Sachiko

By Caren Stelson

A young girl survives an atomic bomb, facing loss and a quest for peace.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,574 ratings

144 pages· 22,714 words· Est. 2 hour read

$19.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

On August 9, 1945, six-year-old Sachiko's life shatters when an atomic bomb devastates her world. As she grapples with loss and trauma, she seeks solace in the words of Helen Keller, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. Bullied and haunted by nightmares, Sachiko embarks on a profound journey to understand the tragedy and find peace. Her story offers a poignant perspective on the aftermath of World War II, revealing resilience and hope amidst staggering hardship. Will Sachiko find the strength to heal and forgive in a world forever changed?

From the publisher

A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book A National Book Award Longlist Selection Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Flora Stieglitz Straus Award A Booklist Editor’s Choice “Magnetic and chilling in its simplicity.”–The New York Times Book Review August 9, 1945, began like any other day for six-year-old Sachiko. Her country was at war, she didn’t have enough to eat. At 11:01 a.m., she was playing outdoors with four other children. Moments later, those children were all dead. An atomic bomb had exploded just half a mile away. In the days and months that followed, Sachiko lost family members, her hair fell out, she woke screaming in the night. When she was finally well enough to start school, other children bullied her. Through it all, she sought to understand what had happened, finding strength in the writings of Helen Keller, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. Based on extensive interviews with Sachiko Yasui, Caren Stelson shares the true story of a young girl who survived the atomic bomb and chronicles her long journey to find peace. Sachiko offers readers a remarkable new perspective on the final moments of World War II–and their aftermath.The paperback edition includes an afterword with updates on Sachiko’s legacy.