Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

What insights does Sadako’s fondness for good luck signs give into her character? Where do these symbols appear throughout the novel, and how do they develop the novel’s themes?

Compare and contrast Mr. and Mrs. Sasaki’s ways of living with grief. How do they seek to ease Sadako’s pain, and how does she seek to ease theirs? How does Sadako’s illness impact her parents’ relationship?

What specific traits make Chizuko a good friend? How does she contribute to the plot, the protagonist’s characterization, and the theme of hope and perseverance?

What stylistic choices does Eleanor Coerr make to help her story be more accessible for young readers and readers unfamiliar with Japanese history and culture? Select a few similes from the novel and examine what functions they serve, such as helping readers understand characters’ emotions or envision a scene.

How does Kenji develop the theme of War’s Impact on Children? Why does Coerr name an entire chapter after him when he is a relatively brief presence in Sadako’s life?

What do Peace Day and O Bon reveal about the characters’ beliefs and values? What insights do these holidays give into how the Sasaki family, the city of Hiroshima, and the people of 1950s Japan live with grief?

What does the maple tree outside Sadako’s hospital room represent? How does Coerr use the maple tree to enhance the novel’s setting, imagery, and mood?

Why do you think Coerr chose to limit the timeframe of her novel to 15 months rather than showing more of Sadako’s life before her diagnosis or exploring the events of World War II? How does the novel’s brevity and tight chronology affect the characterization, themes, and overall meaning?