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jshettel's review against another edition
3.0
A poignant novel-in-verse that centers around the March, 2011 Japanese tsunami weather disaster. Students would likely need some context and background information before reading to better understand what is happening.
emdoux's review against another edition
3.0
5th grade booktalk
Kai has participated in earthquake drills since nursery school. You feel a quake – go under your desk, bring your knees to your chest, and cover your head. So when in math class,, at 2:46 pm just before the end of the school day, the earth starts to shake, Kai and his fellow students laugh, thinking they might get out of school early – even if it’s already close to the end of the day. But the shaking continues, getting stronger. The clock everyone had been staring at flies off the wall, and the windows shatter. The students are thrown from the floor, up and down, as if the earth is bouncing them like basketballs. The teacher yells to evacuate – and everyone begins to run. Outside, the ground is cracking, and as Kai looks back, he sees his school crumbling to the ground. Loudspeakers announce – tsunami! Tsunami! And though he shouldn’t be surprised – he’s learned since nursery school that a tsunami always follows a quake, Kai never thought he’d be this close to one. Too close to one. Right here. Right now.
After the devastating earthquake and tsunami, all the problems Kai had before seem so insignificant. His father in New York City, silent for years; his mom working as hard as she could to provide for them both in their small Japanese village – and him; a Hafu – half-Japanese, half-foreign. Half as good. Before the tsunami killed him, Kai’s Ojiichan always reminded him that he was not Hafu, but Double – the best of both worlds, being from twice as many cultures as most. Before the tsunami changed the world, Kai had dreams of being a famous soccer player. But after… soccer just doesn’t matter. Then Kai is offered a chance to go to New York City and meet children his age who lived through the 9/11 disaster. As he steps onto the Ground Zero memorial, ten years after the World Trade Center attacks, Kai begins to sense how he might bring something good out of the terrible disaster back home.
Up from the Sea is based on real events that happened in northern Japan in March of 2011. Kai’s story, written in verse, explores the suffering and attempts to rebuild normal life that so many experienced after that time.
Kai has participated in earthquake drills since nursery school. You feel a quake – go under your desk, bring your knees to your chest, and cover your head. So when in math class,, at 2:46 pm just before the end of the school day, the earth starts to shake, Kai and his fellow students laugh, thinking they might get out of school early – even if it’s already close to the end of the day. But the shaking continues, getting stronger. The clock everyone had been staring at flies off the wall, and the windows shatter. The students are thrown from the floor, up and down, as if the earth is bouncing them like basketballs. The teacher yells to evacuate – and everyone begins to run. Outside, the ground is cracking, and as Kai looks back, he sees his school crumbling to the ground. Loudspeakers announce – tsunami! Tsunami! And though he shouldn’t be surprised – he’s learned since nursery school that a tsunami always follows a quake, Kai never thought he’d be this close to one. Too close to one. Right here. Right now.
After the devastating earthquake and tsunami, all the problems Kai had before seem so insignificant. His father in New York City, silent for years; his mom working as hard as she could to provide for them both in their small Japanese village – and him; a Hafu – half-Japanese, half-foreign. Half as good. Before the tsunami killed him, Kai’s Ojiichan always reminded him that he was not Hafu, but Double – the best of both worlds, being from twice as many cultures as most. Before the tsunami changed the world, Kai had dreams of being a famous soccer player. But after… soccer just doesn’t matter. Then Kai is offered a chance to go to New York City and meet children his age who lived through the 9/11 disaster. As he steps onto the Ground Zero memorial, ten years after the World Trade Center attacks, Kai begins to sense how he might bring something good out of the terrible disaster back home.
Up from the Sea is based on real events that happened in northern Japan in March of 2011. Kai’s story, written in verse, explores the suffering and attempts to rebuild normal life that so many experienced after that time.
silene's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is a novel effectively told in verse. It’s heartbreaking, detailing a massive earthquake and tsunami and the slow and incomplete recovery over the next few months. The pacing towards the end is off, becoming far too quick and a bit jarring. The reunion with his father is not well-done. It comes across as very trite, especially in the face of everything else and the strength of the earlier writing.
readingyk's review against another edition
4.0
i rly liked this. i love the town, kai, and just the overall book.<3
teonnareads_'s review
3.0
Up From the Sea brings readers into the world of Kai, a biracial teen from a coastal village in Japan, on March 11, 2011- the day a colossal earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan. Before this natural disaster, Kai felt indifferent about his hometown and life. Kai lived with his mother who worked on the oyster farm and his grandparents. Kai had often thought of his father who left his family and moved to New York. Kai's life and perspective instantly changes when "the earth starts to shake" and he witnesses "The clock flies off the wall. Time stops. Windows shatter" while in class. After evacuating and narrowly surviving being taken underwater, Kai and his hometown are left in sludge. He later learns he is the only member of his family who survived this disaster.
While living at the shelter, he experiences anger, regret, sorrow-survivor's remorse. When given the opportunity to travel to New York to meet with adults who became orphans as the result of 9/11, he takes this chance. Kai's impetus to visit New York comes from his desire to meet his father. By the end of the visit, Kai learns the importance of returning to his hometown. Once he returns, he starts a soccer team that unites and energizes his town as they receive support from around the world.
This detailed novel-in-verse accurately captures the emotions, thoughts, chaos, uncertainty, and the experience of the earthquake and the aftermath. I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading historical fiction, enjoy vivid imagery, and heartwarming reads.
While living at the shelter, he experiences anger, regret, sorrow-survivor's remorse. When given the opportunity to travel to New York to meet with adults who became orphans as the result of 9/11, he takes this chance. Kai's impetus to visit New York comes from his desire to meet his father. By the end of the visit, Kai learns the importance of returning to his hometown. Once he returns, he starts a soccer team that unites and energizes his town as they receive support from around the world.
This detailed novel-in-verse accurately captures the emotions, thoughts, chaos, uncertainty, and the experience of the earthquake and the aftermath. I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading historical fiction, enjoy vivid imagery, and heartwarming reads.
jillcd's review
4.0
Poignant, heart-felt, and hopeful. This book about the 2011 tsunami that struck Japan gives a human perspective to a traumatic disaster. A quick read that offers a lot of insight.
brycereadss's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
duske's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the format as it was set in poetry form where the position and type made a difference to the feel of the words and the impact they made.
katreadstoomanybooks's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful, lyrical novel written about the March 11 earthquake that rocked Japan in 2011. I loved spending time in Kai’s head as he processed what was happening around him, and the connection to 9/11 was equally touching.
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
afro75's review against another edition
4.0
Kai is a 17 year-old Japanese soccer enthusiast on March 11, 2011 when a tsunami hits his coastal town. Kai is left to wonder how to rebuild a life that was slightly fractured before, but seems horribly broken after the tsunami. This novel is told in verse and is paced superbly. The language used vividly depicts the horrific experience of town torn apart and their efforts to rebuild. Readers who come from diverse backgrounds will identify with Kai's attempt to be both Japanese and American.