Under the Broken Sky

Natsu is a young girl, displaced from Manchuria with her little sister during World War II. They are left orphaned and they struggle to survive in a refugee camp, starving and freezing. In the hopes of giving her sister a better life, Natsu sells her to a Russian woman, but once she is able, she does what she can to get her back. A story of struggle and resilience, this book is suitable for Grade 6–10 students and lends itself well to thematic literature circles. The book’s interesting historical perspective will encourage students to look at World War II from another, less-explored point of view, offering students insight into what life was like for Japanese citizens living in Manchuria during and after the war.