Peace is a chain reaction: How World War II Japanese balloon bombs brought people of two nations together by Tanya Lee Stone

Tanya Lee Stone weaves the complexities of World War II into an intimate story of loss, forgiveness, and peace. The narrative starts with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and ensuing internment of Japanese-American people, interspersed with the little-known story of a minor bombing in Oregon.

The story is one of children caught up in the fear and hate of war; Tetsuko Tanaka, an American citizen, is interned and his family suffers mental, physical, and economic losses. In Japan, a group of young teen girls are commandeered by the militaristic government and put to work in a dangerous factory creating balloon bombs. A few of the bombs make it to Oregon, where six people, including children, are killed on a picnic.

Eventually, the survivors of all three tragedies are brought together by Tetsuko Tanaka. As adults, they deal with complex emotions of guilt, grief, and betrayal but find a way forward in communication, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Stone speaks directly to her readers in afterwords about the nature of trauma and telling stories and provides suggestions of further reading and discussion.

World War II titles are popular among many students, I think at least partly because, especially in older titles, it's portrayed as a clear-cut, good vs. bad, conflict. There's a "right" side and a "wrong" side, the good and the bad. Historically, this is simply not true and students should be aware of the complex issues and ethical quandaries, as well as the human impact on individuals. Stone explores the effect of the militaristic government in Japan, the prejudice and hatred shown towards Japanese-Americans, and the value of each individual life lost and damaged by war.

Verdict: This is a powerful and well-written book, combining multiple events in a seamless narrative. Stone doesn't gloss over the suffering or brutality of both sides and throughout the story explores what it means to promote peace and reconciliation. I would recommend this for middle school and up; it would be of particular interest for schools working with students on building a supportive and kind environment, especially if they can guide them through making connections between the narrative and their own lives and actions.

ISBN: 9780763676865; Published September 2022 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium