Grenade tells the story of the invasion of Okinawa by the Americans towards the end of World War Two. The book is mainly about Hideki, a native of Okinawa, burdened by the knowledge of his ancestor, who chose to surrender rather than fight against the Japanese invaders. As a member of the Blood and Iron Student Corps, he is given only two grenades and is expected to kill as many Americans as possible, then blow himself up. But the students' attempt at attacking the Americans does not go well, and Hideki is forced to flee. Then there's Ray, a fresh recruit just out of high school, who has landed in Okinawa. As he clears out Japanese encampments with his platoon, he is faced with the harsh realities of war. Chapters switch between Ray and Hideki: first with Hideki running through Okinawa, trying to find his sister, last seen at a field hospital on the other side of the island; then Ray, who is growing accustomed to army life. I loved the thought-provoking ness, especially how it brought in traditional Okinawan beliefs. Additionally, it lacked a boring moment and kept me hooked till the end. I admired how it depicted the war correctly, with cruelty on both the Japanese and American sides. One of the best books I've read, I would recommend it for people who like fast-paced books about war
Grenade
By Alan Gratz
For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz brings his trademark impeccable research and cinematic writing style to the Pacific theater of WWII.
Book Reviews (12)
this is very good thats all i say
Another book for Christmas. I have read Ground Zero, and loved it. I'm looking forward to see if Gratz has yet another win. Looking forward to reading!
I personally enjoyed this book very much. I like the other perspective in the story that shows how other military’s reacted to World War Two. I would definitely recommend you to read this book because of the great historical details in the story. This book definitely deserves 5 stars.
Nice book
Wow. This book is a masterpiece. Please BEWARE, as spoilers are in this review. Hideki, a fourteen-year-old Okinawan boy, is taken out of school and put in the Blood and Iron Imperial Corps, is given two grenades. He was told that Americans were terrible people, so his instructions were, Use one Grenade to kill as many American soldiers as you could, and the other...well, we can skip that. Ray Majors, a young man enlisted in the U.S Army, is sent to Japan to fight. When Hideki meets Ray, he makes a decision that will change his life. If you don't like blood and gore, I would not recommend this book to you. If you do, I would recommend this book for grades 5 to 8. This gripping WW2 book just stuns all, and although some parts might sting, keep reading and you'd definitely enjoy this book!
this book was really good for 10 to 13-year-olds. it was super amazing and it really opened my imagination
It is about Hideki, an Okinawan boy, who is only in middle school. But he's drafted into the "Blood and Iron Imperial Corps" to fight for the Japanese in World War II. Hideki's handed two grenades and sent off into the jungle, with instructions to kill an American. Meanwhile, Ray, a young American soldier, is landing on the Okinawan beach with his company. From opposite sides of the war, the two boys see unwarranted violence and escape danger at every turn. But what will happen when they encounter each other in the middle of the jungle? Could it change the course of the Battle of Okinawa? For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz brings his trademark impeccable research and cinematic writing style to the Pacific theater of WWII.
Best book I have ever read. From the start of the first paragraph to the end of the book. What an amazing sequence about two people and how they met. And that is only in part one!
I really love the author of this book, Alan Gratz, because he writes wonderful historical fiction stories on hard topics, like wars, refugees, and depression, but he tells the truth and doesn't play it down like most books for kids. When you read his novels you just have to expect that there will be violence and sadness, but once you finish one of his books, you will be changed and more aware of the problems we still have on our earth, and you will want to help solve them, that is how impactful Gratz's books are. This particular book is about the American invasion of Okinawa in World War 2 and is told from two characters perspectives, one from each side of the war. It follows the progress of Ray and Hideki as they travel across the island of Okinawa through the war, seeing many things they never thought they would see in their life. Hideki is an Okinawan and was drafted into the "Blood and Iron Student Corps" and with only about two days of "training" the Americans arrived and he is given two grenades and the instructions "Don't come back until you've killed an American soldier." Ray is an American Marine who ran away from home to join the army, but it is not anything how he imagined it. He arrives on the island with a gun and an over-sized helmet and is told "Stay low, don't bunch up, and run." They learn many things about themselves and others as they make their way through the battlefield and the wreckage that ensues. They start to question what they have been told by others and make many decisions that they regret afterwards. I cannot even put into words how wonderful this book is, it raises awareness on all sorts of topics that aren't usually even mentioned in most books for kids. It had a wonderful message though it may seem a little violent or harsh at first. I would recommend this to 7th or 8th grade and up, since it does have lots of violence, but even if you may not like it even from the first few chapters, I encourage you to keep reading to the end, because I guarantee that you will put the book down and say, "I am glad that I kept reading that book."