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.--Molly Horan Copyright 2020 Booklist

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. (Feb.)

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 tokk, 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 deathuntil one afternoon when she hears the sound of a violin for the first time. Seventeen-year-old Taro is a tokk 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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Almost buried alive in a bombing by Allied forces in 1945 Chiran, Japan, fifteen-year-old Hana feels as though she is already dead, just going through the motions. Since the bombing, girls her age have been assigned to the Nadeshiko unit; their job is to care for and send the tokk (special attack pilots, or kamikaze) off to their deaths. In an alternating narrative, seventeen-year-old Taro is prepared to die for Japan, his death bringing more honor and glory for his family than his skill in playing the violin, or his life, ever could. When their paths cross, Taros violin-playing revives Hanas appreciation for life as well as joyful memories, especially of her koto-playing father, now fighting in the war. When their connection deepens into love, Taro wonders if his feelings will jeopardize his resolve in completing his mission, while Hanas heart breaks knowing Taros seemingly inevitable fate. Through meticulous research, Smith immerses her readers in a war narrative not often told to American readers, as well as a tension-filled love story. Smith does not shy away from the horrific consequences of war and its victims; the novel encompasses comfort women; Asian countries affected by Japanese imperialism; and ritual suicide. The imagery of the title evokes the Japanese code of bushido and the fleeting beauty of existence. A map, glossary, authors note, and bibliography of both Japanese history in World War II and contemporary Japanese culture are appended. Ariana Hussain March/April 2020 p.89(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.