The Blossom and the Firefly

November 25, 2019
This absorbing historical novel, set in Japan during eight days in 1945, thrusts two teens in the midst of war into a charged romance. The alternating narration follows the first-person account of 15-year-old Hana, a former student who serves as a maid to pilots on the military training base in her hometown of Chiran, and—via a third-person point of view—16-year-old violin virtuoso turned air cadet Taro, who trains as a kamikaze pilot. Flashbacks offer insight into prewar Japan, the war’s origins, and the upbringing of both main characters. Each protagonist’s impending sense of mortality heightens the atmosphere. Hana, who was recently buried for an hour after a bombing, struggles with posttraumatic feelings of detachment; Taro stifles anxiety as he prepares to fly his plane into a target, and then must deal with isolation and shame after a missed attempt. The characters notice each other when Hana hears Taro play his violin, and Smith (Pasadena) capably sketches their attraction and courtship. Though the end feels a bit tidy, the novel—rich with Japanese cultural details (kimono, gifts of salted plums) and a sense of place—ably portrays the stakes of war and love. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

December 15, 2019
Hope and affection bloom between a schoolgirl and a pilot in this bittersweet narrative set in Japan during the final months of World War II. Fifteen-year-old Hana is a member of a youth war group that tends to the tokkō, or special attack pilots, stationed at the Chiran Army Air Force Base. The girls do the pilots' laundry, serve them meals, and line the runway to send them off on their deadly flights. Since nearly being buried alive during an air raid, Hana moves through each day as though already claimed by death--until one afternoon when she hears the sound of a violin for the first time. Seventeen-year-old Taro is a tokkō committed to defending his country at the cost of his own life, but he cannot abandon his love of music and takes comfort in practicing his instrument. Despite the traumas of war and the demands of duty, a chance encounter between the two leads to a connection that tethers them to each other. Smith's (Pasadena, 2016, etc.) thorough research is evident in the details that immerse readers in Hana's and Taro's lives. Their stories unfold at a measured pace; short chapters build readers' anticipation and keep the pages turning. Romanized Japanese words are used throughout the text, grounding the novel in its setting. A pensive depiction of young love and endurance amid wartime uncertainty. (map, author's note, glossary, selected bibliography) (Historical fiction. 13-18)

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January 31, 2020

Gr 6 Up-In 1940s Japan, Hana and the other girls in her group care for young soldiers before they join the war. The daily work is repetitive and numbing, a match to Hana's feelings after she survives being buried alive during an air attack. She feels like a ghost, until she meets a soldier named Taro. He longs to make his mother, father, and country proud by becoming a kamikaze pilot. However, Taro cannot leave his musical past behind and brings his violin to the military base. One day his playing brings him and Hana together. Can he and Hana enjoy his last few days together? Impeccably researched, Smith's detailed writing evokes traditional Eastern folklore-much like the Japanese stories she weaves through the novel. Readers will find themselves growing attached to the characters and their developing affection, but the author does not shy away from realistic depiction of a war-torn country. Smith includes a glossary and selected bibliography. Beyond the sense of looming death, there is passion and hope that drives readers further into the story. The ending feels inevitable, like the last notes of a perfect melody. VERDICT Smith's fast-paced and compelling historical novel would be a valued addition to any collection.-DeHanza Kwong, Butte Public Library, MT

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 In 1945 Japan, Hana and Taro are dealing with the horrors of war, Hana by working to support the soldiers, and Taro by preparing himself to die for his country as a kamikaze pilot. The teens meet just before Taro's assigned mission, and they find comfort and understanding in each other. Chapters alternate between Hana's and Taro's perspectives and frequently include flashbacks to the years before the war. Music was integral to their lives then, and both wonder how it will fit into their existence if they survive. Smith's beautifully written book examines the strength and limits of patriotism, while also being a quiet portrait of deep love. Moments between Hana and Taro capture both an intense, youthful longing and the wisdom of recognizing their connection will live beyond these fleeting encounters. This is the kind of high-stakes love story that will leave readers stressed and sighing in equal measure, yet grateful to have seen the portrait of these two lives.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)