Recently we had homeschool friends over to present topics that interest them. One of my youngest son's friend summarized this book and demonstrated how to fold a paper crane. He allowed my son (and me!) to borrow this book.
Sadako is determined to make the junior high running team. As she trains, she begins to feel dizzy after her workouts. She does not tell anyone until she falls over at school. Her parents admit her into a hospital where it is discovered she has the "atom bomb disease", leukemia. To bring her hope, her friend Chizuko makes her a paper crane, reminding her of the old story that if a sick person makes a thousand the cranes, the gods will heal her. Sadako begins to make paper cranes out of any paper she can find. Unfortunately, she does die months later.
Based on a true story. Step-by-step directions how to fold a paper crane are included in the back of the book.
A short but powerful book with admirable characters. Readers will be exposed to Japan's culture.
Points to discuss: Japanese culture, WWII & the atom bomb/Hiroshima, worshipping ancestors/gods, relying on "good luck", death of a young girl, leukemia
-Borrowed from a young friend.
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