Soul Lanterns, Shaw Kuzki
Soul Lanterns, Shaw Kuzki
List: $14.00 | Sale: $9.80
Club: $7.00

Soul Lanterns

Author: Shaw Kuzki

Narrator: James Sie

Unabridged: 3 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/15/2022


Synopsis

The haunting and poignant story of a how a young Japanese girl's understanding of the historic and tragic bombing of Hiroshima is transformed by a memorial lantern-floating ceremony.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Century

Twelve-year-old Nozomi lives in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. She wasn't even born when the bombing of Hiroshima took place. Every year Nozomi joins her family at the lantern-floating ceremony to honor those lost in the bombing. People write the names of their deceased loved ones along with messages of peace, on paper lanterns and set them afloat on the river. This year Nozomi realizes that her mother always releases one lantern with no name. She begins to ask questions, and when complicated stories of loss and loneliness unfold, Nozomi and her friends come up with a creative way to share their loved ones' experiences. By opening people's eyes to the struggles they all keep hidden, the project teaches the entire community new ways to show compassion.

Soul Lanterns is an honest exploration of what happened on August 6, 1945, and offers readers a glimpse not only into the rich cultural history of Japan but also into the intimate lives of those who recognize--better than most--the urgent need for peace.

About The Author

About the Author:Born in Hiroshima, SHAW KUZKI is a second generation A-bomb survivor. She received her MA from Sophia University and is the author of a number of books in Japan. Shaw Kuzki lives in Kamakura, Japan. Soul Lanterns is her first novel translated for U.S. readers. About the Translator:Emily Balistrieri was born in Wisconsin, currently lives in Tokyo, and has translated several works including graphic novels as well as general fiction for young readers.


Reviews

Goodreads review by aly on February 09, 2024

Opposing to the usual Hiroshima narratives, Soul lantern hardly addresses Japan's actions during World War II but the devastating aftermath of the event. "Many of those who survived physically were dead inside" This book is a genuine insight into what transpired on August 6, 1945, and it......more

Goodreads review by Reading_ on December 27, 2022

A middle grade historical fiction telling about the horrifying consequences of the Hiroshima bombing. I would not recommend this book to everyone considering some of the triggering scenes described in the book. But also, this book is quite important considering the fact that the effects left after suc......more

Goodreads review by La Crosse County Library on January 05, 2022

Review originally published September 8, 2021 One of the most requested topics I get asked about in Youth Services is children’s books about WWII. Once kids start studying world history, that time period contains so many facets for them to be curious about, and thankfully there’s no shortage of b......more

Goodreads review by Aiza Idris on August 20, 2021

trigger warnings ⚠️ Death, bombings, PTSD. 💭 As much as I wanted other people to read this, I would also love to ask you not to if you are in a grieving phase or haven't really moved on from losing someone you loved so much (as a reviewer, I probably shouldn't said this. but mental health is importan......more


Quotes

"Kuzki and translator Balistrieri create a compelling and age-appropriate account of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and its aftermath." —Booklist

"
This gut-wrenching tale of the Hiroshima bombing from a Japanese perspective is a tender and honest exploration of empathy in the aftermath of unimaginable pain and grief." —School Library Journal

"Kuzki, a the child of [Hiroshima] bombing survivors herself, presents an intimate look at the effects of the [Hiroshima] bomb a generation later, and how such an event has long-lasting impact on the community to which it happened." —The Bulletin 

"Even though they are fictional, the stories of loss, regret, loneliness, and grief are powerful and emotional." —Kirkus Reviews

"A tale about wartime trauma and how art and story can channel empathy, memory, and remembrance." —The Horn Book
 

SELECTION - 2021 Freeman Book Awards for Children’s and Young Adult’s Literature on East and South Asia.