06/01/2026
Kathleen Birkinshaw chooses one school each year to visit in person, and this year she visited our school, Clover Middle. For years, 6th graders have read and studied Birkinshaw’s book in their social studies classes. The book is set during World War II. Here is a summary from the cover: Yuriko is happy growing up in Hiroshima when it's 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 air raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home. When the atomic bomb hits Hiroshima, it's through Yuriko's twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.
This is a story that offers young readers insight into how children lived during the war, while also introducing them to Japanese culture. Based on author Kathleen Burkinshaw's mother's first-hand 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 readers that the "enemy" in any war is often not so different from ourselves.
After the presentation, students honored Burkinshaw by wearing pink and white to represent cherry blossoms. They also presented her with a flower bouquet (sponsored by the PTO), a banner signed by all the students, a wish tree along with lovely handwritten notes and drawings. Burkinshaw also remained at school to sign over 100 copies of her books for the students.
