y que después de tantas penurias pensaban que se trataba de una niña sana, hasta casi que de un día para el otro, cuando tenía tan solo 12 años, la diagnosticaron con leucemia. Y desde febrero hasta octubre vivió el avance de una enfermedad dolorosa, y sin embargo nunca se rindió, deseaba recuperarse, y para ello hizo más de mil grullas de papel. Gracias a su carisma era muy querida en la escuela, sus compañeros (con el apoyo de algunas figuras claves) decidieron homenajearla para que nunca se la olvidara a ella, y a los niños que fallecieron a causa de la bomba nuclear, y realizaron una carrera frenética para juntar fondos y construír el memorial que hasta el día de hoy se puede visitar en Hiroshima.
Diría que el enfoque de este libro es casi que con fines educativos para jóvenes, por la manera que está plasmada la historia, dado que contiene ilustraciones y fotografías, pero también tiene partes que parecen novelizadas recreando diálogos.
Así mismo, cabe aclarar que no nos encontramos con un documento lleno de evidencias (en el sentido de encontrarnos con una lectura más informativa) sino que busca llegar a nuestro lado más sensible. Es una historia que en primer lugar conmueve, por la lucha de Sadako, generando empatía con ella y sus seres queridos; pero por otro lado también indigna, al conocer las consecuencias de la guerra, y especialmente de la bomba atómica.
September 24, 2007
a secret.
i read this as a child.
and it somehow so deeply affected me.
i completely forgot the title and spent much time (before the wide spread use of internet) searching for some book with cranes.
fortunately it was found and i do have my own copy.
psst. read this.
i read this as a child.
and it somehow so deeply affected me.
i completely forgot the title and spent much time (before the wide spread use of internet) searching for some book with cranes.
fortunately it was found and i do have my own copy.
psst. read this.
February 23, 2023
Me encantó TODO el libro y trata de algo veridico, lastima que sea muy corto! Gracias Ali por comprarte y prestarme este libro, me dejó muchos mensajes que están buenos para pasar y ya se armar una grulla de papel 😄❤️🩹
April 7, 2023
Such a sad story. It was interesting to read, but heartbreaking that she was so young when she passed. The 1,000 cranes and the statue are beautiful, but it’s sad they don’t put their faith in God; someone Who can give them hope, peace, and comfort.
November 1, 2016
I get a lot of information about Hiroshima atomic bomb , how the protagonist suffers and how the Japanese suffer and overcome this tragedy. To see how the people of this nation worked together and try to make a better place , and to spread peace. I like the touch of cranes , I like the quote "In Japan, children are often told that when people die , they go to heaven and become stars in the sky".
March 8, 2021
Un libro profundo y devastador, que nos narra la historia detrás del Monumento a la Paz de los Niños en Hiroshima; presentándonos la vida de Sadako Sasaki y su determinación por hacer mil grullas de papel.
May 20, 2019
これはぼくらの叫びです これは私たちの祈りです 世界に平和をきずくための
This is our cry, this is our prayer: for building peace in the world.
what a heartbreaking yet inspiring story. may such tragedies never happen again.
This is our cry, this is our prayer: for building peace in the world.
what a heartbreaking yet inspiring story. may such tragedies never happen again.
February 7, 2021
Although the book takes only a short time to read, it is no less important. The story of Sadako and her family and all other people who were killed after the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima is definitely worth reading. I don't cry often when I read books and have learned to distance myself from terrible things as I am often confronted with them in my history studies, but this book made me cry. On the one hand because of Sadako's terrible ordeal and on the other hand because there is so much hope in it. The effort that Sadako's friends and family put into the erection of a statue of peace is admirable. The following words are engraved at the foot of the statue:
„This is our cry. This is our prayer: To create peace in the world“
„This is our cry. This is our prayer: To create peace in the world“
August 26, 2021
An emotionally devastating reminder of one of the greatest human tragedies! Story of Sadako just broke my heart.
July 16, 2014
I'm starting to make a thousand paper cranes.
I had little expectations from this book but it really moved me. Why do innocent people suffer from violence, war and such?
In Hiroshima, an atomic bomb called little boy was dropped by the US Army. It was targeted simply because it was where the military equipment was manufactured. This book tells the story of Sadako Sasaki and the after-effects of what happened to the atomic bombing.
People around Sadako were kind and generous. Her family was so strong.
Japan is one of the places I wish to visit someday. And now, to see the Genbaku-no-Ko-no-Zoh or Children's Peace Statue will be on my list.
I don’t know when will I get 1000 due to my slow pace lol
June 11, 2008
This is a very inspiring book. After the bombing in Hiroshima in WW2, many Japanese died. The protagonist survived the attack, but found out the bomb caused leukemia. After she found out she had this cancer, she couldn’t leave the hospital. With her free time, she folded a thousand paper cranes which she believed would give her a wish. This book will make any American regret dropping the bomb on Hiroshima.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2021
The book was very heart breaking and a strong reminder of how innocent people always suffer the most from war. As sad as Sadako's story is, I also found it to be very inspiring. Even though her life was unfairly short, she impacted so many people and has become a symbol of peace.
I have to say though that the writing style and choice of words wasn't always for me. But the book was still very moving and thought provoking.
I have to say though that the writing style and choice of words wasn't always for me. But the book was still very moving and thought provoking.
March 22, 2022
Mil pájaros de papel, un relato que te conecta a detalle con los eventos que ocurrieron antes, durante y después de la tragedia que sufrió la familia de Sadako, en el contexto de la segunda guerra mundial. Solo puedo decir: "Sadako, tu deseo de seguir viviendo fue concedido...vives en los corazones de los que conocemos tu historia. Vuela alto porque tus pájaros de papel llegaron al cielo". 🕊️🤍
May 3, 2020
Great but sad story of Sadako who is inadvertently poisoned after the Atomic bomb is dropped in Hiroshima. She believes that folding 1,000 origami cranes will help her recover.
After she passes, her school mates create The Children's Peace Statue.
After she passes, her school mates create The Children's Peace Statue.
August 15, 2015
A very beautiful but sad little book. A must read for all the children and adults alike all over the world. Stop nuclear. Peace must prevail.
April 7, 2019
Great Book!
January 13, 2022
This book was so poorly written I thought it was disrespectful to the story. It was seriously written like a children’s book but is presented in an adult nonfiction manner. In the introduction the author says he loves children and wants children to know this story, but no child would ever pick up this book that is text-dense and filled with grainy hard-to-see black and white photos. The writing followed some absurd chronological format, where it would jump from one topic to the next with literally no transition. For example, when Sadako first moves in with Kiyo, Sadako begins taking an interest in Kiyo’s romance books. And instead of expanding on what other interests she had, the author immediately jumps into a new paragraph talking about the family’s debts and how they had to sell their house. The only transition word was “unfortunately!” There seemed to be no artistic or empathetic talent to this writing. And possibly little to no editing. How many sentences in one paragraph can you start with “She” before it becomes unprofessional? Some parts of this book were so rudimentary in language it felt like I was reading a Dick and Jane book. This review used more vocabulary. Please find a better descriptive word than “very sad.” Such high hopes for this book and geez. What a ghastly disappointment.
September 1, 2019
[3.5 ⭐] Very basic in it's writing and structure but with a great true story at its core. This tells you of Sadako and her folding of a thousand paper cranes with very little embilshement and some good (sometimes hard to see) pictures as it's companion. It's a nice touch to have the instructions of how to fold a paper crane at the end. Easily read in one sitting it is a neat little introduction to the sad reality of Atom Bomb Sickness and I'm glad someone has decided to put Sadakos story to print even if it's brief.
August 23, 2025
That was a heartbreaking book, less than 100 pages. I had heard about it before but learning about the day to day events and her dreams and personality made it much more real. Atomic bombs are horrible and I hate whoever thinks that they just have the right to murder thousands and ruin peoples lives.
January 11, 2021
A short book detailing the life of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who died of a fatal illness caused by the Hiroshima bombing. I visited the Children's Peace Memorial in 2012 and definitely need to revisit after reading more about Sadako's life.
September 3, 2024
Such a tragic true story concerning an extremely brave young girl. The horrors of the 2nd world War continued to claim innocent victims after the event. This 12 year old Japanese girl was a model of courage. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer due to the atom bomb that exploded a mile away from her home when she was only two. The after affect of her death 10 years later was just magical and I'm so pleased how her school friends pursued a mission to remember her by. Tragic but with a touch of class by our fellow humans.
January 11, 2021
This is the first time I read a book in English, and I am happy that I choosed such a beautiful and well written book. This story is so mesmerizing.
January 4, 2022
Qué duro y qué triste cuando recordamos la catástrofe y las consecuencias que la segunda guerra mundial trajo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews