Erin (Historical Fiction Reader)'s Reviews > Hibakusha

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Thilde Barboni’s Hibakusha is not a simple or straightforward graphic novel. By, definition, hibakusha is a descriptor denoting a survivor of either of the atomic explosions at Hiroshima or Nagasaki in 1945 and the novel explores that concept in both the physical and metaphor capacities.

Olivier Cinna’s artwork enhances the narrative with beautiful renderings that are at once strikingly emotional and brutally honest. I thought the imagery paired quite nicely with the narration and liked how it helped facilitate a connection to the novel’s German and Japanese cast.

I loved the central theme of this novel but admit to feeling the sexually charged introduction unnecessary. Having said that, I grew to appreciate the larger themes of the story and was ultimately touched by the stark and imaginative take on the shadows of Hiroshima.