Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr Date of Publication: 1997 ISBN: 0-14-240440 -3 Number of Pages: 80

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: Low / Average
(Topic may be more appropriate for older junior students)
GENRES: Non Fiction, Biographpy
THEMES : Life versus Death - Family

SUMMARY:
Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. As a result of exposure to its radiation, ten years later, she developed leukemia and died. Sadako was a very active child before she became ill. At the suggestion of her good friend, while she was ill, Sadako learned to fold paper origami cranes as a symbol of hope. Sadako aimed to fold 1000 paper cranes but died before she was able to accomplish this feat. Her friends continued her mission to make the cranes.

Today, there is a monument honouring Sadako at the Hiroshima Peace Park. It symbolizes hope, courage and a wish for peace.

The author of this book used Sadako’s personal journal as a reference when writing her story.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- loves history
- is interested in how someone can deal with personal suffering in a positive way.

WHAT ELSE?
This book respectfully deals with the suffering and death of a child. Although the overall message is hopeful, the topic may be too sensitive for some students.