"My grandfather, Harry S. Truman, never spoke to me about the atomic bombings of Japan. Like most Americans, I learned about them in school…Sadako Sasaki's story was the first human story of the bombings I'd ever read. It led me to [her brother] Masahiro and two visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the second…to record survivor testimony for the Truman Presidential Library. In all that time, Masahiro rarely told his own version of his family's story, preferring to focus on his sister's courage and selflessness. Now, we have the full story of the courage and selflessness of the entire Sasaki family, their friends and the people of Hiroshima." —Clifton Truman Daniel, Grandson of President Harry S. Truman
"Through reading the story of Sadako Sasaki you will know that the abolition of nuclear weapons and the rejection of war are the only path to survival for mankind. As you read the unbearable tragedy brought by the atomic bombing, you will learn the real meaning of 'to live' from Sadako, who patiently fought against an incurable disease that was so hard to endure." —Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba, Former Mayor, Hiroshima, Japan
"Focusing on one person's story opens the possibility of becoming engaged in the abolition of nuclear weapons. If a mere one hundred explode, every person's life on this frail planet will suffer beyond normal imagination and we must never let that happen." —Jonathan Granoff, President, Global Security Institute
"The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki reminds us of our essential goodness and belongs in libraries, classrooms, and homes everywhere. Sadako inspires us to connect with others, recognize their needs, and act accordingly regardless of our personal circumstances. Omoiyari-no-kokoro, the act of showing empathy and concern, is demonstrated over and over again, as both Sadako and the authors offer us an opportunity to understand the joy of living beyond ourselves." —Dr. Dorothy J. Maver, President, National Peace Academy
"[This] book was written to inform young readers of Sadako's struggle and to inspire them to take action for peace. I believe it succeeds on both counts." —Dr. David Krieger, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
"…a moving account of the life and death of Sasaki's sister, Sadako Sasaki…This loving memoir written by a devoted family member offers a unique perspective of the aftermath of the atomic bombings in Japan in 1945." —School Library Journal
"The message of the original novel by Coerr is beautiful and inspiring, but the realism of Sasaki and DiCicco's book is even more powerful. You will never look at an origami crane the same way again." —Book Riot
"A must read for all teenagers!" —Arun Narayan Toke, editor, Skipping Stones magazine
05/01/2020
Gr 4–6—Sasaki, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, and DiCicco, founder of The Peace Crane Project, have produced a moving account of the life and death of Sasaki's sister, Sadako Sasaki. Only two-years-old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Sadako did not begin to develop physical symptoms related to the event until she was in sixth grade. Once Sadako began to display symptoms of leukemia in 1955, the illness quickly hospitalized her and she died eight months after her diagnosis. Sadako's father taught her the legend of the paper cranes during the final months of her life. The legend requires at least 1,000 paper cranes to be folded to earn a wish. Sadako folded many more than the minimum. Even when it became clear that her wish for good health was not going to be granted, she continued to fold paper cranes. After her death, the paper crane became a symbol of Sadako and her dream of universal peace and hope. Many students may be familiar with Sadako's story from the popular children's book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. VERDICT This loving memoir written by a devoted family member offers a unique perspective of the aftermath of the atomic bombings in Japan in 1945. For those who enjoyed Caren Stelson's Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story and Steve Sheinkin's Bomb: The Race To Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon.—Susan Catlett, Green Run High School, Virginia Beach
