The Last Cherry Blossom

The Last Cherry Blossom:

I was gifted a copy of The Last Cherry Blossom written by Kathleen Burkinshaw (Sky Pony Press). All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

The Last Cherry Blossom, based on the true account of Kathleen Burkinshaw’s own mother, Toshiko Ishikawa Hilliker follows twelve-year old Yuriko. Living in Hiroshima with the end of World War II near, it’s clear that Yuriko adores not only her father, but her best friend. I appreciate novels that can show and display not only the devotion of a parent to child, but the child to that parent. Each time Yuriko call’s her father Papa, and each instance her father calls Yuriko ‘Joya’, that love and dedication is shown.

But The Last Cherry Blossom is about so much more than family dynamics, it contain family secrets. Secrets Joya must navigate and overcome. Spending time and confiding in her best friend, Machiko, is one way in which Yuriko copes.

The friendship dynamic, family relationships and family secrets, plus cousin/sibling rivalry are but a few universal themes that crop up in The Last Cherry Blossom. These themes are those that children and adults from across the world can relate. But the dynamic of the world during World War II and that of Japan is the eye-opening view that readers also receive.

Yuriko’s world contains school, home, play, but also air raid drills. This is what consumes Yuriko’s daily life. When the day comes that another such drill turns out to be the real thing, the dropping of the atomic bomb, Yuriko’s family and friendship dynamic is rocked. She is mentally and physically scarred. She also combats guilt. The guilt that comes from trying to help her best friend and the guilt that comes from seeing an injured someone ask for help, but not being able to assist. That image is engraved in my mind. I can’t imagine that panic and fear that Kathleen’s own mother must have felt.

While people close to Yuriko unfortunately do not make it, and her world is forever changed, it is Yuriko’s spirt of remembrance and love that remains.

What I appreciate about Kathleen’s depiction of this horrific world event is that it gives us a firsthand view and experience of not only life after the dropping of the atomic bomb, but life before. We witness Yuriko in her element, just being a twelve-year old kid. Even when family secrets come unveiled, and certain family dynamics shift, Yuriko holds on and grasps tight to the one person she loves most in the world, her dad.

I would love to know what happens next in Yuriko’s life. What are her next steps? What is her next chapter? Because Yuriko is a character to continue to follow.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.

Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.

MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)

Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Hoopoe Books, KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.

Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls

Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child