A sobering, informative, and powerful telling of one of history's most horrifying atrocities. Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow tells of her relatively carefree life before the bombing, the way that Japan changed in response to WWII, the awful, incomprehensible event itself, and the horrid aftermath of the months and years that came after.

While this is aimed at a younger audience, it does its duty and doesn't shy away from the violence or vivid descriptions (so be considerate of that if your child is of a more sensitive mind.) This is a recount that still, all these years later, needs to be told, remembered, and never repeated. Power to the people like Setsuko who have been advocating since for a better, more peaceful world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never Silent is an informative new book about the history and impact of the bombing of Hiroshima. Appropriate for children in 4th=6th grade, this is a book that I would have highly enjoyed at that age. With excellent photographs and short sections, this book could be devoured in one sitting or over multiple days. This is a book that I would prefer to have a physical copy of, rather than read on a screen.

Thank you to Annick Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

What an amazing read to introduce students to a different perspective not only to the dropping of the atomic bombs but also WW2 in general. I loved being able to read the first hand account of what it was like to be in Japan before and after the bombs. The honesty with which the authors speaks is moving and opens the reader's eyes to the horrors that have come with the creation of nuclear weapons.

This was a very accessible yet educational read about the atomic bombing of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even though it’s targeted at kids, I learned several things I didn’t know before. The US’s use of the atomic bomb was horrific and its effects have only grown as time passes. Viewing the tragedy through the lens of a child and also zooming out to show the aftermath for Japan was a great way to personalize the tragedy while still showing its breadth.

In Never Silent, Setsuko Thurlow delivers a poignant, deeply human memoir that is as much a personal narrative as it is a historical testimony and moral call to action. Thurlow, one of the few living Hiroshima survivors, offers readers an intimate account of her life before, during, and after the atomic bombing—while also chronicling her decades-long journey as a peace activist and advocate for nuclear disarmament.

Thurlow also confronts the reader with a persistent ethical question: How long can we afford to be silent? The memoir doesn't allow for passive reading—it demands reflection, empathy, and, ultimately, action.

Overall, Never Silent is not just a memoir; it's a manifesto of memory and moral courage. For readers interested in history, human rights, and activism, this book offers a rare and urgent perspective—one that refuses to be silenced.