And Then the Sky Exploded

By David A. Poulsen

2018 Red Maple Award — Shortlisted • High Plains Book Award — Shortlisted, Young Adult category
When Christian learns his great-grandfather helped build the A-bombs dropped on Japan, he wants to make amends … somehow.

While attending the funeral of his great-grandfather, ninth-grader Christian Larkin learns that the man he loved and respected was a member of the Manhattan Project, the team that designed and created the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during the Second World War.

On a school trip to Japan, Chris meets eighty-one-year-old Yuko, who was eleven when the first bomb exploded over Hiroshima, horribly injuring her. Christian is determined to do something to make up for what his great-grandfather did. But after all this time, what can one teenager really do? His friends tell him it’s a stupid idea, that there’s nothing he can do. And maybe they’re right.

But maybe, just maybe … they’re wrong.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dundurn
• Release date: Oct 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781459736382

David A. Poulsen

David A. Poulsen has been a broadcaster, teacher, football coach, and — most of all — a writer. He is the author of more than twenty-five books, including the first three books in the Cullen and Cobb Mystery series. He lives on a ranch in the Alberta foothills near Calgary.

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Reviews for And Then the Sky Exploded

[carolibrarian-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Christian loves his grandfather,, but must face the horrible things that people are saying about him after his death. Protesters at the funeral, so called friends in school, every where Christian is haunted by his grandfathers atrocities that he committed.And then the sky exploded by David A. PoulenAn 11 year old girl must face life and death situations after the sky explodes above her. Her home is wiped out along with everything in it. During a school trip to Japan the two characters finally meet and long ago questions are answered.@forestofreading

[veronica.sparrow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Christian's world is shaken at his great grandfather's funeral when he finds out that he was a member of the Manhattan Project that was responsible for creating the atomic bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima during WWII. Christian is full of shame and confusion because he cannot connect the kind great grandfather he loved and remembers with something that caused so much pain and death. Christian wants to make amends but the question is how.The answer comes in the form of a school field trip where Christian's suggestion of Japan as the destination is quickly accepted by the school.What follows is a touching and thought provoking examination of what it means to be human and the act of forgiveness. The book touches very lightly on the subject and what exactly did happen when the bombs hit but considering this is a book meant for young people it is very appropriate.At certain times, and at the end of the book I found myself in tears and just sitting thinking about the entire issue. Like the Holocaust, the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki should not be forgotten and we need to teach our children about them so we never forget. I was so impressed by this book that I plan to purchase a copy for my daughter to read. I received a copy of this book from the publishers for free in exchange for an honest review.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Imagine if you found out that someone whom you loved and respected your entire life turned out to have done something atrocious. How would you handle it and what would you do to make amends? This is the situation facing Christian when, shortly after the funeral of his GG Will, he finds out that his great grandfather helped to build the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. Christian is determined to do something to make things better, but has no idea what he will do. When the destination for a school trip coincidentally ends up being Japan, Christian is determined to go and find out as much as he can once he’s there. He is supported by a girlfriend and an older deaf boy who, although his best friend, doesn’t go on the trip.You also get to experience the days of Yuko, one of the few survivors of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.A well told story that will stay with the reader long after they’ve finished the book. I completely understand why it is a red Maple nominee.

[janarose1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Christian learns that his beloved grandfather worked on the Manhattan project, Christian is filled with guilt at horror. When his school’s travel club decides to travel to Japan, Christian is determined to make amends for his grandfather’s actions. Intertwined with his story is the journey of a young girl who survived the bombing.Overall, I thought this book was very simplistic. It was definitely written for a younger audience. I grew extremely tired of Christian’s obsession with the class bully and wished the author had approached that in a different way. Overall, not a book I would reread.