GHOSTS OF HIROSHIMA

Name: GHOSTS OF HIROSHIMA
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.27 (294 reviews)
ISBN: 9798228309

by survivors, include the sight of a cart falling from the sky with the hindquarters of the horse pulling it still attached\u003B a young boy who put his hands over his eyes as the bomb hit—and “saw the bones of his fingers shining through shut eyelids, just like an X\u002Dray photograph”\u003B “statue people” flash\u002Dfossilized and fixed in place, covered in a light snowfall of ashes\u003B and, of course, the ghosts—people severely flash\u002Dburned on one side of their bodies, leaving shadows on a wall, the side of a building, or whatever stood nearby. The carnage continued for days, weeks, and years as victims of burns and those who developed various forms of cancer succumbed to their injuries: “People would continue to die in ways that people never imagined people could die.” Scattered in these survivor stories is another set of stories from those involved in the development and deployment of the only two atomic weapons ever used in warfare. The author also tells of the letter from Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard to Franklin D. Roosevelt that started the ball rolling toward the formation of the Manhattan Project and the crew conversations on the Enola Gay and the Bockscar, the planes that dropped the Little Boy on Hiroshima and the Fat Man on Nagasaki. We have to find a way to get along, one crew member said, “because we now have the wherewithal to destroy everything.”"

Book Details

Publisher:Of

Published:2024-01-01

Format:paperback

Language:English

ISBN:9798228309

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

Our Review

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the immediate aftermath of the atomic bomb, following a young survivor's harrowing journey through the ruins of his city. The narrative masterfully balances the immense scale of the tragedy with the intimate, personal story of one boy's resilience and search for his family. Vivid, sensory details ground the reader in the stark reality of post-bomb Hiroshima, making the historical event painfully tangible for a modern audience. This is a powerful work of historical fiction that confronts a difficult chapter of World War II with unflinching honesty.

The book's strength lies in its profound exploration of themes like loss, memory, and the haunting legacy of war, making it a significant addition to any young adult's understanding of 20th-century history. While the subject matter is mature and emotionally challenging, the author handles it with a necessary sensitivity that is appropriate for thoughtful teen readers. This novel will undoubtedly spark deep conversations about peace, humanity, and the consequences of conflict. It leaves a lasting, spectral impression, much like the ghosts of its title.

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