Surviving Hiroshima deals with a topic that we all know: the destruction of the city of Hiroshima using the first atomic bomb.
This book approaches the subject in a way that no one has before: in the words of Kaleria Palchikoff, one of the survivors of the atomic explosion and a member of the Russian nobility, whose family emigrated to Japan to escape the Bolsheviks.
Surviving Hiroshima is extremely detailed and well written, historically accurate, and an excellent addition to any history lover's library.
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and declare that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.

Chronicling some of the family history of the author (Drago), this book centres on the Palchikoff family, who where a White Russian family, that had been forced to flee Russia, and found themselves starting anew in Hiroshima, Japan. Thus they were among only few non-Japanese in the city when the atomic bomb flattened the city, killing thousands in an instant, in a way that was unfathomable. The authors mother, Kaleria, was the only English speaking survivor from the city that was interviewed as part of the survivor and witness testimony after the war. Her descriptions of the effects of the bomb, the fallout and radiation effects, are harrowing, as to be expected. The story is worked in with various backdrops of the Pacific Theatre of the war, as explanation of how the military forces found themselves in the positions that they did. Lets hope that the world does not find itself in such circumstances again in the future, as our capacity of destruction is far greater today.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. This book made me stop and think many times while reading it very thought provoking

The Palchikoffs were Russian nobility. They escaped being killed by the Bolsheviks. The father of the Palchikoffs was able to get a ship to take them to Japan. There they lived in Hiroshima until the atomic bomb was used causing there house to collapse on them. They were lucky in that they were able to get out of the collapsed house and started walking towards the country. The family didn’t know what could had caused so much damage. Many people were covered with wounds and burns. They saw people dead on their walk. Finally they found a cottage that agreed to let them stay at their place until mother became stronger. Though they were the first family to stay there, the cottage ended sharing with ten families. When the mother was strong enough to walk again, they walked to the empty shack the father had found for them to live in. There is so much more to tell but I hope that I have intrigued you enough to read the book.

The author has done an excellent job of showing how the atom bomb was not understood in Japan when it was used. There were many rumors about the Americans did to cause so much death and destruction. The photographs added much to this book’s story. It has certainly made the atom bomb much more “real” in what it can do. I hope that reading it, the reader will agree that atom bombs should not be used.

The book tells the story of the author's mother, Kaleria Palchikoff, a member of Russian noble family, forced to fled its homeland because of the Bolsheviks. The family settles in Hiroshima, where it experiences the atomic bombings. Being the sole English-speaking survivor of the blast, the 22-year-old Kaleria is forced to relive the terrible experience through the numerous interviews conducted by the US Army. A very touching read, "Surviving Hiroshima" is a memoir that gives voice to all of the non-Japanese people who have had to suffer through one of the worst unpunished crimes against humanity.

The premise of this book is attention-grabbing, in that it revolves around Kaleria Palchikoff, a Russian young woman who survived the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and the only fluently English-speaking interviewee in its aftermath. The book is co-written by her son, who obviously had close access to the source and a strong desire to share this story. It's a perspective that is extremely unique and that is what makes this book an engaging read. I only wish that it had focused more on the experiences of Palchikoff and her family without so much historical background information, but I can also see how some people would need that in order to get a fuller picture of the time.

this was a superb memoir, I really enjoyed going on this journey with Kaleria. It was a great read and I look forward to more of this type of memoir.

The Palchikoff family literally went from the frying pan into the fire. Fleeing troubles from the Bolsheviks in Russia, they settled in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Their troubles did not end there, but eventually came to a climax in a blinding flash of white light on the morning of the 6th of November, 1945. This is the story, told by Kaleria Palichikoff, who was 22 when the bomb landed.

Had been looking forward to reading this book. Started off ok but felt there was to much history on life before which really didn’t interest me at all. So that very much ruined the book for me.

Surviving Hiroshima
A Young Woman's Story
by Anthony Drago; Douglas Wellman
BQB Publishing
WriteLife Publishing
Biographies & Memoirs
Pub Date 01 Sep 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Surviving Hiroshima through BQB Publishing and Netgalley:




Twenty two year old Kaleria Palchikoff was doing pre breakfast chores onAugust 6, 1945 when a blinding flash lit the sky over Hiroshima, Japan. Just a moment later everything went dark and the house collapsed around her and her family. Her life and all around them changed drastically in that moment. From Russian nobility, the Palchikoff's barely escaped death at the hands of Bolshevik revolutionaries until her father, a White Russian officer, hijacked a ship to take them to safety in Hiroshima. Safety was short lived.




Kaleria’s Father, a talented musician was able to create a new life for his family. But after the Second World War broke out a cloud of suspicion fell over the family leading to imprisonment and and years of deprivation for his family.




Kaleria managed to summon enough strength to of bomb victims, treating the never-before seen effects of radiation. Being fluent with English Kaleria was soon recruited to work with Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s occupation forces in a number of secretarial positions until the family found a new life in the United States.





This book is heavily based on quotes from Kaleria's memoirs written immediately after World War II, as well as transcripts of United States Army Air Force interviews with her.


I give Surviving Hiroshima five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Wow this book was really a fascinating and heartbreaking story. Thank you to BQB Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review. The first half of the book is the history leading up to Hiroshima. It was well written and very readable. Surviving Hiroshima’s main focus was the story of the author’s Mother’s life which included surviving Hiroshima. His grandparents (Russian Aristocrats) fled Russia during the Russian Civil War to Japan for a safer life. It seems every time they get their lives headed in the right direction, something always happens to set them back. This book is a stark reminder of why we need to remember our history no matter how terrible it may be. IT MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN! I would certainly recommend this book to everyone - whether you are a history lover or not.

Wow! That is the one word that sums up this book. The author survived the first atomic bombing in the world when she was 22 and since she was the only one that could speak English had to describe in detail what she experienced, which I am sure was not easy. She came to the United States and raised a family, keeping her pain hidden. Now she is ready to tell her story and this book is a testament to her strength during a time that I cannot even imagine.

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

I knew that people who weren't Japanese lived in and survived the Hiroshima bombing, but this is the first time I've come across an account that I can read!

The story was incredibly engrossing. As I was reading, I didn't realize how much time had passed and I had to force myself to stop and take a break to do some actual work.

This book was incredibly well written. Easy to read and follow.

This is a multi-faceted story.

Anthony Drago’s mother, Kaleria Palchikoff, was an infant when her aristocratic Russian family fled to Japan in the early 1920s to escape the repression of the Bolsheviks. The family settled in Hiroshima.

She and her family survived the atomic blast in August 1945 and Kaleria, as one of the only English-speaking survivors, was interviewed extensively by the U.S. Army. The account of the blast and the nightmare days that followed is told in Kaleria’s own words. It is a horrific and unimaginable tale of death and destruction. It is also an uplifting story of the strength of the human spirit and the will to survive.

After the war, Kaleria emigrated to the U.S. and built a new life for herself – raising a family in America. She buried her memories for decades. Her story and how she eventually came to terms with the day that changed the world forever is compelling.

Highly recommended.

“Surviving Hiroshima”,gives a voice to those whom aren’t talked about much due to being a different nationality then someone who would’ve been born and raised in Japan. It tells a life story of how the writer and his family were affected from this well known tragic event and thereafter. Without going further into detail. Excellent addition to have in your library for WWII History lovers.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC. Memoir of a Russian family caught in the bombing of Hiroshima. Kaleria Palchikof, a young girl at the time, was the only survivor interviewed in English.

The cover alone is enough to spark the reader's curiosity, and I read this book to the end in one (long) evening. It is an engrossing account of what led up to the bombing of Hiroshima, the period of the bombing, and the author's mother's life post-World War II. It is a very unique story and offers a valuable perspective. It reads smoothly and is obviously well-researched. I wish there had been even more detail about his mother's life and the rest of the family. But for the reader who isn't well-versed in the tragedy of Hiroshima, this gives a complete picture of this period during the war.
This is a book for the generations to come. Lest we forget.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.