Book Review: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Coerr, E. (1977). Sadako and the thousand paper cranes. New York: Dell Publishing.

Keywords

Hope, Peace, Hiroshima, Atomic Bomb, Leukemia, Death, Empathy.

Summary

Sadako is a 12 year old girl living in Japan who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb when she was two years old. She loves running and avoids reminders of the bomb, such as survivors with scars. She starts having dizzy spells and finds out the she has the dreaded atom bomb sickness, leukemia. Sadako's friend tells her about a legend wherein if a person folds 1000 paper cranes the gods grant her a wish and make her well. As her health deteriorates, Sadako slowly folds cranes, but she is unable to complete the quest and ends up dying with 356 to go. A monument is erected in her honor and children place origami 'peace cranes' there every year on Peace Day, the anniversary of the dropping of he bomb.

Teaching Suggestions and Caveats

This is a powerful antiwar story. It is appropriate for a wide range of ages. It could be read aloud to younger students and could be read and studied in depth through high school. The story works on many levels. First, it is a sad story about a girl who dies from leukemia. Second, it is a story about the detrimental effects of war in general and the atomic bomb specifically. Third, it is about Sadako's transition from a carefree girl who avoids contanct with reminders of the Bomb (e.g. she won't look at survivers who are deformed) and has little thought for anyone but herself, to a dying girl who if forced to deal directly with the implications of the Bomb and has empathy for others. Fourth, it shows how the death of one person can cause hope in others, as Sadako and her quest have become a rallying cry for world peace.