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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

(2005, Non-Fiction - Biography, Written by Eleanor Coerr)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Poignant story of sick girl best read as a family.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 9–11

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Finding courage and spirit in the face of adversity through family, friends, and inner strength.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Description of bomb falling, people getting sick and dying.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Parents need to know that this is the true story of an 11-year-old Japanese girl diagnosed with leukemia. Sadako Sasaki was just 2 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She shares what she knows about the "thunderbolt"; what people remember seeing, and later when people she knows became sick and died. When Sadako becomes ill, there are vivid passages about her pain, weakness, sadness, and loneliness. Her family also describes their intense sadness through words and tears. This important story works best for those kids who are OK with reading about illness and death, ages 9+, or for reading together with a parent.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the outstanding traits that help Sadako cope with her illness and that help young readers relate to her. How is Sadako similar to other kids you know, and how is she different based on history and cultural practices? What is it about Sadako that makes her strong before and during her illness?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Sadako and the atom bomb

    i love the book it is the best book

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title and give it 0.0

    This is a good book. It's also a sad book. It tells about a twelve-year-old girl who suffered cancer. It was leukemia. It was a disease from the atom bomb. It It tells about a Japanese girl named Sadako. Sadako was a caring girl. She cared about her family. She had an older brother named Masashiro, a younger sister sister named Mitsue, and a younger brother named Eiji. Sadako's best friend was Chizuko. Sadako was born on January 7, 1943 and died on October 25, 1955. She lived in Hiroshima, Japan. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atom bomb on two Japanese cities to end World War II. Hiroshima was one of them. The other was Nagasaki. Sadako had leukemia when she was twelve years old. Sadako was two years old when the atom bombs were dropped. August 6 was Peace Day in Japan ever since. And Sadako called it a carnival. When the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, it killed a lot of people.And it also caused a plague. Sadako survived but she got the disease from it ten years later. And she died from the disease. Sadako ended up in the hospital on February 21, 1955. Sadako had a lot of energy when she was eleven years old. That's how she's been chosen to be on the relay team. Then, the dizzy spells started. Sadako felt dizzy after the relay race. It was when Sadako started developing luekemia. Sadako tried to keep it as a secret. She didn't tell anyone. She was focusing on the running team. They found out that Sadako had leukemia on the day when Sadako fell down in school. Her father took her to the hospital. Sadako did not want to hear that she had leukemia. Sadako's parents said she only had to stay in the hospital for a few weeks. To Sadako, it did not sound right. Chizuko brought Sadako something to cheer her up. Chizuko told Sadako that if she makes a thousand paper cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. But Sadako only managed to make 644 paper cranes. After that, Sadako was too weak to make more. Then, she died. When Sadako was in the hospital, she met a boy named Kenji, who also had leukemia. Sadako had many visitors. But Kenji only had few. Sadako was out of the the hospital once. A lot of friends and relatives came over. Then, Sadako became pale and tired again. Sadako believed she was making everyone. sad. She wanted to turn back into her old self. The next day, Sadako had to return to the hospital. And Sadako was glad to be back in the hospital. Then, her conditions worsened. Then, she died. After Sadako died, her friends finished the thousand paper cranes for her since Sadako only managed to make 644 paper cranes herself before she died. Three years after Sadako died, a statue of Sadako was unveiled in the Peace Park in Hiroshima.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    It was so amazing

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    It was so amazing

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    I cried at the end because of what happened to sadako

    I think that it was cool.

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