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Under the Broken Sky

By Mariko Nagai
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Twelve-year-old Natsu and her family live a peaceful farm life in Manchuria near the Soviet border. Everything changes after her father is conscripted into the Japanese army, leaving Natsu and her sister Cricket orphaned. Desperate to keep Cricket alive during the 1945 Soviet occupation, Natsu makes a painful choice to sell her sister to a Russian family. The story follows Natsu's courageous journey to reunite with her sister amidst the turmoil of war. This novel offers a poignant and insightful portrayal of a lesser-known chapter of World War II.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for middle-grade readers and those interested in historical fiction, poetry, and untold World War II stories. The novel is especially fitting for young readers seeking moving and educational narratives about resilience during difficult times.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Twelve-year-old Natsu and her family live a quiet farm life in Manchuria, near the border of the Soviet Union. But the life they've known begins to unravel when her father is recruited to the Japanese army, and Natsu and her little sister, Cricket, are left orphaned and destitute.

In a desperate move to keep her sister alive, Natsu sells Cricket to a Russian family following the 1945 Soviet occupation. The journey to redemption for Natsu's broken family is rife with struggles, but Natsu is tenacious and will stop at nothing to get her little sister back.

Literary and historically insightful, this is one of the great untold stories of WWII. Much like the Newbery Honor book Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Mariko Nagai's Under the Broken Sky is powerful, poignant, and ultimately hopeful.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Acclaimed as a NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book and an ILA Notable Book for a Global Society, among others, Under the Broken Sky is praised for its lyrical free verse and emotional depth. Margarita Engle, a Newbery Honor-winning author, calls it “a story of hope and resilience” with powerful emotional impact. Booklist awards it a starred review, calling it a breathtaking work of literature for middle-grade readers and beyond. School Library Journal highlights the rich imagery and the important historical perspective it adds on wartime refugees and survival.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250754745

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 February 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 219.0mm

Weight: 272g

Pages: 304

Collections

Children's Books Children's Historical Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Historical Fiction Mariko Nagai Young Adult

About the Author

Mariko Nagai is the author of several books of poetry and fiction for adults. She has received the Pushcart Prize in both poetry and fiction, as well as many other accolades for her work. She is an Associate Professor of creative writing and Japanese literature at Temple University, Japan Campus, in Tokyo, where she is also the Director of Research. mariko-nagai.com

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