“Once the green and red paper lanterns were lit, it was almost as if they’d been given life, their glow was so otherworldly. They formed little groups as they flowed quietly down the river. Like souls departing on a journey.”

😍 The cover. Yes, the first thing I got to mention is that ABSOLUTELY stunning cover. Just look at that.
😍 Reading stories from people Nozomi and her friends interviewed or asked to tell their story. My heart broke so many times. People who have lost all. People who don’t know if people died, just have to guess they probably passed away. Never being able to give them a funeral. Plus, reading about the after effects. Not just the loss and mourning, but also the illness. That even if you survived you could die afterwards.
😍 The mystery lantern and for whom that is. Eventually we find out and I just wanted to cry. I am happy that Nozomi found out, happy that her family could open up about it.
😍 The whole event that Nozomi and her friends prepared for school. That was just absolutely wonderful and I wish I could have seen the works the teens made. The writer does describe them really well, but I think with a picture it would have been complete.
😍 Hiroshima + what happened always interested me. Hopefully this doesn’t sound morbid. I don’t mean it that way.
😍 Most of the books out about Hiroshima and Nagasaki are non-fiction books, so I am delighted that we get a historical fiction novel about it weaving real events with fictional events. Kids may not be into the non-fiction but they may just pick this one up because it is also fiction. And so they learn something new.
😍 I could just imagine being there at times because the author really describes everything in a fantastic way.
😍 Loved that we saw both Nozomi’s POV but also that of her other 2 friends.
😍 The lantern ceremonies, both the one in the beginning and at the end. I wish I could truly experience that in real life. Be part of it.

😶 The translation at times felt a bit wobbly/bit off, at times I had to re-read parts as sentences just didn’t flow right.

All in all, a stunning book that deserves all the praise and definitely deserves being read by everyone. Such a gorgeous and stunning book. But as I said in the beginning, bring tissues.