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Yoko's Diary

Brief Description
The discovered diary of Yoko, a 13-year-old Japanese girl who lived near Hiroshima during the war. 1945 was a hard time to be a child in Japan. Many had seen their cities destroyed by US bombers. Food, fuel, and materials were in short supply. Yet spirits... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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The discovered diary of Yoko, a 13-year-old Japanese girl who lived near Hiroshima during the war.

1945 was a hard time to be a child in Japan. Many had seen their cities destroyed by US bombers. Food, fuel, and materials were in short supply. Yet spirits remained high. In April 1945, Yoko Moriwaki started high school in Hiroshima, excited to be a prestigious 'Kenjo' girl, and full of duty towards her parents, school, and country. But the country was falling apart, and in four months' time, her city would become the target for the first atomic bomb ever used as a weapon.

In her diary, Yoko provides an account of that time—when conditions were so poor that children as young as twelve were required to work in industry; when fierce battles raged in the Pacific, and children like Yoko believed victory was near.

With additions by Yoko's relatives and fellow students, and an introduction by award-winning author Paul Ham, Yoko's Diary not only shows us the hopes, beliefs, and daily life of a young girl in wartime Japan, it is a touching account of the consequences of the first nuclear bombing of a city.

SHORTLISTED in the 2014 CBCA Awards

SHORTLISTED in the 2014 NSW Premier's History Awards

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780733344091

Publisher: ABC Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 July 2025

Country: Australia

Imprint: ABC Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Debbie Edwards

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 194g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Paul Ham is the author of many highly acclaimed histories, including KOKODA, VIETNAM, SANDAKAN, 1914 and PASSCHENDAELE. He was born and educated in Australia and lives in Paris, having spent several years working in Britain as a journalist and publisher. Debbie Edwards has a masters of translation and interpreting and has lived and worked in Japan and South Korea. As well as Japanese, she speaks Korean, Indonesian and Mandarin Chinese. She now works as a freelance translator and lives in Sydney with her husband and daughter.

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