The Last Cherry Blossom
Meet the Author: Kathleen Burkinshaw
Following the seventieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Last Cherry Blossom is a new, very personal story to join Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
Kathleen Burkinshaw resides in Charlotte, NC. She’s a wife, mom to a daughter in college, and dreading the reality of being an empty nester (most of the time), and owns a dog who is a kitchen ninja. She also advocates for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy research. Writing has given her an outlet for her daily struggle with chronic pain. Writing Historical Fiction satisfies her OCD tendencies to research anything and everything.
Kathleen’s debut novel, THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM (Sky Pony Press, August 4, 2016), is upper middle grade historical fiction. THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM gives a glimpse into a 12 year old girl’s daily life in Hiroshima during the last year of World War II. Shocking family secrets are revealed just as her entire world is about to ignite and become a shadow of what it had been. This historical fiction novel is based on her mother’s life in Hiroshima.
The Last Cherry Blossom
This is a story that offers young readers insight into how children lived during the war, while also introducing them to Japanese culture. Based loosely on author Kathleen Burkinshaw’s mother’s firsthand experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Last Cherry Blossom hopes to warn readers of the immense damage nuclear war can bring, while reminding them that the “enemy” in any war is often not so different from ourselves.
Yuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and Japan’s fate is not entirely clear, with any battle losses being hidden from its people. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbours who have left to fight stop coming home. When the bomb hits Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.
Kathleen is joining us to talk about her book, shares details about behind the scenes writing process which was based on Kathleen’s mother’s experience. She also highlights that her book takes place during an incredibly painful and heartbreaking event in history: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. And says its important that we learn from our past and That nuclear weapons should not be used on any country for any reason & develop a sense of empathy for each other. Tune in to find out why it is important for young readers to learn about this period in history & the beautiful value it teaches to kids.
You can find Kathleen online at kathleenburkinshaw.com and on Twitter @klburkinshaw1.
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