Hiroshima No Pika

My first reaction after reading after reading Hiroshima No Pika was simply, “Wow.” The book was the definitely the most graphic, violent, and blunt one I’ve ever read. The cover itself is very controversial-a naked woman, with her breasts exposed is being held by a man, as she cradles a young child. The readers are taken into a young girl’s point of view with her mother and father after a bomb is dropped on her city, Hiroshima. Readers are taken through her journey to get help for her dad, and hear about all fire, destruction, and dead people she sees, which is extremely graphic, especially for young elementary students. I know that wars might be taught in elementary school, but I feel like at this age, they do not need to know all about the graphic and violence issues yet-they are still too young. Hence, I do not think this book should be read in elementary school. I could see it scaring children, thinking that a bomb is going to drop in their town as well, especially with the words of war and such being thrown around in our society today of what’s going on in the middle east.
Even though the illustrations are too graphic, they are still illustrated well. I like how the illustrator uses sort of a fantasy/spiritual tone with his pictures. Obviously, it’s probably very hard to illustrate a book that has to do with bombs and people dying, and I think the illustrator does an excellent job at it.