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เด็กหญิงผู้ชูธงขาว
หลังสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2 สิ้นสุดลงกว่า 3 ทศวรรษ โทมิโกะ ฮิกะ พนักงานบริษัทเอกชนอเมริกัน เอ็กซเพรสได้พบภาพถ่ายภาพหนึ่งในหนังสืออังกฤษ ภาพนั้นคือเด็กหญิงสวมเสื้อผ้าขาดกะรุ่งกะริ่ง มือชูธงขาว และหันหน้ามายิ้มให้กล้อง ทันทีทันใดความรู้สึกอัดอั้นตันใจ โศกเศร้า และถวิลหา ที่เธอเก็บงำไว้ในใจมานานปีก็ทะลักล้นออกมาราวกับสายน้ำเชี่ยวกราก ภาพนั้นคือตัวเธอเอง…โทมิโกะเด็กหญิงวัย 7 ขวบ ที่ต้องสูญเสียแม่ พ่อ พี่ชาย และต้องพลัดพรากจากบ้านอันเนื่องมาจากการสู้รับครั้งสำคัญในสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2 ซึ่งใช้โอกินาวาบ้านเกิดของเธอเป็นสมรภูมิ
หลังจากได้เห็นภาพนั้น โทมิโกะก็ตัดสินใจบอกเล่าความจริงที่เธอประสบให้โลกได้รับรู้ เพื่อเป็นอุทาหรณ์ให้เห็นว่าในขณะที่ทหารสองฝ่ายรบพุ่งอยู่ในสมรภูมิ ประชาชนผู้ไร้อาวุธต้องกระเสือกกระสนเอาชีวิตรอด ทั้งๆ ที่ไม่ได้มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องในการก่อสงคราม ชะตากรรมของเด็กหญิงวัย 7 ขวบ ที่ต้องดิ้นรนหาทางเอาตัวรอด ทำให้ต้องยิ้มทั้งน้ำตา และรู้ซึ่งถึงคำกว่าวที่ว่า ในสงครามยังมีความรัก ความเห็นอกเห็นใจ และมนุษยธรรม!
หลังจากได้เห็นภาพนั้น โทมิโกะก็ตัดสินใจบอกเล่าความจริงที่เธอประสบให้โลกได้รับรู้ เพื่อเป็นอุทาหรณ์ให้เห็นว่าในขณะที่ทหารสองฝ่ายรบพุ่งอยู่ในสมรภูมิ ประชาชนผู้ไร้อาวุธต้องกระเสือกกระสนเอาชีวิตรอด ทั้งๆ ที่ไม่ได้มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องในการก่อสงคราม ชะตากรรมของเด็กหญิงวัย 7 ขวบ ที่ต้องดิ้นรนหาทางเอาตัวรอด ทำให้ต้องยิ้มทั้งน้ำตา และรู้ซึ่งถึงคำกว่าวที่ว่า ในสงครามยังมีความรัก ความเห็นอกเห็นใจ และมนุษยธรรม!
172 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
March 2, 2018
My class read The Girl with the White Flag as a read aloud. It started off okay, not the most upliting book I have ever read, but it got more solemn as the book went on. Then the story transitioned into the more depressing part. Tomiko tells the story of what it was like to actually live through the second world war. She had to take every day one step at a time to try and survive. She experienced the loss of her loved ones along with the feeling of complete and utter fear of death day in and day out. She also struggled with the fluxuation of hope throughout all of it.
This is an absolutely stunning story. The emotional roller coaster of how she felt and what she went through is absolutely inspirational. I will warn you that there are some graphic part that will leave you speechless. It is also a very deep and heavy story. But, that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be read. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
This is an absolutely stunning story. The emotional roller coaster of how she felt and what she went through is absolutely inspirational. I will warn you that there are some graphic part that will leave you speechless. It is also a very deep and heavy story. But, that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be read. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
December 10, 2007
I’m writing this for Julie. I noticed she just added this to her “To Read” list.
Julie. Prepare for tears. I read this back when I was commuting to and from Manhattan every day. I read it in one train ride. I finished it right at my stop. I prayed no one would see the tears streaming down my face as I exited the train. Oh, it was an UGLY cry.
I’m tearing up just thinking about this beautiful, pure, unbelievably sad, innocent, remarkable book.
My grandmother grew up in wartime Okinawa. Her brothers and sisters also hid in the mountains. This certainly played a part in my love for the book, but the story—of the resiliency of the human spirit, especially that of a young child—spans all ages, races, people with pulses.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!
Julie. Prepare for tears. I read this back when I was commuting to and from Manhattan every day. I read it in one train ride. I finished it right at my stop. I prayed no one would see the tears streaming down my face as I exited the train. Oh, it was an UGLY cry.
I’m tearing up just thinking about this beautiful, pure, unbelievably sad, innocent, remarkable book.
My grandmother grew up in wartime Okinawa. Her brothers and sisters also hid in the mountains. This certainly played a part in my love for the book, but the story—of the resiliency of the human spirit, especially that of a young child—spans all ages, races, people with pulses.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!
March 2, 2018
I really likes this book because it talks about war and I like war. This book was written from a 7 year olds perspective and how she made the journey all the way up until now. l this might be on my top ten favorite books. lt isnt even that she is 7 its the way they make it look like she is a full grown adult that has years of training in the "wild" or in war, and war is harder to survive than the wild, so this book is just litterly amazing.
February 28, 2018
เรื่องราวของโอกินาวา ในยุคสงครามโลก (ครั้งที่ 2) กำลังจะสิ้นสุด
ผ่านสายตาของเด็กหญิงตัวเล็กๆ วัย 7 ขวบคนหนึ่ง
ที่อพยพหนีสงครามไปกับพี่น้อง 4 คน และสุดท้าย
เหลือเพียงตัวเธอคนเดียวที่ต้องเอาชีวิตรอดจนกว่าสงครามจะจบ
เป็นความทรหดอันเหลือเชื่อมาก
ผ่านสายตาของเด็กหญิงตัวเล็กๆ วัย 7 ขวบคนหนึ่ง
ที่อพยพหนีสงครามไปกับพี่น้อง 4 คน และสุดท้าย
เหลือเพียงตัวเธอคนเดียวที่ต้องเอาชีวิตรอดจนกว่าสงครามจะจบ
เป็นความทรหดอันเหลือเชื่อมาก
January 27, 2022
As I was watching videos related to the movie "Grave of the Fireflies," I stumbled upon a video about this book- one of the real-life stories that inspired the animated movie. Luckily, I received it as a gift and I finished it all in one go. It is a short book but reading it in that amount of time is more a testament to how gripping this story is. It brought tears to my eyes as Tomiko describes the horrors she saw at the tender age of six. The horrors of war upon civilians are painted through the eyes of this child who suffers greatly. It is a great book to read to expand your empathetic abilities and I highly recommend it if you are able to read it. Definitely take breaks in between though if you need to. It is a deeply heavy book with graphic depictions of violence and trauma.
March 2, 2018
I listened to this book in a class I co-teach, and at first, it was quite depressing and, at times, graphic. The story is an amazing one detailing survival during WWII in Japan, even more so because the subject is a mere 6/7 year old. The atrocities that she witnessed as a child are things most adult have never witnessed and probably won't in their lifetime.
March 12, 2018
It was an ok book. At times I was like why do we have to stop reading, then there were other times whrere I didnt want to read it at all because parts got kinda boring at times but then there were the exciting parts which I enjoyed. There was a lot of deaths in the book which is kind of sad but it just makes the book a whole lot better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2008
Most of my students read this book, so I thought it was worth the read. It was written for adults, but a great war account for young readers. It is very simply written and lacks creative flare, which is why I gave it only 4 stars, but after living in Okinawa for three years it is a MUST read for anyone stationed here. It was the first civilian account of the Battle of Okinawa that I read. Even though it's non-fiction so many of the characters were touching and endearing as if they were fiction. I have since gone caving in the southern parts of the island in search for....well, you'll find out if you read the book. I don't want to give the story away. Truly a courageous girl whose entire life was ripped apart by warfare!
March 2, 2018
I loved this book. It was so interesting, and I couldn't take my attention off of it. But it was also really depressing. But, usually, depressing book's are interesting. I'm sorry but it's true.
In this book we learned not only about what the war was like, but also a lot about the culture in Okinawa. I would like to point out how hard core Tomiko's father was. He definitely took discipline to another level. I didn't think anyone would do something like that over a bunch of beans. I mean I get it, you can't grow the plants anymore, but did you really have to leave her up there for so long? Yes it was an effective method, but was it necessary? Not trying to be disrespectful though.
In this book we learned not only about what the war was like, but also a lot about the culture in Okinawa. I would like to point out how hard core Tomiko's father was. He definitely took discipline to another level. I didn't think anyone would do something like that over a bunch of beans. I mean I get it, you can't grow the plants anymore, but did you really have to leave her up there for so long? Yes it was an effective method, but was it necessary? Not trying to be disrespectful though.
January 3, 2018
หนังสือบอกเล่าเรื่องราวของเด็กผู้หญิงคนหนึ่งที่ต้องหนีภัยสงครามที่โอกินาวาโดยเดินทางลงใต้พร้อมพี่น้อง แต่สุดท้ายต้องหลบหนีตามลำพัง เรื่องราวบางส่วนอัศจรรย์จนเหมือนนิยาย อ่านแล้วหดหู่ เศร้าใจ สงสาร แต่ก็มีแง่งามอยู่เช่นกัน เสียน้ำตาให้กับตอนสุดท้าย
ผู้เขียนคือเด็กหญิงผู้ชูธงขาวในภาพประวัติศาสตร์ ผู้ยิ้มและโบกมือให้กล้องของทหารอเมริกันเพราะเธอคิดว่ามันคือปืน!
ในสงครามที่เหมือนนรก ยังมีความรักและความเมตตาอันบริสุทธิ์อยู่ โลกนี้ไม่เคยสิ้นหวัง อ่านแล้วรู้สึกอย่างนั้น
ประทับใจมากค่ะ แนะนำ
ผู้เขียนคือเด็กหญิงผู้ชูธงขาวในภาพประวัติศาสตร์ ผู้ยิ้มและโบกมือให้กล้องของทหารอเมริกันเพราะเธอคิดว่ามันคือปืน!
ในสงครามที่เหมือนนรก ยังมีความรักและความเมตตาอันบริสุทธิ์อยู่ โลกนี้ไม่เคยสิ้นหวัง อ่านแล้วรู้สึกอย่างนั้น
ประทับใจมากค่ะ แนะนำ
March 7, 2018
This was an amazing book that absolutely hooked me. It was sad but at the same time happy. It had some graphic depictions of death but was still a very good book. It was something I would not usually read, but I am glad I read it. My teacher read it to me as a read aloud book.
January 11, 2008
When I bought this at Goodwill, there was a note inside it that read,
Kristy 2000,
Remember how you felt when you first read this book? Read it again.
-Kristy 1997
That single-handedly made me wanna read this. The writing itself isn't that amazing (that could also be due to its translation), but the narrative is. An autobiography by a Japanese native, this is her account of how she survived one of the deadliest bombing sprees in occupied-Japan during WW2. Separated from her parents (and eventually her siblings), she is left to wander around the country side, avoiding bombs and searching for food and shelter.
Holy shit, I cried so much. Yeah, its hard to read about the atrocities of war, especially how it affects children, but sometimes we have to force ourselves to get outside of our comfort zones and listen to other people's lived histories if we want to become smarter, more compassionate people.
Kristy 2000,
Remember how you felt when you first read this book? Read it again.
-Kristy 1997
That single-handedly made me wanna read this. The writing itself isn't that amazing (that could also be due to its translation), but the narrative is. An autobiography by a Japanese native, this is her account of how she survived one of the deadliest bombing sprees in occupied-Japan during WW2. Separated from her parents (and eventually her siblings), she is left to wander around the country side, avoiding bombs and searching for food and shelter.
Holy shit, I cried so much. Yeah, its hard to read about the atrocities of war, especially how it affects children, but sometimes we have to force ourselves to get outside of our comfort zones and listen to other people's lived histories if we want to become smarter, more compassionate people.
August 29, 2011
A MUST read if you live in Okinawa!!!
May 30, 2018
The Girl with the White Flag. This was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history or Non-fiction. This book was definitely a tear-jerker, it ALMOST got me. It was very interesting seeing the war from a seven-year-old child's perspective. I was actually very surprised at how well she held up through that hard time. I know that if I were in her shoes I probably wouldn't have made it. She went lost so much and still pushed through. It was especially interesting for me because I live where this happened and I have family who lives in the same village as the main character, Tomiko Higa, and I've been to the beach that her brother was killed. I couldn't imagine what she went through and how she felt but I think that the book really does well to convey her experience from the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers to the kindness of the old couple she helped and stayed with for a while. When Tomiko had to leave was, in my opinion, one of the most emotional parts of the book. I was really surprised when she went to the states to find the man who photographed her and I was very happy when she finally found him. You could tell she was feeling a wave of emotions. I'm really glad that I read this book because I would be missing out if I hadn't. I think that this book is also good for those looking for a generally quick read. It's not a thousand pages long and if you want you could read it in a day. I think the book gives good background and has really good transitions. I'd like to read more books like this one. We may not ever live through what they had to but we can learn about it and I think it's a real blessing for us and very generous of the people who had to go through it because I'm sure it was difficult and painful to pull those memories back out.
October 22, 2018
I had always been interested in the Battle of Okinawa because I have seen so many pictures and heard so many stories living/growing up here; which is why I chose to read this book. The Girl with the White flag is an amazing book, especially because the author experienced this personally and wrote this book herself. And as a child who surrendered, or raised the white flag at the time, her memories are clear but her thoughts on countries being "good" or "bad" weren't clear at all (only the fear and trauma)- which makes it better because her stories aren't so biased like any other WWII stories out there.
Although some parts of the book were really descriptive and grotesque at times, I think that's what it really looked like, or worse.. and as children who have not experienced war at all, the descriptions are very important and stories like this are worth just as much or even more than, facts on textbooks. I also liked her going to the states to meet the photographer that took her picture. Having been in a past where they were on different sides that killed each other, I felt like this event made the book/story even more open towards both Japanese and Americans.
The author, Tomiko Higa was meant to write this book. She was just so so lucky to be able to live through the war, including living when Nini died, living on her own after being separated from her sisters, meeting the old couple, etc. I am so glad she wrote this book, and ant everybody, especially for people living on Okinawa to read this.
Although some parts of the book were really descriptive and grotesque at times, I think that's what it really looked like, or worse.. and as children who have not experienced war at all, the descriptions are very important and stories like this are worth just as much or even more than, facts on textbooks. I also liked her going to the states to meet the photographer that took her picture. Having been in a past where they were on different sides that killed each other, I felt like this event made the book/story even more open towards both Japanese and Americans.
The author, Tomiko Higa was meant to write this book. She was just so so lucky to be able to live through the war, including living when Nini died, living on her own after being separated from her sisters, meeting the old couple, etc. I am so glad she wrote this book, and ant everybody, especially for people living on Okinawa to read this.
March 6, 2018
We choose this book in class and I didn't really know what to expect. The start of the book wasn't that interesting but once the book starting going on it got more interesting. It is filled with details that make you grossed out, happy, sad and it just has fascinating things in general. Overall this was a pretty good book.
This book is a real story about a young girl during the battle of Okinawa during World War II, then she got separated from her family and had to try to live on her own. She couldn't trust much people, because she wasn't sure if they were good or bad. For being such a young girl she was very smart and remembered some of what her father said to help her survive, but she also finds some people that she can trust that might of helped her to live.
This book is a real story about a young girl during the battle of Okinawa during World War II, then she got separated from her family and had to try to live on her own. She couldn't trust much people, because she wasn't sure if they were good or bad. For being such a young girl she was very smart and remembered some of what her father said to help her survive, but she also finds some people that she can trust that might of helped her to live.
September 28, 2025
a very solemn account of how war ravaged daily life in Okinawa. Her survival, as a 7 year old, is astounding and she conveys the fighting and hopeful spirit of a young child vividly. Clasping on to hope, to the clarity of lessons our parents teach us, like if it is your fate to, you will die, or you will live, helps her to be so brave. Actually, it's not even a question of bravery, she just is. Also, now inspired more reading & watching for me: 1962 film Harakiri (she witnesses this ritual) and finding out more about the battle for Okinawa and the film that was made about it, funded by survivors.
September 22, 2020
First let me say that I very seldom write book reviews. After reading this I felt so moved by this story that here I am, writing a review.
This was an amazing story of love, loss, courage and sheer will to live. All of these things helped this child persevere through a highly traumatic time with some pretty horrific experiences. I can’t imagine being six years old and experiencing all that she went through. My heart broke for her on several occasions.
What an amazing story! I’m so glad I decided to read this.
This was an amazing story of love, loss, courage and sheer will to live. All of these things helped this child persevere through a highly traumatic time with some pretty horrific experiences. I can’t imagine being six years old and experiencing all that she went through. My heart broke for her on several occasions.
What an amazing story! I’m so glad I decided to read this.
March 2, 2018
It was a little boring at first but once I got farther along in the book it wasn't boring. They gave very specific details about certain parts of the war. There were very gory details at times but overall it was a very good book.
February 15, 2021
Powerful and compelling story!
May 29, 2018
This quarter, I chose my book just by the author, Tomiko Higa. I just happened to see her last name and realized that she was Okinawan, so immediately I decided to read this.
Just as I imagined, this book was about the Battle of Okinawa that took place during WWII. As an Okinawan, I try to study the battle to my best. This book was a great opportunity for me to get to know how the war was like from someone who has experienced the war.
The author was very small, about six years old when she experienced the war. She lived on the southern part of Okinawa where the battle was the most fierce. She was forced to flee from her house with her two sisters and one younger brother, as her mother has passed away before the fighting, and her dad most likely has been killed before the force reached their home. As they were fleeing, the younger brother was hit by a stray bullet, and the author strayed from her two sisters. From this point on, she has provided us with the events of her month-long wandering in the midst of heavy fighting.
Reading the events, it was incredible how strong the author was and her thought process that kept her alive, even though she was still six and left alone on hazardous land. But that was overridden by the horror and a mysterious feeling. Reading the actions and thoughts of a six-year-old girl on dead soldiers and people can slowly haunt you. The events slowly, but surely crept on me, making me realize once again how war can make a six-year-old can feel absolutely nothing towards floating bodies in a river. The lack of negative emotion, or perhaps the presence of a streak of innocence in the hell is truly what embraces this book. And it should be enough to draw your attention on this book (and hopefully will give you an understanding of the battle in Okinawa and to ensure that it must never happen again) because I say read it.
Just as I imagined, this book was about the Battle of Okinawa that took place during WWII. As an Okinawan, I try to study the battle to my best. This book was a great opportunity for me to get to know how the war was like from someone who has experienced the war.
The author was very small, about six years old when she experienced the war. She lived on the southern part of Okinawa where the battle was the most fierce. She was forced to flee from her house with her two sisters and one younger brother, as her mother has passed away before the fighting, and her dad most likely has been killed before the force reached their home. As they were fleeing, the younger brother was hit by a stray bullet, and the author strayed from her two sisters. From this point on, she has provided us with the events of her month-long wandering in the midst of heavy fighting.
Reading the events, it was incredible how strong the author was and her thought process that kept her alive, even though she was still six and left alone on hazardous land. But that was overridden by the horror and a mysterious feeling. Reading the actions and thoughts of a six-year-old girl on dead soldiers and people can slowly haunt you. The events slowly, but surely crept on me, making me realize once again how war can make a six-year-old can feel absolutely nothing towards floating bodies in a river. The lack of negative emotion, or perhaps the presence of a streak of innocence in the hell is truly what embraces this book. And it should be enough to draw your attention on this book (and hopefully will give you an understanding of the battle in Okinawa and to ensure that it must never happen again) because I say read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2015
A moving account of a 6-year-old girl's experiences living through the battle of Okinawa. Her photo was taken by American army photographers as she carried a white flag and joined a line of surrendering Japanese.
Written decades after the author experienced the events, it's simple style gives a good account from a child's perspective. She describes the horrible death and destruction and even the tragic loss of members of her family in an almost observer style, as though it was too painful to recount in psychological terms. While, on the other hand, the kindness of an elderly couple and an encounter with a rabbit in a field are filled with emotion. Some of the true scars of the experience come out in the epilog, when she describes a reunion decades later with the photographer who took her picture. In the chapter she describes how she can finally be free of some of the memories long repressed.
Written decades after the author experienced the events, it's simple style gives a good account from a child's perspective. She describes the horrible death and destruction and even the tragic loss of members of her family in an almost observer style, as though it was too painful to recount in psychological terms. While, on the other hand, the kindness of an elderly couple and an encounter with a rabbit in a field are filled with emotion. Some of the true scars of the experience come out in the epilog, when she describes a reunion decades later with the photographer who took her picture. In the chapter she describes how she can finally be free of some of the memories long repressed.
July 18, 2010
What an amazing little creature. This little girl's fortitude in the face of death is nothing less than magical. She unassumingly finds a place in your heart where she digs in and stays in your heart's protection. What child, believing that death is waiting can smile and wave at it? The only negative of the book is that there is not more. How did she and her sister survive post-war? Did they ever get back to that fated beach and find Nini's remains? What had the sisters experienced in Tomiko's absence? What of all the others that they passed along their way. Do they all share the wizened and humble voice of Tomiko or was she spared because of her ability to tell a story that needed to be told?
November 12, 2014
The Girl with the White Flag is a truly amazing story of survival. As I read I tried to remember myself at the age of seven. I tried to imagine what it would have been like for me if I had been separated from my sister and left to fend for myself while a war raged around me. The noise of bombs and machine gun fire, taking food off of dead bodies, finding and eating raw sweet potatoes in garden patches, hiding and escaping... In a long, harrowing month she goes from having a father, two sisters, and brother, to being completely on her own. Her father never returns from an errand. Her brother is killed as he sleeps besides her, and then she is separated from her sisters. I'm just not sure I would have had the wisdom, knowledge, fortitude, or courage to go on as little Tomiko did.
April 11, 2026
I found out just a couple of months ago that Elsie, our oldest church member at 101, was married to a WWII war photographer who took a famous picture of a little girl with a white flag, and her story was later written as this book. The friend who told me about this lent me her copy. This was an inspiring and incredible tale. It's a fairly quick and easy read. It was especially heartwarming to see the picture taken years later of the author with her photographer, John Hendrickson, Elsie's late husband. Just today, right before reading the last few pages of this story, I found out that Elsie had passed away. Thank you Elsie and John for your part in this inspiring true story.
August 18, 2020
Started reading this book during a trip to Okinawa in order to understand the context of the war in 1945. Higa’s 120 page account, of the monstrosity of war and the glimpses of humanity seen through the eyes of a seven year old child is absolutely heart rendering. The image of the girl with the white flag is engraved forever in my memory as a symbol of the preciousness of human life.
April 1, 2022
10/10 book! I lived in Japan for a bit of my life, so this book was especially meaningful to me. I love the Japanese culture, and being able to read a book about World War 2 from the perspective of a young Japanese girl was definitely very different. I'm sure most people have moved past the propoganda of the 1940s by now, but it was still interesting to see some of the incredible family values that most Americans forget the Japanese had during the war. War is always a very interesting time because it brings gross generalizations to the table. People tend to believe only the worst of their enemy, then in realty, people are people, and most people don't want to fight. I am amazed at the author for coming forward to write her story, after the old picture was released. After the picture was released, many news organizations used it as a way to say the Japanese were cowardly to make a young girl walk out in front of the army. Tomiko Higa writes about how this is completely untrue. She was doing her own thing, at her own time. The vivid depictions of her pre-war life are beautiful. He explains in great detail how her siblings acted, the tolls that the passing of her mother had on her father, and the layout of their home village. When the war started to pick up, her explains the growing anxiety she can see in her father (in hindsight) as he tried to prepare his children to be strong in the event of an invasion of Okinawa. Though strict, she shows how his children were the most important part of his life. Higa is an incredible writer as she uses her own stories to depict the simple lives of the innocent Japanese during the war. I would say this is a must-read for anyone. It’s short, and easy to read as well, which is a plus.
September 17, 2021
The book reminded me of WITH THE OLD BREED by E.B. Sledge in that it is an absolutely spellbinding, unflinching recount of the horrors of war, told by someone that lived through the worst of the worst. Both books recount the day-to-day survival during the Pacific campaign in the last, wasteful, shameful days of WWII. Actually, both books recount the theatre of war on Okinawa, but where Sledge was a young man and a marine during the assault on Okinawa (and Peleliu and some of the other island-hopping battles of the Pacific theatre), Higa's experience is told through the eyes of a 7-year-old girl, who witnesses her beloved brother killed and afterwards becomes separated from her family. This remarkable girl survived for weeks with incendiary bombs blowing up around her, bullets whizzing past her head, scavenging for food in the pockets of dead soldiers and always on the run from people that intend her harm. It's a truly harrowing book and Higa tells it the way a child would understand it - events happen spontaneously and suddenly and often without explanation. The only reason why I didn't give this five stars is because since the book was written years after the actual events, when the author was an adult, I would've liked some analysis about the events that she lived through. Like WITH THE OLD BREED, this book, THE GIRL WITH THE WHITE FLAG should be required reading for any politician or officer that commands men into battle.
September 9, 2018
In the book, The Girl with the White Flag, by Tomiko Higa, it follows the story of a younger Tomiko Higa at the age of seven years old. She is separated from her whole family during the time of the beginning of the war, but you get to see her retell the story in her eyes, and how much her family impacted her. Throughout the book, you get to see what her past was like and what people in her life before the war affected her. There are also people and animals that affected her as a young child during the war and you get to see how much that the simplest acts of kindness can stick with someone. It focuses on what she went through in the war as well as the photo of "The girl with the white flag".
I really enjoyed this book because it was an insight into what it's like to be a child in WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history, and even if you don't like nonfiction if you like historical fiction too. It is an amazing story about what it was like on the other side of the world from Germany, and instead focussing on what conditions were like in Japan during WWII.
I really enjoyed this book because it was an insight into what it's like to be a child in WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history, and even if you don't like nonfiction if you like historical fiction too. It is an amazing story about what it was like on the other side of the world from Germany, and instead focussing on what conditions were like in Japan during WWII.
December 13, 2019
If you wanted to get an account of what life was like in a Nazi concentration during WW2, Elie Wiesel's autobiography Night will leave you with a vivid account of the atrocious being committed from the perspective of young child. The Girl with the White Flag tells the story of author during the invasion of okinawa by the US 10th army corps. I'd always known about the battle, the large number of deaths and all these statistics that comes along with a battle. Sure, I felt bad. And I thought thats the nature of war. Tomiko's account adds another layer to my view. The unpredictable adversity she faced and her vivid interactions with Japanese soldiers and Okinawan often made me nauseous. How did she survive?, a question I kept asking myself throughout the book. Tomiko is an incredibly resilient individual and her hardships, which I myself will never have experience, gives us as an account of how War affects civilians, in this case a 7 year old girl.
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