Grenade

By Alan Gratz

Subjects: nyt:childrens-middle-grade-hardcover=2018-10-28, World war, 1939-1945, fiction, Marines, New York Times bestseller, World War, 1939-1945, Survival, Japanese, Fiction, Children's fiction, Ryukyuans, War, Juvenile fiction, War stories, History, Okinawa island (japan), fiction, Survival, fiction, Campaigns

Description: On April 1, 1945 with the battle of Okinawa beginning, fourteen-year-old native Okinawan Hideki, drafted into the Blood and Iron Student Corps, is handed two grenades and told to go kill American soldiers; small for his age Hideki does not really want to kill anyone, he just wants to find his family, and his struggle across the island will finally bring him face-to-face with Ray, a marine in his very first battle--and the choice he makes then will change his life forever.