The Last Cherry Blossom

by Kathleen Burkinshaw

Following the seventieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this is a new, very personal story to join Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Yuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and Japan's fate is not entirely clear, with any battle losses being hidden fom its people. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home. When the bomb hits Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.

This is a story that offers young readers insight into how children lived during the war, while also introducing them to Japanese culture. Based loosely on author Kathleen Burkinshaw’s mother’s firsthand experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Last Cherry Blossom hopes to warn readers of the immense damage nuclear war can bring, while reminding them that the “enemy” in any war is often not so different from ourselves.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Japan, Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, World War II

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 2, 2016

About the author

Kathleen Burkinshaw is a Japanese American author & the daughter of a Hiroshima survivor residing in Charlotte, NC. She’s a wife, mom to a daughter about to graduate from college, and owns a dog who is a kitchen ninja. She has presented her mother’s experience in Hiroshima to middle and high schools for the past 9 years. The Last Cherry Blossom (Sky Pony Press,2016), is now a UNITED NATIONS Office for Disarmament Affairs EDUCATION RESOURCE for Teachers and Students. And is recently nominated for NC School Library Media Association YA book award and 2019-2020 VSBA, 2018& 2016 Scholastic WNDB Reading Club selection, and Finalist for NC Sir Walter Raleigh Fiction Award, 2018 Sakura Medal, Japan, and SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (southeast region),

Reviews

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book to #kidlitexchange for review purposes - all opinions are my own. I did already have a copy in my school library as well.

Haunting and impeccably written for a middle grade audience, THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM is a required purchase for middle grade libraries and classrooms. This story follows 12-year-old Yuriko and her family in the time period surrounding and including the August 6, 1945 bombing of Hiroshima at the end of Word War II. In addition to the storyline involving the war and bombing, Burkinshaw has included storylines involving friends and family secrets that provide richness and entertainment. Burkinshaw draws on the true experiences of her mother's experiences as a child in Hiroshima for this book, making it an even more unique and compelling story for young and adult readers alike. Included in the back pages are an afterword that explains the genesis of the book, as well as a glossary of the Japanese terms used throughout the story and a list of statistics about Hiroshima.

THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM would be an amazing middle grade read aloud, and has possibilities for countless lessons surrounding the topics in the book. Just one example of this is propaganda -
included as chapter headings in the book are headlines from news stories and propaganda posters being used in the city during this time period - this information is also woven within the book and provides excellent backstory to the political situation in Japan during this time period. Burkinshaw also has a discussion guide for the book that can be requested on her website (http://kathleenburkinshaw.com/student...) and provides Skype visits to classes reading the book.

I can not recommend this book highly enough - Yuriko and her family will linger with readers as evidence of the impact of the horrific atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and the true nature of the devastation on residents of the city and surrounding areas.

[Cecilia Casiana Ivanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Ultima floare de cireș” de Kathleen Burkinshaw este o carte puternică, pe care am citit-o dintr-o suflare. Deși este încadrată la literatură pentru adolescenți, mesajul ei depășește orice vârstă. E genul de poveste care te prinde cu un stil limpede și accesibil, dar care îți lasă gândurile neliniștite mult timp după ce ai terminat-o.
Yuriko, eroina cărții, este o fetiță de doisprezece ani care trăiește în Hiroshima în ultimele zile ale celui de-Al Doilea Război Mondial. Îi vedem copilăria, grijile, speranțele, și apoi momentul în care totul se schimbă. Povestea e inspirată din realitate, mama autoarei a supraviețuit bombardamentului atomic, și asta se simte în profunzimea cu care sunt descrise trăirile, spaima, durerea, dar și forța interioară a personajelor.
Am simțit empatie față de Yuriko, o copilă prinsă în ceva mult prea mare pentru vârsta ei. Am trăit fiecare emoție alături de ea, iar relația cu tatăl ei, care o strigă „Joya”, mi s-a părut de o sensibilitate aparte. Chiar și în mijlocul haosului, legăturile umane rămân neprețuite.
Ce mi-a plăcut la această carte e că nu încearcă să dramatizeze gratuit, ci prezintă o realitate istorică dură, cu luciditate și umanitate. Fără a fi apăsătoare, te face să reflectezi la cât de fragilă este viața și cât de ușor pot fi pierdute lucrurile pe care le considerăm normale.
Citind, am realizat că trăim cu iluzia că pacea este o normalitate. Dar nu este. Războiul nu e o poveste din trecut. Cartea m-a făcut să văd că timpurile în care trăim nu sunt cu nimic mai calme sau mai sigure. Hiroshima a fost, este și va rămâne o rană a umanității, o crimă împotriva vieții însăși. M-am cutremurat la acest gând.
Finalul mi-a lăsat o senzație de speranță discretă, de asumare și curaj. Este o carte dureroasă, da, dar nu copleșitoare. Mai degrabă te face să îți dorești să înțelegi, să nu uiți, și să prețuiești pacea, cât timp o ai.
Recomand „Ultima floare de cireș” tuturor, indiferent de vârstă. E o lecție de istorie, dar mai ales una despre empatie, reziliență și umanitate.

[Megalion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting tale for children about the bombing of Hiroshima.

One that was put into writing in novel form by the author at the urging of all the teachers whose classrooms she visited to share her mother's story.

The book is adapted from Kathleen's mother's life as a young girl living in Hiroshima.

More than half of the book brings into her daily life. We become a 9 yr old girl with a family and friend and daily trials and pleasant things. Best of all, she has a devoted Papa who calls her Joya.

World War II is raging but they are removed from it as the battlefields are thousands and thousands of miles away. Yet they must tighten their belts and ration and contribute as much as they can to the war efforts. Even to the point of sending children to work in the war factories.

An excellent book for all ages. If you have children or know any, do give them this book to read.

5 stars is simply not enough to do justice to this true to life story.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Amber Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Burkinshaw tells a powerful, heartbreaking, and deeply moving story about the devastating impact of nuclear war (and the senseless hatred that fuels it), all from the perspective of a twelve year-old girl growing up in Hiroshima in the final days of WWII.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most important books I've read in a long time - I envision The Last Cherry Blossom finding space alongside books as crucial and needed as Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl. Haunting and hopeful all at the same time, this book should required reading, not only for students learning about WWII, but for adults of all ages.

[Dana Cristiana]

This is a very important story about war and family, the characters are well done, but I'm not truly interested in the plot as of now.

DNFed at 31% (page 48/155).

Might restart it another year.

[Tarun Shanker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Cherry Blossom opens on our main character, Yuriko, hiding under a school desk, torn between the panic of another air raid and her desire to receive a grade on her thoroughly-researched family history project. These sorts of harrowing contrasts continue throughout the story, growing only more powerful as Kathleen Burkinshaw immerses us in the world of a 12-year old girl trying to live her life in Hiroshima during World War II, the year before the atomic bomb was dropped. Complicated family drama gets interrupted by terrifying radio announcements. An adorable conversation about a secret crush takes place during his somber going away party to join the army. A joyful spring festival has to be celebrated with the underlying fear that an enemy invasion might make it the last. Universal day-in-the-life scenes and Japanese traditions are woven together in this civilian wartime story, providing a seamless introduction to the culture and a world that is heartbreakingly stripped away by war.

It’s rather daunting to start The Last Cherry Blossom knowing what’s inevitably coming, especially when it’s so easy to fall in love with Yuriko, her Papa, her best friend Machiko and all the other wonderful characters that pass through her life. But Burkinshaw’s story, loosely based on her mother’s real life experience in Hiroshima, finds a touching balance between the horrors and tragedies of the bomb and the hope that still grows in spite of it. Yuriko is achingly real, sometimes brave, sometimes vulnerable, making tough choices and mistakes alike. There are vivid moments, especially in that perfect last chapter, that I know will stay with me for a very long time. And when most of us learn about Hiroshima in the context of dates, casualty numbers and distant mushroom cloud pictures, having this perspective, this narrative and these inspiring moments is absolutely essential.

[Wendy MacKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. When I began reading The Last Cherry Blossom, I wondered if I would feel a compulsion to read ahead to the event (the bombing of Hiroshima), as if that might be THE centerpiece of the book, but I was wrong. Instead, I found myself completely captivated by the central character, Yuriko, and her family and friends in the dying days of the war in Japan. Burkinshaw wisely begins the story well in advance of the destruction and vividly paints a world of honour, secrets, and the frustration of doing the right thing. As the world around her unravels, so, too, does Yuriko's sense of her place in the world. They are marvelous parallels, and the author never insults the reader by making things easy or simple for the main character or us. As the tock clicks down, Burkinshaw has upped the emotional ante to such an extent that we cannot stop reading, so worried are we about the fates of these individuals. This book deserves a place in our schools as a companion piece to Lois Sepahban's Paper Wishes, telling the two sides of the story from a child's perspective. A beautifully written, special book, the fact that this is based on the author's mother's story makes it all the more touching. A must-read!

[Lois Sepahban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to read an ARC of THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM.

This book is timely and important. It is the story of Yuriko and her family who live in Hiroshima during World War II. It is beautifully written and the characters are a reminder that people are people--wherever they live, whatever side they are on.

As this is the story of what happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the story is inevitably sad. But like the cherry blossoms that bloomed after the bombing, it is also a story of resilience and hope.

THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM should be required reading for everyone.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

August 6, 2016 marks the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, followed by the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9th. And by now, most readers are familiar with the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. Sadako's compelling story focuses on her illness 9 years after being exposed to the deadly radiation that resulted in the aftermath of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. However, we don't really learn much about what Japan was like during the war, before the atomic bomb destroyed two cities and some many lives. Until now.

The Last Cherry Blossom is the fictionalized story based on the experiences of the author's mother living in Hiroshima as a child during the war.

Despite the fact that Japan has been at war with the United States since the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, life hasn't been too difficult for 12-year-old Yuriko Ishikawa, affectionately called Joya by her beloved papa. She is proud of her samurai heritage, and loves to hear papa tell stories about it. But, when her teacher tells her that she has made a mistake on her koseki or family tree project, Yuriko becomes quite upset, asking papa what she meant. Instead of an answer, he has the teacher fired. But why?

Despite that, living on the outskirts of Hiroshima, with papa, owner of a newspaper, and her annoying Aunt Kimiko and five-year-old cousin Genji, the family hasn't suffered many of the usual hardships of war - rationing and making do just don't seem to be in evidence. Of course, there are air raids, American planes flying overhead, and Yuriko, her best friend Machiko, in fact, all school children are expected to learn how to fight using a bamboo spear, if necessary. But when Yuriko's papa and Aunt Kimiko both decide to get remarried at the same time, there is still silk to buy for new kimonos.

Yuriko has always cherished the time she spends alone with her papa, and wonders if her new stepmother, Sumiyo-san, now living in the family home, along with Akira-san, Aunt Kimiko's new husband, will understand that. Happily, Sumiyo-san turns out to be a loving, kind stepmother who understands. But when the mother of her fired teacher tells her that a man named Nishimoto-san would love to see her, she opens a Pandora's box of family secrets that turns Yuriko's world up-side-down and it is up to Aunt Kimiko to explain things.

Yuriko barely has time to digest what Aunt Kimiko tells her, than the war begins to hit closer to home. First Tokyo is badly bombed, and, a few months later, an atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, changing Yuriko's life forever.

The Last Cherry Blossom is author Kathleen Burkinshaw's debut novel, and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to write her mother's story and yet, how necessary. Perhaps having listened to her mother's memories of Japan during WWII and of her survival after the bomb was dropped while growing up is what made this such a realistic narrative. Told in the first person by Yuriko, the reader is pulled into the story right from the start.

The Last Cherry Blossom is a shattering story, and part of what makes it so devastating is the detailed descriptions of daily life and favorite special occasions that Yuriko lovingly provides when all the while the reader knows what was coming. I did like reading about the happy times, so filled with Japanese culture, such as how Yuriko's family celebrated the weddings, as well as Oshagatsu (New Year's Celebration) and Sakura Hanami (the Cherry Blossom Festival) and other festivals, though the chohei pati, the celebration party families have when a son is sent to war, is definitely not a happy occasion. It is supposed to be an honor to fight for Japan, but in reality, no one feels very honored.

(Burkinshaw does use lots of Japanese words throughout the novel, giving this a real feeling of authenticity, and there is an extensive Glossary in the back matter to help readers.)

In fact, the chohei pati points to the ways in which propaganda is used during war by all countries. At the beginning of each chapter, there are quotes from radio addresses, newspapers and propaganda posters about how well Imperial Japan is doing in the war or what is expected of civilians at home, most of which is incorrect, but people are expected to simple believe what they are told.

The Last Cherry Blossom is a story of unfathomable loss, but also of hope, resilience, and survival. Paired with Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, both these stories should stand as a cautionary tale about war and the use of what we would now call weapons of mass destruction, and never forget that, as Burkinshaw reminds us in her Afterword, "the victims were all someone's mother, father, brother, sister, or child." It was true then, and is still true today.

This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss/Above the Treeline

This review originally was posted on The Children's War

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Kaska-boom: I saw this book promoted on a PBS news program that originates from Tokyo. The author's mom is the main character in this book. The story begins about ten months before the bombing of Hiroshima which is great because we get nearly a year to get to know her, her family, their customs, and get a feel for the Japanese culture of the time. I'd love to see this book used in classrooms. There's so much WWII based on the Holocaust -- which of course there should be -- but the Pacific theater, and especially the human and cultural aspect of the Pacific theater seem to be often overlooked.

[Liz B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's get this out of the way: this is a book on an important topic, and the author wrote it for important reasons. Her mother was twelve and living in Hiroshima in 1945. Burkinshaw wrote the book to share her mother's story and the conviction that no other people in the world should ever have an atomic bomb dropped on them.

These are all true and good things to know.

And now...the book is only ok. Stylistically, it's a bit odd; the narrator's voice is overly formal, and sounds in some cases as if it's been translated (awkwardly) from Japanese. I like the use of the Japanese words throughout, and the glossary is helpful. But at times it felt like scenes were shoehorned in to teach about Japanese holidays and culture.

A few mild spoilers may follow, so proceed with caution.

The main problem, though, is that the book has too much going on in it. Subplots include a secret surrounding the narrator's birth, the homefront war, the father's newspaper job (and him trying to deal with censorship, and also him being remarkably enlightened and not racist toward Koreans), the narrator's disdain for her aunt & cousin living with them--and then also the bomb.

Most of these conflicts don't develop into any actual conflict. It's like the author was afraid to create any real tension or pain for her main character. Even when the Americans finally drop the bomb and horror ensues, there is very little detail and our narrator seems to be mostly numb to the tragedy surrounding her. (Another critique: the bombing occurs very late in the narrative.) This may be a result of the author hearing the firsthand story from her own mother, and maybe that kind of detachment was necessary for the mother to tell the story. Maybe the author, editor, or publisher was concerned about a middle grade novel being to graphic. For me, though, it obscured how horrific nuclear war actually is--which is what the author really wanted to convey.

Well, it's like this. My students often write fiction (or memoirs) that are extraordinarily detailed until we arrive at the moment of change--and then they hurry through that moment to get to the end. This is what happened here. The book should've been 30-50 pages longer, so that the resolution felt earned.

Still a good purchase for book clubs, though--I think students will want to read it, and I'm interested to see if I'm mistaken in my assessment...maybe my knowledge of the aftermath of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima is what makes me feel this version is sanitized, and someone without that knowledge would feel the impact of the scenes Burkinshaw creates.

[Oana Crâmpeie de suflet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unele cărți au darul de a te șoca, de a te scoate din zona de confort, de a te zgudui cu totul din temelii, punându-și amprenta asupra ta și rămânând cu tine, cuibărite comod, mult timp după ce ai închis ultima pagină. O astfel de carte este Ultima floare de cireș de Kathleen Burkinshaw, o carte document, inspirată din viața mamei și a bunicii autoarei, menită să devină material de studiu pentru copiii din întreaga lume, să îi facă pe oameni conștienți de tragedia unei națiuni și, în același timp, să ofere speranța că, dincolo de tot răul care se petrece în lume și care uneori se repetă la o scară îngrijorătoare, binele există, oameni cu suflet mare încă sunt prezenți acolo, lăsându-se pe ei înșiși pe plan secund pentru a se îngriji de cei răniți și în nevoie.

Ultima floare de cireș este un roman recomandat adolescenților, dar care consider că se înțelege mult mai bine cu ochi de adult. Ca om mare, sesizezi mult mai bine implicațiile unui război aducător de pierderi teribile, de moarte, de destrămare a familiilor și a iluziilor, de învățare să supraviețuiești cu durerea în suflet și să mergi mai departe, renăscând asemeni păsării Phoenix din propria cenușă sau a florilor de cireș care au reapărut după ce o bombă atomică a căzut asupra copacilor cu un an înainte, cu toate că se spusese că asta nu se va mai întâmpla vreodată. Căci asta aduce autoarea: speranța, puterea comunității și dorința de a face lumea un loc mai bun în ciuda tuturor durerilor.

Volumul de față este dovada clară că esențele tari se țin în sticluțe mici. Romanul lui Kathleen Burkinshaw este o ficțiune istorică ce redă cu fidelitate viața de dinainte și de după aruncarea bombei atomice la Hiroshima, un eveniment fierbinte, dar perceput oarecum diferit de occidentali față de japonezi. Mi-a plăcut faptul că autoarea reușește să redea cu fidelitate toate speranțele năruite în ziua bombardamentului, după ce oamenii chiar crezuseră că Japonia va câștiga războiul în urma propagandei făcute de către împărat și chiar avem presărate la început de fiecare capitol câte un epigraf din ziare, de la radiouri și afișe de propagandă, care decupează climatul ideologic al vremii. Este surprins acest aspect cu fidelitate.

https://crampeiedesufletblog.wordpres...

[Sonal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One war yet so many different perspectives. I have read so many stories revolving around WWII but none from Japanese viewpoint; so when I came across 'The last Cherry Blossom', I had to read it and such an astonishing story it turned out to be.

Told from the eyes of a young Japanese girl Yuriko, this book gives us a glimpse of the lives of children during the war and the way it impacts them. Living in a happy household of Hiroshima during the war, the life of Yuriko was all good when real danger & fighting seemed far off and her routine disturbed only by harmless air raids and sirens. But as the Japanese start losing, death comes to her neighborhood when men and boys off to war don't return, her best friend is asked to leave school and work in a factory, they were asked to burn American music records, and Tokyo was bombed that things get real for Yuriko & she starts praying for peace. Still, under the illusion that Japs are winning, the people were not prepared when the Atomic bomb was dropped. The devastation that followed was too horrible for anyone to experience more so for a child.

This is a simple book with a powerful story, beautifully written by the author. It's not only about the war but also gives a beautiful insight into Japanese culture & festivals. While reading, I daydreamed about having a picnic under a beautiful cherry blossom tree in full bloom :)

There are many Japanese terms used in the book, so I had to turn to google many times, but there is a glossary in the end, which I found out later (drawbacks of reading on Kindle, didn't flip the pages). As it turns out, Author's mother was a Hiroshima survivor, and the story is inspired from her life. Kudos to the author for writing this. Highly recommended.

[Amber Kuehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting. This is a story I know I will never forget. The unimaginable pain and anguish brought on by a nuclear bomb is unacceptable, just as the book states. Reading it in the political climate we live in right now is unsettling and leaves me feeling so very uncomfortable. However books like this are so important to read and raise awareness so history does not hopefully repeat itself.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert!!

Fears and Mysteries

Twelve-year-old Yuriko has become accustomed to daily air raid drills and the sounds of American B-29's flying over Hiroshima. But even though the sounds are familiar, she is always worried: Will we actually get bombed? What if the school collapses? Will a desk actually protect me? Is my papa safe? How will I find him if a bomb hits us? (p. 2)

With that foreboding introduction, the reader is propelled into Yuriko's world in 1944.

Before Yuriko leaves school in this opening scene of The Last Cherry Blossom, she asks her teacher for her grade on her ancestral project she just completed. Yuriko is proud her lineage traces back to samurai warriors in the 1600's. Against the backdrop of her anxiety over the air raid drills, Yuriko does not receive the praise she anticipates. Instead her teacher says, "That is not right."

She leaves without telling Yuriko what's wrong with her paper.

That question, as well as the appearance of a friendly yet sad stranger, are mysteries snaking through this novel which will appeal to both girl and boy readers.

No Longer Normal

Yuriko's "normal" is living with her beloved Papa, her Aunt Kimiko (who she doesn't particularly like) and her pesky, younger cousin Genji, and sharing secrets with her best friend, Machiko. As a member of the upper class she is protected, loved, educated, and the recipient of luxuries like custom-made silk kimonos for the annual cherry blossom festival.

Her life begins to change when her widowed father decides to remarry. At the same ceremony Kimiko remarries a man named Akira-san and suddenly the house holds two families instead of one. When an acquaintance alludes to a man named Nishimoto-san who would have loved to see her, Yuriko learns who her true parents are. Like being hit by a bomb, Yurko begins to experience excruciating repercussions in her identity, family, and home life.

Burkinshaw's use of lines from newspapers, posters, and radio shows at the beginning of each chapter effectively sets the story within its' historical and political context. The next chapter after Yuriko hears her devastating news is sub-titled, "No matter what sort of air raid comes, the neighborhood association will be safe." Since we know what happened at Hiroshima, the neighborhood association's words foreshadow more bad news for Yuriko.

More Worries

Right after Tokyo is bombed, Yuriko walks into a conversation between Akira-san and her papa.
"Do you really think they will bomb our city?" I asked, a quaver to my voice.

"Anything is possible in war." As Papa said this my stomach swarmed with butterflies. I ran to him and welcomed his embrace.

"Papa, are we all going to be all right?" I squeezed tighter. I swear all one hundred million hearts from the radio slogan were beating in my chest. Will fire be raining down on us soon? Maybe we should just live in the bomb shelters? But how is that really living?

He hugged me close and then stepped back. He looked at me and said, "I will keep you safe."

Akira-san added, "Our family's safety is our main concern." He glanced at Papa. "But now you should get ready for bed. It is late."

I nodded and gave him a hug as well. When I got to the door, I turned and asked, "Papa, do you think we will have school tomorrow?"

I noticed that both he and Akira-san looked up to answer. I did not know what made me feel worse--the fear that this new firebomb could be dropped on Hiroshima next or the tugging of my heart as both men responded to "Papa." (p. 133-4)

The Last Cherry Blossom reflects the mixture of cultures present in Japan during World War II. Yuriko's father loves The Three Stooges movies and she and Machiko listen to American jazz. At the same time, the emperor is considered divine and suicide is an honorable option if one falls into enemy hands.

Cherry Blossoms

There are many lovely references to cherry blossoms which tie the book together. After attending the annual cherry blossom festival and singing and dancing, Yuriko returns home to a family celebration.
Once we were all seated, Papa raises his glass and said, "Cherry blossoms are like life itself--so beautiful, yet so fragile that they bloom only a short time. A toast to my family and to enjoying our time together. Kanpai!" (p. 146)

Sadly, a few months later, the atomic bomb destroys Yuriko's world.

After the bomb is dropped and Hiroshima is devastated, Yuriko faces one loss after another. Overwhelmed by sadness, she is close to giving up her own life. The sight of cherry blossoms falling off a tree help Yuriko choose a path out of despair and into a new life with a new family. As Kathleen Burkinshaw notes in the afterword, "Originally, scientists said nothing would grow again in Hiroshima soil for many years after the bomb was dropped. Yet the cherry blossoms bloomed the following spring." (p. 219)

To win my ARC, please leave a comment on my blog (www.carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com) by July 28, 2016.

[Kester Nucum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free signed finished copy of this book from the author for review consideration. This will not affect my review in any way.

The Last Cherry Blossom means a lot to me as an American and as a Filipino. As I’ve learned more and more about World War II as an American student, it is very easy to villainize people in the Axis powers and in the Soviet Union. Many times, it’s true and justified—the Nazis and fascists of Germany and Italy executed millions of people they deemed “inferior” while the communists of Russia killed and deported many more in their atheistic, paranoia-filled, and anti-intellectual society. As the Japanese invaded countries throughout the Pacific, including my birth country the Philippines, they committed many heinous crimes from raping thousands of “comfort women” forced into sexual submission to sending Koreans to working in hard-labor mines. The Japanese brought about the infamous Bataan Death March that went through the province me and my dad’s side of my family is from. This review is in no way condoning what they did to millions of people around the Pacific, and I condemn their actions during the Great War (from the Bombing at Pearl Harbor to the Balloon Bombs that have caused many American casualties).

However, The Last Cherry Blossom–based on the true story of the author’s mother who endured through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and its aftermath as a child–is a glimpse into the life of a young Japanese girl during World War II, one that shows that the lives of the Japanese weren’t that much different than the lives of the Americans. It was very surprising to see the Western (even American) influences in their culture, from business attire to hairstyles to even the popularity of jazz music. (I couldn’t believe it myself! Japan was more Western than we would have thought.) The enemy is truly not as different from us than we think. That’s one reason that makes this novel one that needs to be read to all children and taught to all students. This is a story that needs to be told. Artificially, it may seem like the ordinary life of a girl going through some family troubles during World War II, but it’s not just that. It’s a book filled with Japanese culture and history, one that will give readers a better understanding of the world around them and the world before them. It truly has enlightened me and changed my view on Japanese life in World War II. Certainly, I have learned a great deal from The Last Cherry Blossom, and it has made me view World War II in a different light. It has made me wonder things like, did citizens know the atrocities their troops committed in foreign lands? Did they know what the Germans and the Italians were doing? What was their propaganda like that villainized America? (I will say that a lot of what we did during World War II was not justifiable, such as the internment of Japanese-Americans, the racist propaganda, and the Korematsu decision.)

The most effective thing about this novel is how the story structures around the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. As readers, we know the inevitable is going to happen, but the author leads us to love the characters more and more—leading us to dread that tragic day of August 6th, 1945, with every passing chapter. With every triumph and failure that Yuriko endured, I found my heart slowly and slowly not being able to handle my fearful anticipation. I knew her city was going to get hit with the bomb, and that added another layer of suspense and scariness. Surprisingly, the moment the atomic bomb hits still was very unexpected. It was heartbreaking. It was horrifying. It was perfectly executed. It truly depicted how one moment life was normal and the next mass destruction ensued, and it shocks you back into the reality that your life could end at any moment. As an American student, you are not really taught about the effects of the atomic bombs—but being able to witness it as if it were first-hand was horrifying yet enlightening. It is a powerful testimony to the urgent need for every nation in the world to abolish nuclear weapons. If Fat Man and Little Boy were that bad, imagine the destruction wrought about by current nuclear arsenals around the world comprising of nuclear missiles and hydrogen bombs. We need to know how horrible this kind of destruction is because it might happen to us, and by reading a book like The Cherry Blossom, we can become convinced why we must strive for world peace.

The Last Cherry Blossom is truly one of the most beautiful, most chilling, most real books I’ve read this year. I would even go as far as to consider it one of the best written novels I have encountered. (For reference, its writing rivals that of Salt to the Sea, and that was a beautiful book.) This book is very important and very relevant in today’s society, a society where nuclear annihilation remains a looming threat in our near future. Certainly, Burkinshaw’s debut novel is a candle illuminating good into the world. I believe it should become a classic that will withstand the test of time.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy: Digital ARC

The Last Cherry Blossom pulled me into the past and held me there from beginning to end. Yuriko and her family are living in wartime Japan and the author brings readers into their daily life. I thought that the book was mostly going to be about the bomb in Hiroshima, but the vast majority of the book is about life before the bomb. Readers get to see into the everyday activities and worries of children during the war. It was interesting to find out that in the media the government was narrating a story about the war that was inconsistent with what was actually happening. Though the news was announcing victories, you see the clues piling up that show a country at the end of its rope. There is no more metal for constructing more planes, they're looking for alternative fuel because they are running out and they have enough workers to be making more things, but there simply aren't enough supplies.

Aside from the war issues, Yuriko is slowly discovering secrets within her family. These secrets will shake her world. Fortunately, Yuriko has a good support system. I love seeing Yuriko's relationships with her family and with her best friend Machiko. Again, the author seemed to aim for showing everyday interactions and typical activities. I really got a sense of what life would have been like for a wealthy young Japanese girl during the war. With Machiko, we also got to see what it was like for someone with less money and standing. Machiko eventually has to start working in a factory by order of the government.

And then there is the bomb. Obviously, that is a disturbing part of the book. There is no way to make that day easy to recount. The fear, death, pain, and gruesomeness of such an event is evident. This is an ugly piece of history seen through the eyes of a young girl. War is terrifying and deadly. It's a truth expressed clearly through Yuriko's experiences. This would be an excellent book to use for discussion around war and how it affects the individual people in a country.

Readers may want to have some tissues handy, but Yuriko does have a bit of hope at the end which keeps it from being entirely overwhelming for sensitive readers.

Following the story, Burkinshaw provides an afterword explaining how the book came to be. It was loosely based on memories of her mother who grew up in Hiroshima and was twelve when the bomb was dropped. She also included a selected bibliography and information about the Japanese words in the book along with a glossary. One thing that had a big impact on me was the page of statistics. When I looked at the numbers after having been immersed in the lives of the people affected, I was overwhelmed. 80,000 people died immediately and 140,000+ died within the next five years. The loss of life is staggering.

Recommendation: This is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction. It would be a great addition to classroom and school libraries especially if WWII is part of the curriculum and would be perfect for a book club or discussion group.

[Creatyvebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that guts you from beginning to end and then you try to write a review but you simply can’t get your thoughts in order? Well The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw is that book. Told through the eyes of her mother as a young girl living in Japan during the WWII, Yuriko take us through her daily life. From the simple things in family life (such as her love/hate relationship with her annoying cousin Genji) to her love and devotion for her papa. We the readers get to live through the nervousness and uncertainty of air raids. Not knowing when the next siren will be the one that ends it all.

The Last Cherry Blossom is a poignant and beautiful read that I recommend for all ages. Young and old. Quite honestly this books should be mandatory reading in all classes. To know the devastation and sadness that is the product of war. Yes the events of Hiroshima happened over 70 years ago but the wounds are still deep even if the US and Japan have made great strides to repair their relationship.

Sadly, in 2016, there are children like Yuriko that are living with the ever present danger of not knowing if this will be their last day on earth. If this day is the day that a drone will do an air strike on their school or hospital because of some technical “mistake.” Or because of some terrorist wanting to make a statement.

War is a greedy and nasty business that no child should have to live through and reading The Last Cherry Blossom broke my heart because it made me realize how lucky I am. How lucky my family is that we didn’t have to live in constant fear that our home would be decimated by a bomb or an airstrike.

This book will break your heart but it will also get many thought provoking conversations started. Yes it might read young but don’t let that stop from getting enthralled by Yuriko’s story and author Kathleen Burkinshaw beautiful and engaging writing.

I can’t say this enough but I highly, highly recommend The Last Cherry Blossom.

I have to give a big thanks to Sky Pony Press Publishing for sending me a copy of this gorgeous book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sage Knightly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Cherry Blossom is a heart breaking tale about life for young Joya as World War II rages on around her (though it feels far away). They ration their food, give up their metals, and their kids are sent to war or to work in factories unless the are lucky enough to stay home. Through tough discoveries and major losses, Joya finds a way to push through, even though she didn’t really want to. My heart broke as this book showed me what young Joya went through, and it is very important that this experience, this book, is shared.

"I looked around the room at their happy faces, realizing that even though there is so much uncertainty and fear, joyful, happy moments still existed.” -Page 147

Joya’s voice grew as her character developed. The writing is a bit choppy at first, but is used to show Joya’s youth. And as she ages, the writing smoothes out to show how she’s grown, and how her thoughts change. I loved to see the difference and how she changed in little ways and big ways. She gives hope for us, that even though horrible things happen to people they can survive it.

And while there’s so much war and fear and uncertainty in the world, about whether they can win the war or not, there’s still hope and love and family to keep us from crying through every page.

This is a hard topic to write about, war and loss and its effects, but the author does it brilliantly and effectively without making it too gritty or grim. Young children could read this, and they should because this is something that needs to be shared.

*To be edited.
*Review originally posted here
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.:)

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for review

I did not intend to read this book on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing but sometimes things are just meant to be.

This book made me cry. And it is one that I am putting on a shelf of books that I will give my niece when she's old enough to read and appreciate the message in this story.

Burkinshaw bases this book off her own mother's experiences during WWII. This book is well done and perfect for readers of all ages. It's a middle grade, and does read young, but even adults can appreciate the simplicity of the writing juxtaposed against the complex narrative of what was really happening during WWII in Japan and the rest of the world.

Having taken many Japanese history, literature and culture classes I've studied about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While living in Japan I visited Hiroshima and listened to multiple people speak about that horrific time in the country's history. As an American I was hollowed out by my visit to Hiroshima. As a member of an extended Japanese family (through my husband) I feel guilt and shame for my own country and at the same time I am amazed that in such a short time the US and Japan have repaired so many ties.

This book is hopeful and horrific and enlightening and sad. There's a lot going on in it and it's a perfect start to some very important conversations.

[Kerry Cerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I go any further, let me state that this is an important book! The story of 12 year old, Yuriko, will touch you in ways you may not have thought possible. Set in Hiroshima, Japan before and after the dropping of the atomic bomb, this gut-wrenching story allows us to experience the war through the eyes of a little girl. Having been taught here in America that the Japanese were our enemy at that time, this story places a human face to warfare—a little girl, supposedly our foe, who had the same simple hopes and dreams as children in America. Hopes and dreams that became enveloped, poisoned, and ultimately shattered by a giant mushroom cloud on August 6th, 1945. Based on the true life events of Ms. Burkinshaw’s mother, I hope this book will open up discussions in classrooms and homes all across the world, creating conversations about the impact war—especially nuclear war—has on innocent lives.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM is a story that needs to be told. Of the other side of that infamous bomb. Children may have learned that it served to end the war. But have they ever truly empathized with the children living in Hiroshima when the bomb dropped?

In this story, they can, through the eyes and life of twelve year-old Yuriko.

We see how much she loves her Papa and her best friend, and how annoying she finds her cousin Genji. We live the air raids with her and travel to the country when Papa sends her to safety.

Then we travel back to Hiroshima and experience the horror after the bomb falls.

This book would be a great add to any history or social studies class. The topic is handled deftly, not surprising given that the story is based on the experiences of the authors own mother. A story that is useful not only in discussing the tough topic of war, but also in building empathy.

[Jenna (Falling Letters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief thoughts originally published 27 January 2017 at Falling Letters.

I visited Hiroshima a couple of years ago. Visiting the Peace Memorial Museum was one of the most sobering experiences I’ve had. This book compliments historical artifacts and information by focusing largely on what life was like for a young girl growing up in Japan during WWII. Told in first person, Burkinshaw’s writing is sensitive yet evocative. Burkinshaw’s mother’s experience surviving the Hiroshima bombing loosely inspired the story. Like Paper Lanterns , The Last Cherry Blossom would make an excellent introduction to the atomic bombing of Japan.

[Jill Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Cherry Blossom is the powerful story of Yuriko, a twelve-year-old girl in Hiroshima during World War II. Yuriko is not only dealing with upheaval due to the war, but also must cope with revelations and change in her own family prior to the bombing of her city. In this book, the author crafts a tale of friendship, love, loss and change, and seamlessly weaves in history and Japanese culture. The Last Cherry Blossom is emotionally moving and artfully told from a fresh perspective that is based on the author's mother's own experience. The book gives readers a glimpse of what life was like for a young girl in Japan during this tumultuous period and does a masterful job telling a historical story without being the least bit dry. Read this!

[Shannon Hitchcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM, sweeps us away to another time and place, the city of Hiroshima, Japan during WWII. The story unfolds through the eyes of twelve-year-old Yuriko, who lives with her beloved papa in a well-to-do household. We meet her best friend Machiko, and her annoying younger cousin, Genji. Life is good, but there is ever-present danger, made real by air raid sirens.

And then the Americans drop the atomic bomb.

The author's mother was a Hiroshima survivor and THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM is loosely based on her experiences. The text has Japanese vocabulary sprinkled throughout. It's usually easy to decipher the meaning, but there's also a helpful glossary in the back.

This book would make a wonderful addition for classrooms studying WWII.

[Casey Lyall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Cherry Blossom is an affecting tale that's beautifully written and gracefully told. It's an incredible story that takes historical events and makes them personal for the reader. Through the eyes of Yuriko, we see her daily life in the days leading up to the bombing of Hiroshima. Family secrets cast a shadow as deep as the on-going war. Yuriko and her best friend have a delightful relationship. I also enjoyed the connection between Yuriko and her papa. They all share sweet moments that make the inevitable conclusion that much harder to bear. The story is based on the author’s mother’s childhood, adding another powerful layer of emotion. This book is a must read for any age.

[A.E. Conran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to finish the last chapter of The Last Cherry Blossom in the car before an appointment because I had to know the ending, and I know there are moments in this book, one particularly, that will stay for me for a long time. The Last Cherry Blossom is a deeply moving evocation of the last months of WW2 in Japan from a young girl's perspective: her friendships, her love for her father, the vicissitudes of family life and how all is lost in the bombing of Hiroshima. Based on Kathleen's mother's own experiences, this is a beguiling novel with a powerful and deeply moving conclusion. A story that needs to be shared.

[Kylie May]

This book was amazing! It would definitely be one of my favorites. It is about a girl whose town is hit by the Hiroshima bombing. I liked this book because it was very unique in the time and setting. It also goes through every day events that happened to children and their feelings through everything they went through.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing I like most about this book is that it allowed us to get to know and like Yuriko and her world before the event that has come to define Hiroshima. This allows us to better understand how the atomic bomb completely changed everything for the people living there.

[Shenwei · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book takes you through a lot of emotions as you experience events through the eyes of Yuriko, who lives in the shadow of a terrible war whose purpose she does not understand but whose effects she feels deeply nonetheless. it's a moving story of family secrets, love and loss, survival and hope.