Hideki lives on the island of Okinawa, not far from Japan. The Japanese have taken control of his island, imposing strict rules. They are not to speak Okinawan, only Japanese. They are not allowed to follow their age-old traditions for fear of violent reprisals and now they are facing something even worse.

The US marines and navy are swarming onto their beloved island, and the Japanese army have ordered them to fight back. Hideki and the Okanawan people are peaceful and are terrified of both the Japanese army and the terrible stories they have spread about the US soldiers. They believe them all to be monsters, who will slaughter them all and eat their children. Caught between the two warring forces, Okinawans don’t know where to turn.

Hideki and his classmates have been given two grenades each, and instructions to kill US soldiers and then themselves. He is horrified. Trying to overcome the cowardly spirit of an age old ancestor that he has been carrying his whole life, Hideki wonders whether he will be able to do anything the Japanese have ordered.

Ray, a young US marine, is just as frightened to be finally faced what they’ve all been training for – a real battle. Bullets are flying, his squad mates are dying and he is running for his life through a firestorm. Following the orders of his superiors, he has been lucky – but for how much longer?

When Ray and Hideki come face to face, they both have to act in seconds. Both are changed forever.

The battle of Okinawa is a new story to me. It’s action packed, but in a terrifying, ruthless and horrific way. I felt for Hideki and his peaceful island people who were used as human shields, tied with dynamite and treated mercilessly by the people who were supposed to protect them. I love Alan Gratz books, and this would have to be the most “in your face” of his novels. Not for the faint-hearted ‘Grenade’ shows just how pointless and horrible war really is.

Author – Alan Gratz

Age – 11+

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(War, Japan, Okinawa, US Marine, Battle, Spirit, Courage, Cowardice, Fear, Family)