Hiroshima, by Laurence Yep
On the morning of August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay takes off from an airstrip on an isolated island in the Pacific Ocean. The plane with its payload — an 8,900-pound atomic bomb — heads for Hiroshima, Japan.
The effects of such a bomb are terrible, and America hopes that unleashing its terror on a Japanese city will force the Japanese to surrender. The unsuspecting residents of Hiroshima begin their day as usual by going to work and school. An alarm sounds throughout the city when the Straight Flush appears. This reconnaissance plane tells the Enola Gay that the visibility is good, and they can proceed.
Then, the Straight Flush passes Hiroshima by, and the alarm stops. As people resume their normal activity, they are exposed to the full fury of the atomic bomb called Little Boy. A blinding light, an enormous boom and a terrible wind engulf the city.
For twelve-year-old Sachi, the bomb will leave behind suffering, scars, and painful memories.
(Additional Information: Here is a YouTube video about the bombing. Hiroshima: Dropping the Bomb – Hiroshima – BBC. There are many others.)
