This book for young readers is the story of Sadako, the young Japanese runner who died of radiation-induced leukemia at 12, retold for pre-adolescent or adolescent readers. I was glad to have it as I was recently introduced to American Eleanor Coerr's excellent Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a very popular account of Sadako's life and the illness that ended it. Japanese Methodist Minister Takayuki Ishii discovered the story through his Japanese-American son Scott, probably a reader of the Coerr story. This is a sound historical account of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Deaths were estimated at about 150,000, approximately half of the population of the city. Ishii relates the bombing from the perspective of Sadako's family. Only 2 when Hiroshima was bombed, Sadako died on October 25, 1955. She wanted desperately to live and folded paper cranes as a sort of prayer for her life. In Japanese lore, cranes live 1,000 years. They are symbolic of health and long life. Many of the cranes she folded were left to her classmates after her death. These children were touched by these talismans of Sadako's life but saddened that folding the orgami cranes did not gain her the restoration of health and long life she wished for. This book tells how the children came to errect the monument that bears Sadako's likeness in Hiroshima's Peace Park. Her wish for life was transformed to a wish for peace in the world. The children of Hiroshima dedicated the statue on May 5, 1958. May 5 is the traditional Japanese Children's Day. Sadako had loved the annual Peace Festival held in Hiroshima every August 6, the anniversary of the bombing. This goes out with a wish for peace in honor of Sadako, her family, the people of Hiroshima and all of the children of the world.

I'm also releasing this in memory of my cousin John who died this month, prematurely, though not as prematurely as Sadako. In Mississippi, his home state, there were test explosions for the bomb. Many in my family have died early of cancer. I can't help wondering if there is a connection.

Thank you very much for the book, and the lovely card. I love that blue bird, it is so beautiful.

Thank you, too for your kind words. I'm so sorry that you have also lost a family memeber so recently.

The kids and I are away to Oxfordshire to visit their grandparents for two weeks. I'll try to read this when I get back.

((((cordelia-anne))))

RELEASE NOTES:

I missed the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, but I will release this book today. I'll find a nice, safe place at the castle to release it. As it is a nice day, maybe there will be lots of visitors and someone will pick it up.

Rest in peace, little Sadako.

Happy travels, little book. Share the story with many people.

PS: Released it in the Horsemill Restaurant.

Spotted this book this afternoon and it looked interesting.

So took it home to see what it is all about.

These events all began 62 years ago. However I feel we should never, never forget them and allow this sort of thing to happen again.

If the story of sadako Sasaki teaches us anything it should be that.

This book is heading off as a bookring.

The order is as follows:-

kayjay33 - Canada - Pref Shipping US/Canada
dabercro - USA - Pref Shipping US/Canada
gnissorckoob - USA - USA Only
cbostler - USA - Intl
RockDg9 - Australia - Intl
kiwiinEngland - Ireland
OpheliaPhillips - UK
kitten99 - UK
Jinglefish - UK

I've included an envelope for each participant witha Postcard and a little surprise for all. I would love a Postcard back for each if you if you could as I would love to see where my book has travelled too.

Hope you all enjoy and if you have any problems please PM me.

RELEASE NOTES:

Heading off today on the first leg of this bookring to Canada :o)

This tiny little book arrived in my mailbox today.I think it will be a very worthwhile read.
Thank you Smurphie for sending it along,and thank you for the post card and very lovely bookmark. I will send the other ones on when I finish the book which will probably be very soon.I have just finished a book so can begin this one right away.

This was a very simple little book which told the tale of the horrors that were committed in Japan when the first atomic bomb was dropped onto Hiroshima. From the first flash as it exploded until ten years later when Sadako died , it points out the tragedy of war, no matter which side you may be on.
I will send the book to the next reader as soon as I get an address.

RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on its way to Utah as part of a bookray. Sent by a controlled release with Canada Post, and a little help from the US Postal service.

I received the book in the mail today. Thank you, Smurphie, for the postcard and bookmark.
I'm just finishing up another book so I should start reading this book tonight or tomorrow. I have visited the Children's Peace Statue and left a paper crane there. Seeing the atomic bomb dome and walking through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was a very sobering experience.

The book is a reminder of the far reaching affects of the first atomic bomb as told through the story of Sadako. It not only affected the people who were there that day but also, because of the radiation clouds, it had far reaching affects for generations to come.

We have a friend whose wife (I never met her) lived in Japan during the bombings. She suffered her whole life with health issues that were related to the bombings.

The book also made me think of more recent bombings in this country, Oklahoma City (I visited there this year) and 9-11 in New York. Man's inhumanity to man is so sad!

I will be e-mailing gnissorckoob for her address.

I mailed this book yesterday to gnissorckoob in Florida.

This very special book is now with me in Miami. It appears to be dripping with wonderful karma. I am going to begin reading it tonight. (and, Here's to John.)

And, ummm, Smurphie. Thank you for the post card. I would love to visit that castle. I will include a post card of Miami's South Beach for you. What a nice idea.

Finished it and ready for the book to move on. The book itself is a memorial, and by bookcrossing it we are keeping the important message alive. Now I have little Sadako in my mind's eye, on the brink of adolescence in her new kimono, to remind me to work for peace.


10/09/07 - Mailed to cbostler in Utah. 0307 0020 0000 3932 0364. Included a Where's George bill that I found. Please keep the bill moving (any way that you see fit).

11/02/07 - After reading about cbolster's 2nd grade activities, I want to add that I too used this book with kids. Incorporated folding cranes, Sadako's story, and sadako.org in a series of small groups for middle school students on violence prevention.

I received the package from gnissorckoob and look forward to an enlightening read. I enjoyed looking at the treasures that are accompanying the book. What a nice addition! It's also been a pleasure to read the sixteen previous journal entries. Thanks, everyone, for your insightful comments.
Now I'll begin reading ONE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES....

Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking book with me.

In the introduction, the author states, "My decision to write this particular book was primarily because of my interest in children. Children represent our future, and I believe that children and youth are a vital part of our present society. Young and old, we all must work together for a better society."

With this thought in mind, I retold this story with the second graders I teach in West Jordan, Utah.(USA) I drew from information in this book, and two by Elanor Coerr, "Sadako" and "Sadako and the One Thousand Paper Cranes."
I'll post some of their responses.

Oakcrest Eagles are seven-year-olds from West Jordan, Utah, USA. They are students in Mrs. Ostler's class at Oakcrest Elementary.
Here are some of their dictated responses to a retelling of Sadako and the One Thousand Paper Cranes.

"Hershey": It's a very sad story because the bomb made a little girl very sick and die. Little kids shouldn't die just because grown-ups can't get along and have wars.

"Panda": My uncle is in the army and has to fight in a war. We're proud of him. But I don't think he hurts kids or moms, just 'the bad guys'.

"EW": We got to make paper cranes in school. It is hard!!! I think it took Sadako a long time to make 1,500 paper cranes.

"Boid": I am going to give my paper crane to to my friend, Ashlee. Ashlee is nice to everyone like Sadako was.

"Bull": The next time my brother tries to fight with me, I'll give him my paper crane and say, BE PEACEFUL!!!"

"Bookman 10:" I am going to keep the paper crane I made on the fridge because I am a peace-maker and I deserve it the most."

Mrs. Ostler asked the children to select one way we will work to build a better society. They selected "Be an Example of Peace". That's a pretty lofty ideal, but Oakcrest Eagles are pretty amazing kids!!

Today the book is being mailed to the next BookCrossing participant, Rockdg9 from Australia. Thanks again for the opportunity to read an excellent book.
cbostler and oakcrest-eagles

arrived!

It's such a simple little book, but an important story. I loved reading the comments from the Oakcrest Eagles in the journal entry before me.

Posted today to KiwiinEngland, inIreland.

Received this book, and the exciting extras today in the post.

Thanks for everyone putting in a postcard so I can see where this book has been, and to Smurpie for the pressie!!

A simple read which combined facts about the bombing of Japan with information about Sadako. The book made me angry, sad (about the aftermath of the bombing and the way people kept on getting ill), and interested (about the Japanese culture).

When I was aged ten we were read "Sadako and the 1000 paper cranes" at school. The class then made 1000 paper cranes and sent them to the peace memorial. 1000 paper cranes reminded me of this, and allowed me to see a picture of the memorial.

Posted to opheliaphillips on 24th November 2007, second class post

Arrived in the post today - many thanks! Will read soon =)

In April and May this year I was travelling in Japan and I did go to Hiroshima. I visited the museum there (which was really quite harrowing) and also walked around the peace memorial park where there are lots of memorials and also the A Dome. There were these tall shelf-things around the children's memorial with transparent plastic walls, and thousands and thousands of paper crane chains hanging inside of them.

It was interesting to get to read a bit more about Sadako and the story about the memorial. The book itself was a little simplistic - but then it is really aimed at children, so you can't knock it for that.

I remember in the peace garden they have one memorial which has a little flame in it - they took the flame from either the burning remains of Hiroshima or Nagasaki (I forget which) and the idea is that they will not extinguish the flame until the last nuclear weapon in the world is destroyed - in a non damaging way of course. Sad to say, I think it will be a long, long time before they're able to put that light out. Certainly not in my life time.

Many thanks for setting up this bookring though! I have Pmed Kitten99 and am waiting for an address, and then I will get this moving again.

Received as part of the bookring. I'll journal again once I've read the book and am ready to pass it on!

A truly amazing and inspiring book.

Posted to Jinglefish today (although considering it's christmas I wouldn't anticipate it's arrival any time soon!) on the final leg of the bookring.

Thanks again to Smurphie for the pressie, and for offering this wonderful little book as a ring in the first place.

Kitten99 you'll be pleased to know that this lovely book and accompanying package arrived safely today - and what a wonderful bag of surprises. I'm feeling very humbled suddenly to be a part of this and will savour the pages and all that they represent over the Christmas period.

My thoughts go to cordelia-anne and family for the sad circumstances behind the initial release of this book and thanks go to Smurphie for letting the story continue.

Finished this in one completely silent sitting because this is the only way to read such an account of Sadako's life and legacy. I don't have much to add by way of comments because all readers' before me have expressed it all. I did however, learn about Sadako, the Children's Peace Statue and the paper cranes - somehow I had managed to go through life to date completely unaware of their existence. I knew about the Memorial Park and a fleeting image of a melted rice bowl and child's tricycle seen on TV some years ago but it's always been a subject I've ashamedly pushed to the back of my mind in the hope that I wouldn't have to think about it too deeply. This book, aimed at children, educated me and made me hopeful for the future.

Thank you Smurphie for making me aware of this - I've PM'd you now for your address so the book and accompanying postcards etc can return home.

Posted back to Smurphie today.

Arrived home this morning.

Thank you to all who took part. Thanks also for all the lovely Postcards the bookmarks and for the Papercranes.

It's going to have a little rest in Scotland as I might take it along to Brownies and fit it in somehow I think it is very improtant that this event is never forgotted and then I promise it will travel the world again.