Under the Blood-Red Sun

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Salisbury, Graham. 1994. Under the Blood-Red Sun. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf. ISBN 0553494872.

PLOT SUMMARY

Under the Blood-Red Sun offers a glimpse at the events leading up to, and the aftermath

of, the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Tomi is a typical 13 year old boy, hanging out with his friends, going to school, and playing baseball with his team, the Rats. But Tomi is different. He is first-generation American. His dad, a fisherman, his mom, a maid, and his grandpa are Japanese immigrants. Tomi’s dad emphasizes honor and the family name. His grandpa wants to display his Japanese flag to honor his heritage. Tomi just wants to fit in with his friends. His best friend, Billy, is a haole, a white boy from the mainland. Tomi experiences thinly veiled prejudice, but Billy stays by his side, eager to learn more about his friend. Keet, the son of the family Tomi’s mom works for and whose property the family lives on, harasses Tomi and spies on him and his family. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Tomi’s dad is arrested for not flying an American flag on his fishing boat; his assistant is shot and killed. Tomi must take over as head of the family. Tomi learns about bravery, loyalty, and friendship as the United States enters into World War I.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Under the Blood-Red Sun has characters who reflect traits and characteristics with which we are all familiar: the adolescent boy who wants to fit in with his friends, the parents and elders who work hard to provide for their families and want respect for traditions and family honor, the friend who sticks by us even when it is difficult to do so, and the bully. Woven around these characters is the backdrop of Japanese American life in Honolulu before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The focus of Under the Blood-Red Sun is more about the people than the war, but the events of the world and eventually Pearl Harbor affect the thoughts and actions of Tomi, his family, and his friends. Their lives cannot be separated from world events; those events are shaping who they are.

Told in Tomi’s voice, there is a fine balance between the normalcy one would expect to see in the life of an eighth grader and the dawning realization that the world is changing, and because of that change, life will never be the same for Tomi. At a young age, he becomes the man of the family, the protector of his family’s honor. While not fully understanding his new role, by the end of the narrative he has fully embraced it.

Documentation of Salisbury’s sources is limited to a thank you to individuals, news libraries at Honolulu newspapers, and to the University of Hawai’i and Hawaii State Library.

PERSONAL RESPONSE

I will admit that I had a hard time getting into Under the Blood-Red Sun. I was at first put off by the cover and size (I am not sure why, but the presentation just did not appeal to me). I then fell into the danger of thinking that this book about young boys was only appealing to young boys. I am happy to say that I was wrong. The saying is true: You can’t judge a book by its cover, or even the first 20 pages or so. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. As mentioned in another review, a book that leaves you wanting more is a good book indeed. I found myself wanting to know what happened to not only Tomi and his family, but the other Japanese Americans who lived in the Islands. I wanted to know if Papa and Grandpa survived the interment camp. While this book would definitely be something for middle school boys to enjoy, I think that girls could find it enjoyable as well.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

California Young Reader Medal, 1999

Nene Award, 1998

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 1995

Booklist: “It is a tribute to the writer's craft that, though there are no easy answers in the story, there is empathy for both cultures.”

Kirkus: “Salisbury evokes historical time and place effortlessly so that the true message of the story -- the value of friendship -- shines through.”

CONNECTIONS

• Read Graham Salisbury’s companion novel, Eyes of the Emperor, ISBN 9780440229561.
• Read Graham Salisbury’s sequel to Under the Blood-Red Sun, House of the Red Fish ISBN 9780440238386.
• Have students do research on Japanese internment camps. A place to start might be at http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/japan_internment_camps.htm.
• Have students interview a veteran of World War II. These veterans are aging, but students might have grandparents or great-grandparents who can share their memories of the war.