HIROSHIMA NO PIKA

Maruki, T. (1980). Hiroshima no pika. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.

Readability lexile: AD620L

Target audience: 6th Grade and up

Theme: Death, grief, and loss

Setting: Hiroshima, Japan 

Characters: A little girl (Mii) and her family

Summary: Hiroshima no pika (no peace) is the true story of a little girl and her family having breakfast together when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Maruki tells this account of her native Japan based on a story from a survivor of Hiroshima. She wrote the book for grandchildren throughout the world, hoping that knowledge of this event will prevent anything like it from happening again. The graphic nature of the content and illustrations is appropriate for only mature readers.

The pages of this book are filled with horrific accounts that almost seem to move in slow motion. Her illustrations bring the reader further into the experience of fire, chaos, loss, grief, and disaster. If I were to use this book in my classroom, it would be carefully presented. Teachers should be prepared to discuss the nature of  death, war, and especially nuclear war. 

This book would allow students to gain empathy for those who have suffered through any war. I would have students work in small groups, have them write a brief essay, and make a poster depicting images of war and the ensuing aftermath. Hiroshima no pika meets the standards of high quality literature set forth by Norton (2011).