**Please note: The following review has been completed as part of coursework for Texas Woman's University.
1. Bibliography
Salisbury, Graham. 1994. Under the Blood-Red Sun. New York: Delacorte Press.
2. Plot Summary
In 1941, Tomi's Japanese-American family is living in Hawaii. In December, they watch in horror as Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Tomi's father is captured and imprisoned in a camp with other Japanese, and Tomi and his mother are left to deal with the hatred of Americans who believe that they are the enemy. When Tomi's grandfather is also taken, Tomi is the only male left in the household, and he relies on the lessons he's learned from his Papa and Grampa over the years as well as his family's ancestry to give him strength.
3. Critical Analysis
The main character of the story, Tomikazu Nakaji, is a typical 8th grader in 1941. He loves to play baseball with his best friend, Billy, a haole or white boy, and other friends Rico and Mose. He is bulled by Keet Wilson, a boy who doesn't like Tomi because of his ethnicity. Tomi speaks fluent English probably since he has done all of his schooling in Hawaii, yet his parents and grandfather's English is a little broken which is to be expected since they were raised in Japan and came to America as adults, probably learning English at a much later age in life. This dialogue reflects the author's style and effort to keep the narration authentic. The plot of the story is unique in that readers get the perspective of the bombing of Pearl Harbor from someone living on the island who is also Japanese. There is definite suspicion of Tomi's family by some white Americans who believe that the family is the enemy, and they endure hatred and racism that is harsh yet realistic of the time period. The plot is realistic to the time period because it is believable that a young boy like Tomi would be left to be the "man of the house" when both his father and grandfather are taken to Japanese prison camps. Another aspect of the story which is realistic is the emphasis on family pride which Papa and Grampa impress upon Tomi throughout the novel. The Japanese culture values family pride and "saving face" even in the midst of cruelty. For instance, when Keet Wilson is letting Papa's pigeons escape, Tomi hears his father's voice in his head reminding him not to cause trouble and bring shame to the family. The setting is an integral part of the story because it allows for readers to see the lives of a Japanese family in Hawaii during this time period. The details of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese planes from the eyes of a Japanese-American boy shows the confusion that many must have been feeling at the time. There are several themes presented in this story. The idea of family tradition is woven through the relationships and teachings that Tomi receives from Papa and Grampa. Also, through Tomi's friendship with Billy, readers see compassion and acceptance. Finally, while the details of the narrative are authentic, the author does not include a bibliography or reference websites. He does include an epilogue which briefly discusses the outcomes of the Japanese internment camps. This story includes a nice balance between fact and fiction, yet additional resources for further study would be helpful.
4. Review Excerpts
1994 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Library of Congress 1995 Notable Children’s Books of the Year
1994 Booklist Editor’s Choice
1994 Notable Children’s Book of the Year, American Library Association
Review from School Library Journal--"Character development of major figures is good, the setting is warmly realized, and the pace of the story moves gently though inexorably forward."
What readers are saying about Under the Blood-Red Sun:
"The imagery Graham Salisbury used throughout the book was so vivid that I often felt like I was standing right in the midst of their hardships and survival that was both psychological and physical"--Darcy, Goodreads, June 9, 2012
"If only all students could have fiction blended with their semi-non-fiction text books. This book grew on me within pages and I found myself savoring it."--Heather Pola, Goodreads, November 3, 2012
5. Connections
Readers who love World War II history will enjoy this novel. Other young adult novels about the war include:
Denenberg, Barry. Early Morning Sunday: the Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows. ISBN 0439328748
Mazer, Harry. A Boy No More. ISBN 0689855338
Tarshis, Lauren. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor. ISBN 9780545206983
Teachers might wish to introduce the book using historical picture books about Japanese internment camps. Some great choices are:
Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us. Illustrated by Dom Lee. ISBN 1880000199
Uchida, Yoshiko. The Bracelet. ISBN 069811390X
Bunting, Eve. So Far from the Sea. Illustrated by Christ K. Soentpiet. ISBN 0547237529
Tomi finds himself in conflicts between others who discriminate against him because he is Japanese. The following is a study guide for conflict resolution to accompany the novel: Conflict resolution study guide
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