Sadako and the

Thousand Paper
Cranes
Study Guide by Course Hero

tense.
What's Inside
ABOUT THE TITLE
The title references the novel's main character, Sadako, and
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 her quest to fold 1,000 paper cranes before her death from
leukemia.
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3

h Characters .................................................................................................. 3 d In Context

k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 6

c Chapter Summaries ............................................................................... 11 Historical Fiction and the "Real"

g Quotes ......................................................................................................... 16 Sadako Sasaki
l Symbols ...................................................................................................... 18
Although Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes closely
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 18 follows the details of the real-life Sadako Sasaki's life and
death, it is considered historical fiction. While Sadako Sasaki's
life was well documented in her diary, the novel adds to the
factual account conversations and thoughts that Coerr
j Book Basics invented.

Before writing Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, Coerr

AUTHOR
studied Sadako's diary, Kokeshi, which had been reproduced
Eleanor Coerr
and distributed by Sadako's classmates after her death. The
YEAR PUBLISHED novel mostly follows details of its subject's life. Sadako Sasaki
1977 was born on January 7, 1943, and was just two when the
United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on
GENRE August 6, 1945. Sadako was at home about 1.2 miles from the
Drama, Historical Fiction explosion. While she and her family survived, she would
develop leukemia as a result of exposure to radiation from the
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR
bomb.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is told in the third-
person limited perspective by an unnamed narrator. The Sadako was a happy schoolgirl and a member of the relay race
narration stays close to Sadako's point of view throughout the team at her school. She first showed symptoms of leukemia in
novel, telling the audience what Sadako thinks and feels. 1954 and began folding origami paper cranes while receiving
treatment in the hospital. She was inspired by a Japanese
TENSE
legend that if someone folds 1,000 paper cranes the gods will
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is narrated in the past
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
grant them a wish.
Coerr's story follows this timeline, but perhaps the largest
factual conflict comes from the author's assertion that Sadako
folded only 644 cranes before her death at age 12 on October
25, 1955. Her brother Masahiro Sasaki has asserted that she
finished over 1,400 paper cranes by herself. It's unclear why
Coerr chose to change this particular fact. Possibly she felt
that having Sadako's classmates complete her goal was more
dramatic.
World War II and the Bombing
of Hiroshima
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes takes place from 1954
to 1955, nine years after the end of World War II (1939–45).
The war began on September 1, when Germany invaded
Poland. Two days later, the United Kingdom and France
declared war on Germany. German dictator Adolf Hitler
(1889–1945) sought to expand his territory and his power by
conquering other countries in Europe. Hitler aligned with two
other dictatorships, Italy and Japan. Benito Mussolini
(1883–1945) governed Italy. Under Japanese Emperor Hirohito
(1901–89), military leaders ruled Japan. General Tojo Hideki
(1884–1948), a particularly aggressive prime minister, led
Japan throughout most of the war, including the attack against
the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7,
1941. As a result of that attack, U.S. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt (1882–1945) asked Congress to declare war. The
United States also joined the Allied Powers, which included
Great Britain, France, and Russia. The Allies mounted a
defense against the increasing aggression of the Axis Powers,
made up of Germany, Italy, and Japan.
The U.S. alignment with the Allied Powers strengthened the
Allies, leading to their eventual victory. Italy surrendered in
September of 1943, followed by Germany in May of 1945.
President Roosevelt had died in April of that year and was
succeeded by Harry S. Truman (1884–1972).
Japan was losing the war but would not surrender. On August
6, 1945 Truman authorized the dropping of an atomic bomb on
the city of Hiroshima, Japan, which served as a Japanese
military center. Another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki,
Japan, on August 9. Japan announced surrender on August 15
and formally surrendered at a ceremony on September 2, 1945,
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In Context 2
bringing about the end of the war.
Sadako Sasaki has come to represent the innocent victims of
warfare. Unlike previous wars, where violence and destruction
were confined to times of war, the destruction wreaked by
atomic bombs continued long afterward. Sadako's story
remains vitally important in antiwar and antinuclear protests.
Spiritual Beliefs
Sadako and the 1,000 Paper Cranes never identifies the Sasaki
family's religion, but they follow traditions tied to both Shinto
and Buddhist beliefs. Shintoism developed during Japan's
prehistoric period, whereas Buddhism arrived from India and
China later, around the 6th century CE. Followers of Shintoism
believe in the spirits (kamis) of different living things, such as
animals, wind, rivers, and people both living and dead. In the
novel, readers see this belief when the Sasaki family prays to
the spirit of their deceased Oba chan (grandmother) each
morning, and when they leave out food for their ancestors
during the O Bon celebration. Sadako's quest to fold 1,000
cranes is undertaken to please the gods in the hopes of
earning good favor. Even Mrs. Sasaki prays to the cranes in
Chapter 7 when she whispers, "O flock of heavenly cranes /
cover my child with your wings." Because spirits can intervene
in the human world, followers of Shintoism are also on the
lookout for good luck charms and signs. In the novel, Sadako
sees good luck all around her, from the fuzzy spider in Chapter
1 to the last paper crane she folds in Chapter 8.
Many of these traditions exist in Buddhism as well. Buddhism is
a religion of thought, though many would call it a philosophy
rather than a religion because it is not a system of faith that
worships a supernatural being. Rather than accepting existing
beliefs or doctrines, the historical Buddha (died c. 410–370
BCE) taught people to examine life deeply and find the truth
for themselves. As in Shintoism, Buddhists believe spirits of
their ancestors live on after death. In Chapter 3, Sadako notes
of the nearby temple bells, "They were ringing out all the evils
of the old year so that the new one would have a fine
beginning." Like many people in Japan, the Sasaki family
appears to incorporate elements of both Shintoism and
Buddhism into their lives.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
a Author Biography
Childhood
American author Eleanor Coerr, née Page, was born in
Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, on May 29, 1922. Even as a
young child, Coerr was drawn to books. She spent much of her
spare time reading and making up stories. In high school, her
friendship with the daughter of Japanese immigrants inspired
an interest in Japanese language and culture, particularly
calligraphy and origami. Both of these Japanese art forms
would appear prominently in Coerr's later works.
Journalism Career
Coerr began working as a journalist for the Ottawa Journal and
married U.S. Air Force officer Robert Hicks. In 1949 the Journal
was looking for a reporter to travel to Japan and write about
conditions there following World War II. Coerr was the only
volunteer. While in Japan she visited Hiroshima, where the
devastation of the atomic bomb profoundly impacted her. Her
husband was now based in Japan, and the couple's first son,
Robert, was born there in 1952.
The Hicks family moved back to the United States in 1953,
when Coerr published her first book for children, Circus Day in
Japan. She gave birth to her second son, Bill, that year. Her
marriage to Hicks ended in 1965, and she married her second
husband, diplomat Wymberly De Renne Coerr (1913–96), the
same year. They traveled extensively, giving her material for
the children's books she would later publish. When she and her
husband returned to the United States, Coerr earned a
bachelor's degree in English from American University in 1969
and a master's in library science from the University of
Maryland in 1971. That same year she published her book
Twenty-Five Dragons, followed by Biography of a Kangaroo in
1976.
Sadako and the Thousand
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Author Biography 3
Paper Cranes
Coerr's best-known work, Sadako and the Thousand Paper
Cranes, was published in 1977. It had been in the making for
over a decade. In 1963 Coerr had returned to Hiroshima and
discovered the statue of Sadako Sasaki in Peace Park. The
young girl the statue honors had succumbed to leukemia at
age 12 as a result of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
on August 6, 1945. Coerr learned that Sadako had kept a diary
while in the hospital, which her classmates had reproduced
and distributed to raise money after Sadako's death. Coerr
searched the country for a copy of the diary, called Kokeshi,
but turned up nothing. Years later she mentioned her search in
passing while having tea with a friend, and to her shock, that
friend retrieved a copy of the diary from her attic. Later, Coerr
said, "It's like magic. I was meant to write [Sadako's] story."
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes has sold over 1.5
million copies and been translated into a dozen languages.
Death and Legacy
Coerr published many other popular novels for young readers,
including Sam the Minuteman (1995), Buffalo Bill and the Pony
Express (1996), Mieko and the Fifth Treasure (2003), and The
Josefina Story Quilt (2006). After her death on November 22,
2010, memorials held in both the United States and Japan
were filled with origami paper cranes, serving as a reminder of
the impact of Coerr's beloved stories.
h Characters
Sadako Sasaki
At the opening of the novel, 11-year-old Sadako Sasaki is a
healthy, vibrant child. She prepares to celebrate Peace Day
with her community, enjoying the festivities with her best
friend, Chizuko. At the start of the new school year, Sadako's
class selects her to represent them in the upcoming Field Day
race. Sadako sees this as an honor, and she practices daily to
improve her speed. But her running is impeded by dizzy spells,
and doctors soon diagnose her with leukemia. Sadako faces
her illness with her usual optimism. She hopes to fold 1,000
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Characters 4

paper cranes and earn good luck from the gods and is
supported in her efforts by friends and family. Over time,
however, she weakens and finally dies before completing her
project. Her classmates fold the last cranes needed to reach
1,000 and help spread her story. Ultimately Sadako becomes a
symbol of peace.

Chizuko
Chizuko plays an important role in the story after Sadako is
diagnosed with leukemia. It is Chizuko who tries to cheer her
friend by reminding her of the legend of the paper cranes. She
teaches Sadako how to fold the paper cranes, and she visits
her friend regularly.

Kenji
Kenji is a nine-year-old leukemia patient whom Sadako meets
in the cancer ward. Unlike Sadako, Kenji has no hope of
healing. He lives his life simply waiting to die. He doesn't
believe Chizuko's story about the paper cranes. When he dies,
Sadako feels devastated. Not only has she lost a friend, she
must face the realization that many people suffering from "the
atom bomb disease" do not recover.

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Characters 5

Character Map

Kenji
Hopeless boy

Cancer
patients

Father
Mr. Sasaki Sadako Sasaki Chizuko
Kind barber Determined girl Best Loyal and inspirational girl
friends

Mother

Spouses

Mrs. Sasaki
Supportive housewife

Main Character

Other Major Character

Minor Character

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
Full Character List
Character Description
Sadako Sasaki is the 11-​year-​old
Sadako protagonist of the novel. After being
Sasaki diagnosed with leukemia, Sadako
attempts to fold 1,000 paper cranes.
Chizuko is Sadako's best friend and
Chizuko
frequent supporter.
Kenji is a nine-​year-​old leukemia
Kenji patient. His death reminds Sadako of
her own mortality.
Eiji Sasaki is Sadako's youngest
Eiji Sasaki brother. He saves Sadako a chocolate
wrapper to fold into a paper crane.
Masahiro Sasaki is Sadako's older
Masahiro brother. While Sadako is in the hospital,
Sasaki Masahiro promises to hang every crane
that she folds.
Mitsue Sasaki is Sadako's younger
Mitsue Sasaki sister. She helps Sadako wash dishes
before the Peace Day celebrations.
Dr. Numata is the head doctor in charge
Dr. Numata
of Sadako's care at the hospital.
Mr. Sasaki is Sadako's father. He
accidentally offends his wife by
Mr. Sasaki
commenting on how quiet and polite
Sadako becomes during her illness.
Mrs. Sasaki is Sadako's mother. She
grieves deeply when Sadako falls ill and
Mrs. Sasaki longs to care for her. She makes
Sadako's favorite foods and makes her
a silk kimono.
Nurse
Nurse Yasunaga helps care for both
Sadako and Kenji in the hospital. She
Yasunaga
treats the children with kindness.
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Plot Summary 6
k Plot Summary
Peace Day
At the opening of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, 11-
year-old Sadako is a healthy sixth-grader living with her family
in Hiroshima, Japan. It's 1954, nine years after the United
States dropped an atomic bomb on the city to end World War
II. As the novel opens, Sadako excitedly prepares to attend the
Peace Day celebration in the park with her family and friends.
After breakfast she meets her best friend, Chizuko, at the park
entrance. Sadako claims to remember when the bomb was
dropped, even though she had been only two. As Sadako
enjoys the celebrations, she avoids looking at people whose
skin bears the white scars of atomic bomb burns.
Field Day
At the start of the new school year, Sadako's class selects her
to represent them in the big Field Day race. Sadako feels
overjoyed; she loves running and longs to be a member of the
middle school racing team. She hopes this race will prove her
skill to the coaches. She practices running every day, pushing
to improve her speed. Occasionally Sadako feels dizzy while
running, but she tries to ignore her worrying symptoms. On the
day of the big race, Sadako wins but is so dizzy that she can
barely celebrate. A few months later, Sadako faints while
running in the schoolyard, and doctors quickly diagnose her
with "the atom bomb disease": leukemia. After Sadako is
admitted to the hospital, Chizuko tries to cheer her by teaching
her to fold origami paper cranes. According to legend, if a
person folds 1,000 paper cranes, the gods will grant their wish.
Sadako hopes that if she reaches her goal, the gods will heal
her.
Staying Optimistic
Sadako befriends another leukemia patient, a nine-year-old
boy named Kenji. Kenji doesn't share Sadako's optimism, and
he dies soon after their first meeting. Devastated, Sadako asks
if she will die next. Her family does everything they can to keep
her feeling upbeat. They visit often, bringing lots of donated
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Plot Summary 7

paper for her origami cranes. Mrs. Sasaki regularly brings

Sadako's favorite foods, but the side effects of treatment,
including swollen gums and lost appetite, mean Sadako rarely
eats them. In July, Sadako feels well enough for a visit home
over the holidays. At the beginning of the week, Sadako feels
optimistic that she might be home for good. As the days pass,
however, her exhaustion grows. She feels an overwhelming
sense of relief returning to the hospital.

Saying Goodbye
After the holiday celebrations, Mrs. Sasaki brings Sadako an
expensive silk kimono that she has made. She had promised to
purchase one when Sadako was grown, but it's clear now that
Sadako is nearing death. Pushing aside her pain, Sadako tries
on the kimono, giving her family one last happy memory.
Surrounded by loved ones, Sadako dies a few months later.
Before her death, Sadako manages to fold 644 paper cranes.
To complete her project, Sadako's classmates fold the last
356. Young people around the country raise money to build a
statue honoring Sadako in Hiroshima's Peace Park. Every year,
members of the Folded Crane Club leave hundreds of paper
cranes at the statue on Peace Day.

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Plot Summary 8

Plot Diagram

Climax

Rising Action 4 Falling Action

6
3

2 7
1
Resolution
Introduction

Falling Action
Introduction
6. Surrounded by her family, Sadako dies.
1. Sadako enjoys the Peace Day celebration.

Resolution
Rising Action
7. Completing her project, Sadako's classmates fold 356
2. After bouts of dizziness, Sadako is diagnosed with leukemia. cranes.

3. To gain good luck, Sadako begins folding paper cranes.

4. Kenji dies, reminding Sadako of her mortality.

Climax

5. Mrs. Sasaki gives Sadako a silk kimono.

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Plot Summary 9

Timeline of Events

August 6, 1945

The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

August 6, 1954

Sadako attends the Peace Day festival with her family.

September 1954

Sadako makes the racing team but experiences dizzy

spells.

February 1955

After collapsing in the schoolyard, Sadako is diagnosed

with leukemia.

Shortly after

Chizuko folds the golden crane for Sadako.

Over the next few months

Sadako passes her time folding paper cranes.

Spring 1955

Kenji's death devastates Sadako.

June 1955

Despite being fed her favorite foods, Sadako has no

appetite.

July 1955

Sadako returns home for O Bon.

Fall 1955

Mrs. Sasaki gives Sadako a silk kimono.

That night

Sadako folds her last paper crane, number 644.

October 25, 1955

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Plot Summary 10

Surrounded by her family, Sadako dies.

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
c Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
Summary
A brief prologue explains that Sadako and the Thousand Paper
Cranes is based on the life of a "real-life little girl" who lived in
Japan from 1943 to 1955. Sadako, the author explains, was in
Hiroshima when the United States dropped an atom bomb on
the city to end World War II. She died 10 years later and is a
heroine to Japanese children.
Chapter 1 begins one morning in August 1954 as 11-year-old
Sadako Sasaki runs excitedly into the morning sunlight,
searching for signs of good luck in the clear blue sky. She is
"always on the lookout for good luck signs." It's Peace Day, and
Sadako eagerly wakes her sister, Mitsue, and two brothers,
Masahiro, and Eiji, for the annual ceremony. Sadako's mother
chastises her daughter, reminding her that Peace Day isn't
about celebration. Rather, it's about remembering the lives lost
when the atomic bomb was dropped on their city nine years
earlier. "Many still died from the disease," the narrator states,
because the bomb had filled the air with radiation that "stayed
inside people for a long time." Sadako's own grandmother, Oba
chan, died that day.
Before breakfast, the Sasaki family gathers around a picture of
Oba chan and prays that the spirits of their ancestors are
happy in the afterlife. As Sadako gulps her breakfast of soup
and rice, she remembers how much fun she had at last year's
Peace Day ceremony. After breakfast Sadako and Mitsue
hurriedly wash dishes, eager to be out the door. As she waits
for her parents, Sadako spots a fuzzy spider in the corner. She
carefully moves the spider outside, thrilled to see a good luck
sign in her house.
Analysis
The novel's opening chapter highlights the connection
between the living and spiritual worlds. Sadako's family honors
Oba chan—the children's grandmother—by keeping her
photograph on an altar and praying for her daily. In this way,
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Chapter Summaries 11
the spirit world continues to live on.
The family also honors luck and superstition, as displayed in
Sadako's treatment of the spider. For many readers, seeing a
fuzzy spider in their kitchen might cause distress. Sadako,
however, delights in the good luck sign, and it fuels her
excitement for the day.
Readers begin to see the generational divide regarding the
atomic bomb. The attack on Hiroshima happened only nine
years earlier. The Sasaki family lost a family member, yet
Sadako feels disconnected from the tragedy. On its
anniversary, Sadako feels excitement rather than sadness.
Because she was only two when the bomb was dropped, she
associates its anniversary with celebration rather than
reverence or reflection, as her parents do.
Chapter 1 establishes Coerr's straightforward writing style. She
explains concepts for the reader—radiation is "a kind of
poison"—and uses Sadako's dialogue and action to show
readers her main character's lively personality. She also
foreshadows heavily. Sadako's constant search for good luck
signs will explain her later obsession with folding paper cranes.
The bomb, ominously, still kills people nine years later. Readers
already know from the prologue that the character will die; the
author's use of foreshadowing means they cannot forget this
fact.
Chapter 2
Summary
Sadako meets her best friend, Chizuko, on her way to the
Peace Day ceremony and wishes her friend would walk more
quickly. "Let's hurry!" she shouts, and the girls excitedly run to
Peace Park. Mr. Sasaki laughs as Sadako rushes away, noting
that no one has ever seen Sadako "walk when she could run,
hop, or jump." Sadako and her friend rush into the memorial
building, where various speakers will deliver addresses to the
crowd. As they run, they avoid photographs showing the
atomic bomb's destruction, because they make Sadako
uncomfortable. Even though she was only a baby when the
bomb was dropped, she vividly remembers how the "heat
prickled [her] eyes like needles."
After the speeches and a ceremonial release of doves, Sadako
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Chapter Summaries 12

and Chizuko hurry to buy cotton candy. They happily pass the next to him.
day exploring vendor stalls before finding a perfect spot to
watch the evening fireworks. Afterward, Sadako meets back Sadako practices for the race every day, allowing herself to

up with her family to release candlelit lanterns in memory of dream big. "Maybe ... I will be the best runner in the whole

their ancestors who died because of the "Thunderbolt," the school," she thinks. On the day of the race, Sadako feels so

bomb. As she falls asleep that night, Sadako remembers the nervous that she worries her legs won't work. Her parents offer

day's good luck signs. words of encouragement, and Sadako knows they will love her
no matter the race's outcome. The race starts. Sadako takes
off, bursting ahead of her competitors. Her team wins, but
Analysis Sadako struggles to shake a sudden, overwhelming dizziness
that she keeps secret.
The Peace Day ceremonies further highlight the divide
All through the winter, Sadako trains and struggles with
between older and younger generations. For older generations,
seemingly random dizzy spells. On New Year's Eve, Sadako
the memorial is reverent. Sadako's parents are reserved and
hopes she can "magically wish away" the dizzy spells. She
somber. They remember the bomb's destruction, discuss the
makes the wish with each ring of the temple bells at midnight.
effects of the war, and honor their ancestors. For children like
The next morning, as the Sasakis visit their special shrines, her
Sadako, it's a celebration filled with sweets and fireworks. Even
mother says it's time for Sadako to have a silk kimono. She
though Sadako distinctly remembers the physical effects of
promises to buy one as soon as they can afford one. Sadako's
the bombing, she doesn't want to think about them. She avoids
characteristic optimism closes the chapter with the line, "with a
photographs of the destruction and averts her eyes from
beginning like this, how could anything bad happen?"
people with "ugly whitish scars." Doing so allows Sadako to
distance herself from the war's destruction. Despite surviving
horrific wartime violence, she maintains childhood innocence
and optimism.
Analysis
Sadako's wish that Chizuko would move more quickly and Mr. Coerr continues to foreshadow the dramatic turn of events

Sasaki's characterization of her as a runner stand out in this coming for Sadako, beginning with the chapter title, "Sadako's

chapter. She is distinguished from the other young characters, Secret." The character plans excitedly for her future. Being

including her siblings, as an energetic, vibrant child. Her chosen for her school's racing team seems to be a

characterization creates dramatic irony, in which the reader manifestation of all the good luck signs she has been tracking

knows more than the characters. Although Sadako wants to since the novel's opening. She dreams not only of winning the

distance herself from war's violence, readers will see that she school race but of how that win might affect the rest of her life.

has been horrifically affected by it. Unlike the scarred victims However, her dizzy spells signal that a tragic reversal of

Sadako avoids, Sadako's scars are internal. fortune is coming.

Sadako's magical thinking is typical of a child her age. Although

the dizzy spells confuse her, she isn't yet ready to accept that
Chapter 3 they might affect her bright future. On New Year's Eve, Sadako
relishes in the Buddhist belief that ringing of temple bells will
clear away "all the evils of the old year so that the new one
Summary would have a fine beginning." Sadako worries about the dizzy
spells, but she puts more faith in the "good luck symbols"
In early autumn, Sadako bursts into the house with the happy above her door.
news that she has been selected to represent her class in the
Field Day relay race. She wants nothing more than to be
selected for the junior high racing team the following year, and
she knows this will help toward her goal. That evening, her
father makes a speech about family pride as Sadako beams

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
Chapter 4
Summary
For several weeks Sadako feels as if her New Year's prayers
have been answered. She feels strong and healthy; the dizzy
spells are gone. However, in February she faints while running
in the schoolyard. A teacher calls Mr. Sasaki, who rushes
Sadako to the Red Cross Hospital. After a battery of tests, Dr.
Numata tells the assembled Sasaki family that Sadako has
leukemia.
Sadako struggles to understand how she could have leukemia
when "the atom bomb hadn't even scratched her." The nurses
immediately admit Sadako for treatment. Her family promises
to visit every day. Devastated, Sadako realizes that she will not
only miss her graduation to junior high school but can't be part
of the racing team. In her hospital bed, Sadako cries quietly,
remembering so many stories of people who "went into the
hospital [and] never came out."
Analysis
Sadako's vibrancy, optimism, and longtime health make the
news of her leukemia particularly sad to readers. In Chapter 2
Sadako longed to distance herself from the sick, scarred
people she saw at the Peace Day ceremonies, but war shows
no mercy. Despite her best efforts, Sadako cannot escape the
effects of the bomb.
Sadako's diagnosis highlights the devastating effects of
nuclear war. For the first time in world history, the violence of
war is not contained to wartime or war zones. The effects of
the bombing of Hiroshima reverberate for years after. Although
Sadako knows she is loved and supported by her family, her
optimism falters for the first time as she recalls the many
deaths caused by "the atom bomb disease."
Chapter 5
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Chapter Summaries 13
Summary
In the morning Sadako wakes in her hospital bed and feels
depressed when Nurse Yasunaga comes to give her a shot. "I
just want this sickness to be over," she thinks, "so I can go
home." Her mood perks up when Chizuko visits. She brings a
piece of gold paper and scissors, which she skillfully cuts and
then folds into an origami crane. As she folds, Chizuko reminds
Sadako of "that old story about the crane." If a sick person
folds 1,000 paper cranes, the story goes, the gods will grant
the sick person health. Sadako's eyes well up as she thanks
her friend for bringing her such a thoughtful good-luck charm.
Before she leaves, Chizuko teaches Sadako how to fold an
origami crane herself.
With each crane Sadako folds, she feels slightly stronger and
more determined to fold 1,000. When her brother Masahiro
visits to deliver Sadako's schoolwork, he promises to hang all
of Sadako's cranes from the ceiling so she'll have more room
to work. Mrs. Sasaki visits that evening, and the cranes remind
her of a poem; "Out of colored paper, cranes / come flying into
/ our house." When all her visitors have left, Sadako spends the
rest of the night folding cranes to fight off her loneliness.
Analysis
This chapter introduces the novel's main symbol: the wish-
granting origami crane. The project gives Sadako a new outlet
for her ambition and optimism. Since Sadako can no longer run
with the racing team, folding cranes becomes a new "race" to
run. The legend also helps inform the Japanese cultural
relationship between the spiritual and human worlds. In Shinto
culture, people believe the gods can intervene in the living
world. The paper crane comes to symbolize Sadako's optimism
as well as her belief in spirituality and luck.
Chizuko's and Masahiro's visits highlight the love surrounding
Sadako. At first Sadako isn't able to find comfort from her
devastated family or the hospital staff, although both try to
help her. Chizuko's project offers Sadako hope in the form of
loyalty that takes several forms. Chizuko is a loyal friend, trying
to find a way to occupy and heal Sadako. The crane itself is a
sign of loyalty in Japanese culture, perhaps because cranes
mate with the same partner for life. Folding 1,000 cranes will
be an act of loyalty to the gods for Sadako and the reason for
the gods to grant her wish. Finally, Masahiro's promise to hang
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
all the birds reflects, in turn, the family's loyalty to Sadako.
Together, each of these elements creates a strong thematic tie
between love and loyalty.
Chapter 6
Summary
As time passes, all of Sadako's family and friends save scraps
of paper for her to fold into cranes. She folds nearly 300
during her first few months in the hospital, with Masahiro
keeping his promise to hang every one. Some days Sadako
feels strong and healthy. Although she has accepted her
illness, she continues to hope she will get better. Gradually,
however, her energy drains away.
One afternoon Nurse Yasunaga wheels Sadako out to the
hospital porch for some sunshine. There she meets Kenji, a
nine-year-old fellow patient with leukemia. An orphan, Kenji has
few visitors and has accepted that he will die soon. "Even the
gods can't help me now," he says after explaining that the
radiation "was in [his] mother's body" and he got it from her.
That night Sadako makes a large paper crane and sends it
down the hall to Kenji's room. Soon after, the nurse tells
Sadako that Kenji died in the night. "His spirit is free," she says.
Overwhelmed with grief, Sadako sobs and questions, "I'm
going to die next, aren't I?" To comfort her, Nurse Yasunaga
spreads colored paper on Sadako's bed and encourages her to
keep folding until she finishes 1,000 cranes. Sadako continues
folding and reaches 464 cranes by the chapter's end.
Analysis
Kenji's character contrasts sharply with Sadako's. Although
both are innocent children suffering from the "atom bomb
disease," their outlooks are different. Sadako is older than
nine-year-old Kenji, yet she remains optimistic in the face of
her disease. Kenji, on the other hand, has resigned himself to
death. Another key difference is Kenji's lack of support. His
parents are dead, and he has only one old aunt who visits
occasionally. In contrast, Sadako has two parents, three
siblings, and a best friend to encourage her. Their love gives
Sadako hope.
Readers will note Nurse Yasunaga's reaction to Kenji's
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Chapter Summaries 14
pessimism. She wheels Kenji away from Sadako when he
brings up his white blood cell count, as if protecting Sadako's
optimism. Similarly, when Sadako worries that she'll be the next
to die, Nurse Yasunaga brings her sheets of paper and
encourages her to keep folding. All around Sadako, people
root for her success. She has already become an inspiration to
the people around her simply by showcasing her determination
to live.
When Nurse Yasunaga comforts Sadako after Kenji's death,
she mentions that wherever he is, "his spirit is free." This is the
first time death and freedom are mentioned together. Until
now, Sadako longed to be "free" of her illness, just as she
longed to be "free" of her dizzy spells. Nurse Yasunaga's
insight offers another perspective on freedom and happiness
for Sadako to consider.
Chapter 7
Summary
Sadako's health starts to fade in June with its "long, endless
rains." Only her parents and older brother are allowed to visit,
but others send gifts and good wishes. Sadako's class sends a
wooden Kokeshi doll to cheer her. Mrs. Sasaki brings a bundle
of Sadako's favorite foods, but Sadako's gums are too swollen
to eat. She pushes everything away and despairs, "I'm such a
turtle!"
Masahiro arrives with gossip from school and a piece of silver
foil from a chocolate bar for Sadako to fold. Sadako hopes the
gods like chocolate, a thought so silly it causes her to burst out
laughing. Sadako folds cranes for a while, reaching 541, but
eventually feels too tired to continue. As she leaves the
hospital room, Mrs. Sasaki whispers a poem from Sadako's
childhood: "O flock of heavenly cranes / Cover my child with
your wings."
Analysis
Once again, Sadako's family and friends send loving support to
boost her spirits in the hospital. The kokeshi doll—a simple
painted figure with a head and a peglike body—is a lucky
charm. The paper crane project becomes a focal point that
brings her supportive community together. Rather than
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
focusing solely on Sadako's declining health, her loved ones
focus on completing the project. Friends, family, and
community members send paper for Sadako to fold, even a
chocolate wrapper. Their dedication shows Sadako that she's
always in their thoughts, which keeps her motivated to
continue.
Chapter 7 begins and ends with foreshadowing of Sadako's
coming death. The gloomy weather ushers in her fading health.
And while the family has to this point displayed a staunch belief
in Sadako's eventual recovery, Mrs. Sasaki's prayer at the end
of the chapter suggests her emotional desperation. It too
foreshadows Sadako's coming death.
Chapter 8
Summary
Near the end of July, Sadako feels her health is improving. She
attributes this to the fact that she is "over halfway to one
thousand cranes." Her appetite returns and much of her pain
disappears. The doctors agree that she has improved enough
to leave the hospital for a short visit home. "To keep the magic
working" she folds more cranes, reaching 622.
Sadako arrives home in time for O Bon celebrations for spirits
of the dead who "returned to visit those they had loved on
earth." For several days, the Sasaki family home fills with
friends and visitors delighted to hear of Sadako's returned
health. At first Sadako delights in the attention, but by the end
of the week, she is fatigued and withdrawn. Mr. Sasaki offends
his wife when he suggests that Oba chan's spirit would be
proud of Sadako's quiet demeanor. "I would rather have our
lively Sadako back!" Mrs. Sasaki snaps. Sadako worries that
her visit has upset her family, and she feels a sense of relief
returning to her hospital room the next day. Even though
Sadako wants to get better and return to racing, she asks
whether her parents will put her favorite bean cakes on the
altar after she dies.
Over the next days, Sadako receives blood transfusions every
day. She never complains about the pain. A deep fear of death
grows in her, but her favorite gold crane offers her peace. Mrs.
Sasaki visits the hospital every day. One afternoon in early fall,
she presents Sadako with the beautiful silk kimono she
promised her on Peace Day. With great effort, Sadako musters
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Chapter Summaries 15
the strength to try it on, knowing it means so much to her
mother. Her family cheers when they see her sitting in it in her
chair by the window, and Sadako does her best to hide the
pain in her body. That night, after her family leaves, Sadako
manages to fold only one paper crane, number 644. It is "the
last one she ever made."
Analysis
In both Buddhist and Shinto tradition, O Bon is a special night
when spirits of the dead return. The celebration in the novel
reminds readers of the strong cultural connection between the
spiritual and human worlds. Even though readers know Sadako
will die, she will not be gone. She will simply be free, as Kenji's
spirit was freed in Chapter 6. She will be free to enjoy her
favorite bean cakes again, a treat she was too sick to eat in
Chapter 7.
Mr. Sasaki's comment about how quiet and polite Sadako
seems helps readers understand Sadako's suffering. As her
heath declines, she becomes more like Kenji in Chapter 6,
withdrawn and depressed. Sadako actually feels relief when
returning to the hospital. These descriptions help prepare
young readers for Sadako's impending death.
Sadako's family begins saying their goodbyes. Mrs. Sasaki
gives Sadako the silk kimono she promised her in Chapter 2.
The silk is expensive, and Mrs. Sasaki hadn't wanted to spend
the money until Sadako was old enough to appreciate it. Now
Mrs. Sasaki recognizes that the time has come to give her
daughter the precious gift.
Photographs of Sadako wearing her kimono show her standing
in it out of doors, not in a hospital setting. The author has
possibly manipulated the timing of the gift for thematic
purposes. Seeing Sadako in the kimono gives Mrs. Sasaki the
chance to say goodbye to the dream of watching her child
mature.
Chapter 9
Summary
As Sadako grows weaker, she wonders what death will be like.
Will it hurt? Will she "live on a heavenly mountain"? She knows
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
trying to stop death would be like trying to stop the rain from
falling.
In the middle of October, Sadako wakes to hear her mother
sobbing at her bedside. In the hopes of cheering her, Sadako
fumbles with a square of paper, trying unsuccessfully to fold a
crane. Dr. Numata gently takes the paper from Sadako's hands
and tells her to rest. The next time Sadako wakes, her entire
family stands around her bed. She is part of the "warm, loving
circle where she would always be." Lights dance behind her
eyes as she reaches slowly to rest her hand on the golden
crane. Looking up at the ceiling, where strings of her paper
cranes hang, Sadako senses the birds are live. She closes her
eyes and "never woke up."
Analysis
Sadako's inability to continue folding paper cranes signals to
readers the end of any hope of her recovery. However, the
chapter's title, "Running with the Wind," suggests a comforting
belief in the freedom brought by death. Like Kenji, Sadako will
shed her tired, weak body. She will be free from her illness and
once again have the strength to "run with the wind."
Furthermore, she will always be a part of her family circle.
One final image of death as freedom closes the chapter. As
Sadako dies, she sees her paper cranes rustling in the breeze
and thinks, "How beautiful and free they [are]!"
Epilogue
Summary
In the epilogue, Coerr tells readers that Sadako died on
October 25, 1955. She relates that Sadako's classmates
finished folding 356 cranes after her death to complete her
intended 1,000. Her classmates also compiled her letters and
journal and arranged to have them published under the title
Kokeshi.
The book spread Sadako's story, and around the country
young people collected money to build a statue honoring
Sadako. Their dreams came true when a statue of Sadako
holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima's Peace Park
in 1958. Each year, members of the Folded Crane Club place
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Quotes 16
thousands of paper cranes at her statue on August 6, Peace
Day.
In "How to Fold a Paper Crane," Gay Merrill Gross explains that
the paper cranes Sadako folds in the novel are an example of
origami, or creative paper-folding. In Japan, the paper crane
symbolizes "long life, good health, and good fortune." Since the
first publication of Coerr's book, the paper crane has also
come to symbolize peace around the world. Over the next 11
pages, Gross illustrates and describes the 33 steps required to
fold a paper crane.
Analysis
The epilogue describes how Sadako became an international
symbol of peace. Throughout her life Sadako embodied
optimism, determination, and perseverance. Rather than
ending the novel with the sad note of her death, Coerr
describes how Sadako's characteristics live on. Visitors to
Peace Park in Hiroshima see Sadako's statue and learn her
story and the message of peace that it has come to represent.
All around the world, students read Sadako's story and learn to
fold her paper cranes, incorporating her story into their own
cultures.
Coerr changed the historical facts of Sadako's life by
suggesting that she failed to fold 1,000 cranes before her
death. She maintains this historical inaccuracy in the epilogue,
stating that Sadako's classmates finished folding the last 356
cranes. In reality, Sadako folded over 1,400 paper cranes
before her death. It's unclear exactly why Coerr chose to
change this fact, although Masahiro Sasaki would later say he
suspected Coerr wanted to write "a more meaningful story"
and that Coerr had never interviewed the family before writing
her book.
g Quotes
"Sadako ... wondered if her
grandmother's spirit was floating
somewhere above the altar."
— Narrator, Chapter 1
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Quotes 17

This quote describes the strong connection Sadako and her

leukemia. Why, the atom bomb
family feel to the spirit world. By honoring the spirits of their
ancestors, the family members keep their memories alive. The hadn't even scratched her."
story suggests that, in a similar way, Sadako will live on after
her death. — Narrator, Chapter 4

Sadako frequently tries to avoid evidence of the bomb's

"The doves looked like spirits of lingering effects. Her illness and subsequent death remind
the dead flying into the freedom of readers of the devastation of nuclear warfare.

the sky."
"If a sick person folds one
— Narrator, Chapter 2
thousand paper cranes, the gods
This quote comes early in the novel, during the Peace Day will ... make her healthy again."
ceremony in Chapter 2. It prepares young readers for the idea
that while Sadako's early death—revealed in the Prologue—will — Chizuko, Chapter 5
be sad, it will not be frightening.

Sadako's best friend first introduces her to the idea of folding

paper cranes to win back her health. The girls believe
"They love me, no matter what." wholeheartedly that the gods grant favors for acts of service.
The task of folding 1,000 cranes will require dedication.
— Sadako Sasaki, Chapter 3

This quote reminds readers of the strong connection that "Even the gods can't help me
Sadako has with her parents. She doesn't need to win a race to
now."
make them proud. Later in the novel, this connection becomes
significant. Sadako can accept death in part because she
knows her spirit will always be welcome at her parents' altar. — Kenji, Chapter 6

Kenji doesn't share Sadako's optimism about survival. His

"They were ringing out all the evils lament is particularly depressing because he's only nine.
Watching Kenji suffer and die helps prepare readers for
of the old year." Sadako's inevitable death.

— Narrator, Chapter 3

"O flock of heavenly cranes /

On New Years' Eve, temple workers ring the bells to give the
Cover my child with your wings."
year a fresh start. Sadako, who is extremely superstitious,
hopes the fresh start of the new year will bring the end of her
dizzy spells. — Mrs. Sasaki, Chapter 7

Mrs. Sasaki prays that the gods, represented by the paper

"Of course she didn't have cranes, will protect Sadako from death. The prayer is the first
acknowledgment by the Sasaki parents that their child will die.

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide
"She was like a princess in the
kimono."
— Narrator, Chapter 8
By giving Sadako the silk kimono, Mrs. Sasaki openly shows
her awareness of her daughter's approaching death. Sadako
realizes the significance of the gift as she ignores the pain she
feels while wearing it.
"This is our cry, / this is our prayer;
/ peace in the world."
— Narrator, Epilogue
Sadako's classmates erect a memorial statue to her in Peace
Park bearing this inscription. The prayer honors Sadako's
memory and pleads for the end of wartime violence.
l Symbols
Paper Cranes
Sadako's paper cranes symbolize her optimism while she's
alive. After death, they become a symbol of the need for world
peace.
While in the hospital, Sadako begins folding paper cranes after
Chizuko tells her that folding 1,000 will earn her a wish from
the gods. Sadako eagerly begins folding that day. Even as her
cancer worsens, she continues to fold her cranes
optimistically. After Sadako dies, her classmates continue to
fold paper cranes, and the epilogue reveals that many people
around the world fold them in her memory. Now the cranes
take the form of another type of optimism: the wish for peace.
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Symbols 18
The Silk Kimono
The silk kimono is a symbol of acceptance. In Chapter 2, when
Sadako is 11, Mrs. Sasaki reveals that she intends to give
Sadako a silk kimono when she's old enough to appreciate it.
The silk is expensive, and Mrs. Sasaki doesn't want to spend
the money on such a luxurious item for a child to ruin.
However, Sadako's leukemia means she will never become a
young woman. When Sadako is on her deathbed and it's clear
she will not survive, Mrs. Sasaki gives her the kimono she has
made. It is also a gift for Mrs. Sasaki herself. Sadako will not
live to adulthood, and by giving her the silk kimono in the
hospital, Mrs. Sasaki is able to come to terms with her child's
inevitable death.
m Themes
A Cry for Peace
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is one of the most
popular children's novels ever written about the effects of war.
Because of the novel's success, Sadako has become a
worldwide symbol of peace. She was just two at the time the
bomb was dropped, yet she suffered a devastating fate. Her
story reminds readers of the lingering effects of wartime
violence.
At the novel's opening, Sadako excitedly prepares to visit the
Peace Day ceremony. Peace Day marks the anniversary of the
Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945, with speeches and
photographs of destruction. Sadako tries to avoid the
discomforting images and scarred survivors. She views the
ceremony as a celebration to further remove herself from the
violence of war. Through Sadako's illness and ultimate death,
however, young readers are reminded that war has many
innocent victims.
In the novel's epilogue, Coerr notes that the inscription on
Sadako's statue in Peace Park reads, "This is our cry, / this is
our prayer / peace in the world." Visitors to the statue in
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Study Guide Symbols 19

Hiroshima and those who fold paper cranes around the world hope for Sadako's afterlife in the spirit world.
honor the message of peace shared in Sadako's story.

Optimism

For most of her illness, Sadako remains optimistic that she will
be healed. She displays her optimism primarily through the
folding of her paper cranes. She believes the story Chizuko
tells her—that if she folds 1,000 cranes, the gods will grant her
wish for health. Sadako starts folding quickly, passing her early
days in the hospital with her optimistic goal. Even when she
feels weak, sad, or lonely, Sadako continues folding paper
cranes. In Chapter 7, for example, Sadako's mood lifts when
her younger brother saves a chocolate bar wrapper for her to
fold. As death approaches, she summons her optimism again
as she struggles to fold one last paper crane.

In the epilogue, Coerr reveals that Sadako died before she

could fold 1,000 cranes. Her classmates finished the task,
folding the final 356. This fictionalized ending also embodies
optimism. Sadako's classmates completed her project with the
hope that doing so would spread Sadako's message of peace.

Connections to the Spirit World

The presence of the spirit world in the novel helps to both

create the world of the Sasaki family and to soften the topic of
death for a young audience. In both Shinto and Buddhist
religions, the spirit retains strong connections to the human
world after death. These connections are maintained as the
living do their best to keep memories of their loved ones alive.

In the novel the Sasaki family prays to the spirit of Oba chan
(grandmother), who died in the Hiroshima bombing, every
morning. During O Bon, Mrs. Sasaki prepares the favorite foods
of her departed ancestors for their spirits to enjoy if they visit.
When Sadako contemplates her impending death in Chapter 8,
she focuses on the joy that will come from shedding her sick
human form. As a spirit, she'll be free to "run like the wind" and
enjoy the favorite foods her body can't tolerate on earth.
Children are able to process the novel's sad ending with a

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