Yearling Soul Lanterns

Shaw Kuzki's lyrical novel, though perhaps written for youthful readers, presents a powerful message for readers of all ages about the horrific consequences of war. In a striking way that is not judgmental or preachy, she confronts the reader through the eyes of second generation children with the tragedy of decimating tens of thousands of innocent civilians in a matter of seconds, with double the amount dying from the effects of radiation weeks to years after the bombing.I recall being struck 24 years ago when I had my first opportunity to visit both Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor in the same year. I found it fascinating that Hiroshima, a place where children and mothers were melted by the atomic bomb, is a site dedicated to peace. I did not find that at the military site of Pearl Harbor. Kuzki also captures this desire for peace through the eyes of the children learning details of August 6, 1945 from survivors' stories. These stories - what they wish they would have said or done had they known they would never see their child or beloved again - are haunting pleas that such a tragedy never occur again.In this current time when anger, hostility, and violence are rising in so many countries, her message is critically important.

Powerful and heart wrenching story.Strongly recommended book for even adults.

Nozomi lives in Hiroshima, Japan, and accompanies her mother and grandmother each year to the paper lantern floating ceremony to honor lives lost during the bombing.She and her friends begin to be interested in the stories that the survivors had to share and decide to do an art project called Hiroshima Before and After the Bombing.This was a little difficult to read because it was translated from Japanese. However, it was a very touching book.