In this graphic depiction of nuclear devastation, three survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima–Gen, his mother, and his baby sister–face rejection, hunger, and humiliation in their search for a place to live.
- ISBN: 9780867196023
- Author: Nakazawa, Keiji
- Published: 2004 , Last Gasp
- Themes: Atomic bomb, Hiroshima, Nuclear weapons, Survival, World War II
- Descriptors: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Japan
- No. of pages: 288
Is this book suitable for middle schoolers? I was reading some of the reviews on Amazon and it seemed as though some of the things within the book were incredibly graphic.
This graphic novel is an honest and unflinching depiction of the suffering and pain from the atomic bomb so it does show violence and nudity as immediate results of the bomb. The book is based on the experiences of the author, who was 6 when the bomb was dropped. It’s probably most appropriate at the high school level but it depends on what is happening in the classroom. If the book is part of a classroom study about Japan and the atomic bomb and is part of a larger text set of books on this topic, then kids have a context from which to interact with the book and the graphic depictions. The book provides an important perspective on this event, but should be part of a larger set of books and perspectives. It would be less appropriate as a stand-alone novel. — Kathy Short