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Mieko and the Fifth Treasure
When the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Mieko's nearby village was turned into ruins, and her hand was badly injured. Mieko loves to do calligraphy more than anything, but now she can barely hold a paintbrush. And she feels as if she has lost something that she can't paint without-the legendary fifth treasure, beauty in the heart. Then she is sent to live with her grandparents and must go to a new school. But Mieko is brave and eventually learns that time and patience can help with many things, and may even help her find the fifth treasure.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Eleanor Coerr
28 books47 followersEleanor Coerr was born in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in Saskatoon. Two of her favorite childhood hobbies were reading and making up stories.
Her fascination with Japan began when she received a book called Little Pictures of Japan one Christmas. It showed children in beautiful kimonos playing games, chasing butterflies, and catching crickets. She pored over the colored illustrations, dreaming of one day joining those children in Japan. Her best friend in high school was a Japanese girl whose family introduced her to brush painting, eating with chopsticks, and origami. Eleanor's desire to visit that magical place never faded, and her well-thumbed copy of that favorite book is still in her library.
Eleanor began her professional life as a newspaper reporter and editor of a column for children. Luckily, she traveled to Japan in 1949 as a writer for the Ottawa Journal, since none of the other staff wanted to go to a country that had been devastated by war. To learn Japanese, Eleanor lived on a farm near Yonago for about one year, absorbing the culture and enjoying rural celebrations. Soon she was able to visit nearby schools and speak to young audiences about her country. Eleanor wrote and illustrated Circus Day in Japan, using the farm family and a visit to the circus as models. It was published in Tokyo in 1953.
Her most difficult trip while she was in Japan was to Hiroshima. Eleanor was shocked by the horrible destruction and death caused by one atom bomb. Of course, she did not know Sadako Sasaki at that time, although she was living there with her family. The misery and suffering Eleanor witnessed was burned into her mind, and she hoped future world leaders would avoid wars at all costs.
One beautiful day in 1963, Eleanor revisited Hiroshima and saw the statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Impressed by the stories she heard about Sadako's talent for running, courage when faced with cancer, and determination to fold one thousand paper cranes, Eleanor was inspired to find a copy of Kokeshi, Sadako's autobiography.
Eleanor looked everywhere she could think of and asked all of her Japanese friends to help. Since the school had copied the ninety-four pages and stapled them together, most of the books had fallen apart. Years passed, and Eleanor continued writing for newspapers in various countries and wrote more children's books. But she was always hoping to find Kokeshi.
One fateful afternoon, Eleanor was having tea with a missionary who had lived in Hiroshima all through the war.
"Eleanor," she said, "you should write a biography of Sadako Sasaki for American children to read."
"I would love to," said Eleanor, "but I must have Kokeshi to get all the true facts about Sadako."
The missionary took Eleanor to her attic. Lo and behold, at the bottom of an old trunk was an original copy of Kokeshi. Eleanor rushed to have it translated properly and began writing Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as soon as she could.
"It's like magic. I was meant to write her story," Eleanor said.
Her fascination with Japan began when she received a book called Little Pictures of Japan one Christmas. It showed children in beautiful kimonos playing games, chasing butterflies, and catching crickets. She pored over the colored illustrations, dreaming of one day joining those children in Japan. Her best friend in high school was a Japanese girl whose family introduced her to brush painting, eating with chopsticks, and origami. Eleanor's desire to visit that magical place never faded, and her well-thumbed copy of that favorite book is still in her library.
Eleanor began her professional life as a newspaper reporter and editor of a column for children. Luckily, she traveled to Japan in 1949 as a writer for the Ottawa Journal, since none of the other staff wanted to go to a country that had been devastated by war. To learn Japanese, Eleanor lived on a farm near Yonago for about one year, absorbing the culture and enjoying rural celebrations. Soon she was able to visit nearby schools and speak to young audiences about her country. Eleanor wrote and illustrated Circus Day in Japan, using the farm family and a visit to the circus as models. It was published in Tokyo in 1953.
Her most difficult trip while she was in Japan was to Hiroshima. Eleanor was shocked by the horrible destruction and death caused by one atom bomb. Of course, she did not know Sadako Sasaki at that time, although she was living there with her family. The misery and suffering Eleanor witnessed was burned into her mind, and she hoped future world leaders would avoid wars at all costs.
One beautiful day in 1963, Eleanor revisited Hiroshima and saw the statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Impressed by the stories she heard about Sadako's talent for running, courage when faced with cancer, and determination to fold one thousand paper cranes, Eleanor was inspired to find a copy of Kokeshi, Sadako's autobiography.
Eleanor looked everywhere she could think of and asked all of her Japanese friends to help. Since the school had copied the ninety-four pages and stapled them together, most of the books had fallen apart. Years passed, and Eleanor continued writing for newspapers in various countries and wrote more children's books. But she was always hoping to find Kokeshi.
One fateful afternoon, Eleanor was having tea with a missionary who had lived in Hiroshima all through the war.
"Eleanor," she said, "you should write a biography of Sadako Sasaki for American children to read."
"I would love to," said Eleanor, "but I must have Kokeshi to get all the true facts about Sadako."
The missionary took Eleanor to her attic. Lo and behold, at the bottom of an old trunk was an original copy of Kokeshi. Eleanor rushed to have it translated properly and began writing Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as soon as she could.
"It's like magic. I was meant to write her story," Eleanor said.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 1, 2011
Nagasaki a small fishing village secluded by harbors as one of Japan's richest city having the largest sea ports and had great wartime importance for its wide-ranging activity, including the production of ships, military equipment and other war materials. For having an old-fashioned houses and industrial warehouse, Nagasaki become fragile from fire and bombing at the same time the manufactured bombs that been stored can be easily activated from the World War II nuclear bombing causing thousands of deaths all over the city.
On August 9, 1945 a nuclear bomb named 'Fat Man' was exploded in Nagasaki giving deaths of thousands of civilians from children to elders, approximately 200,000 people consider the amount of deaths 3 days before in Hiroshima. Not only killed people and destroyed the cities but also the dream and hope of the survivors, it dries out causing 2 years of great depression in Japan. After the bombing, the new century was named as the Nuclear Age.
Mieko, a 10 year old girl living with her grandparents. Lost her hands from the Nagasaki bombing that not only lost her hands but the beauty that lives inside her. Calligraphy, as part of Meiko's life drowned from great depression, losing her hope to retain the fifth treasure. In calligraphy there are ways and techniques that can be easily acquired but only few gain the fifth treasure - the beauty inside heart. But one day her eyes shined through a beautiful calligraphy hanged above her grandparents house.
Not only it flew into her eyes and into her hands, but also gain a friend that truly appreciate her beauty inside and out. Yoshi, small and dainty, once again gain expression to her love of calligraphy. Days past, Meiko's grief recovered and she became aware again of the beauty inside her. Once again, Eleanor Coerr, wrote a masterpiece of friendship and beauty that stays to every persons heart forever. The butterflies that came back to life and metaphor to new life and new beginning.
When writing developed in China and Japan thousand years ago, they did not used letters but drawings that signifies the outside characteristics of nature, they called it 'characters'. They write using the four treasures - the ink, paintbrush, rice-rolled paper and a pod. The stunning idioms that Coerr used in her novel made you wings for you to fly through her words and can feel the presence of Japan. A short and life changing book for summer.
[image error]
Nagasaki is a city in southern Japan. On August 9, 1945 at 11:02 a.m. the nuke "Fat Man" killed about 40,000 instantly.
Rating - Mieko and the Fifth Treasure by Elanor Coerr and Cecil F. Uyehera (Calligraphy), 4 Sweets and the friendship that bonded between beauty and ugliness (The calligraphy used in the novel were very beautiful and I wanted to learn it again. When I was in elementary my school usually taught us calligraphy but I never enjoyed doing it. So far, I really enjoyed reading Coerr novels and I really recommend this for those people who enjoyed Japanese culture.)
Challenges:
Book #73 for 2011
On August 9, 1945 a nuclear bomb named 'Fat Man' was exploded in Nagasaki giving deaths of thousands of civilians from children to elders, approximately 200,000 people consider the amount of deaths 3 days before in Hiroshima. Not only killed people and destroyed the cities but also the dream and hope of the survivors, it dries out causing 2 years of great depression in Japan. After the bombing, the new century was named as the Nuclear Age.
Mieko, a 10 year old girl living with her grandparents. Lost her hands from the Nagasaki bombing that not only lost her hands but the beauty that lives inside her. Calligraphy, as part of Meiko's life drowned from great depression, losing her hope to retain the fifth treasure. In calligraphy there are ways and techniques that can be easily acquired but only few gain the fifth treasure - the beauty inside heart. But one day her eyes shined through a beautiful calligraphy hanged above her grandparents house.
I thought I saw the fluttering leaves arise,
Returning to their branches;
No, it was only butterflies!
(explanation: learning to accept things you cannot change and most important, you are accepting yourself)
Not only it flew into her eyes and into her hands, but also gain a friend that truly appreciate her beauty inside and out. Yoshi, small and dainty, once again gain expression to her love of calligraphy. Days past, Meiko's grief recovered and she became aware again of the beauty inside her. Once again, Eleanor Coerr, wrote a masterpiece of friendship and beauty that stays to every persons heart forever. The butterflies that came back to life and metaphor to new life and new beginning.
When writing developed in China and Japan thousand years ago, they did not used letters but drawings that signifies the outside characteristics of nature, they called it 'characters'. They write using the four treasures - the ink, paintbrush, rice-rolled paper and a pod. The stunning idioms that Coerr used in her novel made you wings for you to fly through her words and can feel the presence of Japan. A short and life changing book for summer.
[image error]
Nagasaki is a city in southern Japan. On August 9, 1945 at 11:02 a.m. the nuke "Fat Man" killed about 40,000 instantly.
Rating - Mieko and the Fifth Treasure by Elanor Coerr and Cecil F. Uyehera (Calligraphy), 4 Sweets and the friendship that bonded between beauty and ugliness (The calligraphy used in the novel were very beautiful and I wanted to learn it again. When I was in elementary my school usually taught us calligraphy but I never enjoyed doing it. So far, I really enjoyed reading Coerr novels and I really recommend this for those people who enjoyed Japanese culture.)
Challenges:
Book #73 for 2011
May 23, 2018
I'm really glad to had the chance to read this wonderful story; it's extremely delightful, amusing and filled with wisdom. I picked this book up a month ago, I read few pages and I couldn't finish it but I kept coming back to the same book. I'm just wondering why I didn't enjoy it the way I did the second time, I bet that I was just in a bad mood that time...
The story is about a Japanese girl named Mieko, who was injured by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, she was born with a natural gift of calligraphy but her twisted leg or her "monster leg" -as her friends in school used to tease her- prevented her from painting and from her daily activities too. She got harmed deeply inside too; she lost her inner strength, confidence and her vitality; she became sad and pale.
Meiko's parents sent her to her grandparents' house to recover from the shock of the atom bomb and to be able to use her leg quickly but as the dreary days dragged on; Meiko longed for her past life when she had the fifth treasure and could practice her favorite hobbie and she wished hopelessly to regain it as soon as possible.
The poor girl was paralyzed with fear because it was the first time she had ever been away from home alone. She coudn't accept her new life and also adapting with the nasty friends in her school until she met Yoshi, who was beautiful and a smooth girl, she was a real crony for Meiko. I considered her like a compass that Meiko followed to reach her hidden treasure and her own happiness. That confirms that real friendship can change our lives head over heels if we just chose the right person.
This book is great, recommended for kids and adults as well, it is simple and well wrritten. I didn't want to reach the end of this story because I related to some portions of it.
"A nasty word was like a bird; once it flew out of her mouth it would never fly back"
The story is about a Japanese girl named Mieko, who was injured by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, she was born with a natural gift of calligraphy but her twisted leg or her "monster leg" -as her friends in school used to tease her- prevented her from painting and from her daily activities too. She got harmed deeply inside too; she lost her inner strength, confidence and her vitality; she became sad and pale.
Meiko's parents sent her to her grandparents' house to recover from the shock of the atom bomb and to be able to use her leg quickly but as the dreary days dragged on; Meiko longed for her past life when she had the fifth treasure and could practice her favorite hobbie and she wished hopelessly to regain it as soon as possible.
The poor girl was paralyzed with fear because it was the first time she had ever been away from home alone. She coudn't accept her new life and also adapting with the nasty friends in her school until she met Yoshi, who was beautiful and a smooth girl, she was a real crony for Meiko. I considered her like a compass that Meiko followed to reach her hidden treasure and her own happiness. That confirms that real friendship can change our lives head over heels if we just chose the right person.
This book is great, recommended for kids and adults as well, it is simple and well wrritten. I didn't want to reach the end of this story because I related to some portions of it.
"A nasty word was like a bird; once it flew out of her mouth it would never fly back"
January 28, 2021
Mieko kehilangan 'harta' kelimanya-- rasa bahagia dan keindahan dalam hatinya yang selama ini menjadi sumber ilham dalam seni kaligrafi yang dicintainya apabila Nagasaki luluh lantak setelah dibom. Malah tangannya tercedera dalam bencana itu sehingga dia hilang kebolehan dan keyakinan untuk memegang berus lagi.
Bacaan yang sesuai buat orang dewasa dan kanak-kanak, novela ini menelusuri pengalaman Mieko selepas kecelakaan itu dan usahanya untuk mendapatkan semula harta kelimanya itu.
"Your tears will not help those who were killed by the atom bomb. Their souls must swim across the River of Death to heaven. Every tear you shed drops into the river and makes it deeper."
Bacaan yang sesuai buat orang dewasa dan kanak-kanak, novela ini menelusuri pengalaman Mieko selepas kecelakaan itu dan usahanya untuk mendapatkan semula harta kelimanya itu.
"Your tears will not help those who were killed by the atom bomb. Their souls must swim across the River of Death to heaven. Every tear you shed drops into the river and makes it deeper."
March 11, 2020
A very beautiful and uplifting story, written with great warmth and sensitivity. I loved it.
So many thanks to @SmithaMurthy for the recommendation - may your fifth treasure shine brightly.
So many thanks to @SmithaMurthy for the recommendation - may your fifth treasure shine brightly.
May 18, 2012
While reading this book, I felt that Eleanor Coerr hadn't down her best and could have done better which I've experienced when reading her earlier and more acclaimed read, "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes." Given that this book is a short story, Coerr needed more detail as well as more facts and statistics of Mieko's past in order to fully develop the story. In the end, I was not pleased nor happy of the outcome of the novel.
The book begins with you (the reader) being introduced to Mieko and hearing of her background. Having come from Nagasaki, the location of the atom bomb strike, Mieko is injured as well as devastated by the incident. Her hand is scared which affects her beloved hobby of drawing/writing calligraphy. Mieko had the four treasures of calligraphy; the brush, the inkstick, the inkstone, and the rice paper but must unlock the legendary fifth treasure of calligraphy through beauty in the heart. She is sent to her grandparents house. There, Mieko is afraid to make friends and is intimidated by the fact of having to come to a new side of the country. Mieko later fits in and meets Yoshi, a young girl who, like Mieko, had experienced a tragedy and loss. This connects the two, and when assigned a calligraphy contest, can count on one another's skills to finish first. Through this experience, Mieko develops beauty in the heart and is thankful for a friend like Yoshi.
I can connect to Mieko in the sense of her having to transfer into a new environment. This occurred relevant to my past when I first traveled to overnight camp. I had to overcome homesickness just like Mieko but at a much smaller scale. I met new people and entered a new atmosphere which first was uncomfortable but later grew to enjoy it just like Mieko's experiences.
The book begins with you (the reader) being introduced to Mieko and hearing of her background. Having come from Nagasaki, the location of the atom bomb strike, Mieko is injured as well as devastated by the incident. Her hand is scared which affects her beloved hobby of drawing/writing calligraphy. Mieko had the four treasures of calligraphy; the brush, the inkstick, the inkstone, and the rice paper but must unlock the legendary fifth treasure of calligraphy through beauty in the heart. She is sent to her grandparents house. There, Mieko is afraid to make friends and is intimidated by the fact of having to come to a new side of the country. Mieko later fits in and meets Yoshi, a young girl who, like Mieko, had experienced a tragedy and loss. This connects the two, and when assigned a calligraphy contest, can count on one another's skills to finish first. Through this experience, Mieko develops beauty in the heart and is thankful for a friend like Yoshi.
I can connect to Mieko in the sense of her having to transfer into a new environment. This occurred relevant to my past when I first traveled to overnight camp. I had to overcome homesickness just like Mieko but at a much smaller scale. I met new people and entered a new atmosphere which first was uncomfortable but later grew to enjoy it just like Mieko's experiences.
October 30, 2017
My Mum laughed when she saw this tiny book by my bedside.
"Going back to childhood, are we?" she asked me, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
Well, Fellow Readers, let me tell you, sometimes it's good to go back to childhood, especially if you've been doing some heavy duty reading like me, flirting incessantly with Chaucer one day, Tennyson the next and T. S. Eliot off and on.
It's good to sit back, read something and not think about Freudian psychoanalysis or the meanings of fabliau, morality plays and miracle stories, the beginning of a women's college in London because of the poem you are holding in your hands, the ear defining geniuses or the literary movements that changed the world.
It's good to pick up something simple, uncomplicated and just read: on the swing,in bed, after tending to the cantankerous rose bush in your garden and then sit back with the warm fuzzy feelings of friendship, hope and feeling inspired.
And if this little book, that was written to acquaint American children with the atrocities of WW II serves that purpose, why the hell not!
"Going back to childhood, are we?" she asked me, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
Well, Fellow Readers, let me tell you, sometimes it's good to go back to childhood, especially if you've been doing some heavy duty reading like me, flirting incessantly with Chaucer one day, Tennyson the next and T. S. Eliot off and on.
It's good to sit back, read something and not think about Freudian psychoanalysis or the meanings of fabliau, morality plays and miracle stories, the beginning of a women's college in London because of the poem you are holding in your hands, the ear defining geniuses or the literary movements that changed the world.
It's good to pick up something simple, uncomplicated and just read: on the swing,in bed, after tending to the cantankerous rose bush in your garden and then sit back with the warm fuzzy feelings of friendship, hope and feeling inspired.
And if this little book, that was written to acquaint American children with the atrocities of WW II serves that purpose, why the hell not!
July 14, 2012
This is a very simple story. It doesn't address the aftermath of the atomic bomb, but instead focuses on peoples' "everyday" cruelty to each other and how one girl deals with it. I was shocked to learn that the Japanese not living in Hiroshima or Nagasaki at the time of the bombing treated the victims/survivors as pariahs.
March 9, 2020
When I asked my friend to buy me this book (Yes, some friends have to bear the brunt of having me in their life), I didn’t realize this was such a slim book. I hadn’t even realized that it was a children’s book. I was just mesmerized by the cover, and I think that’s what I fell in love with. Set in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the story is about Mieko’s search for that ‘fifth element’ that would bring back the art in her life again.
Wounded in the bombing, Mieko is sent to live with her grandparents in the countryside, and scarred by the emotional wounds of the war, struggles to find herself in her beloved art of calligraphy. How does she find it? What’s the fifth element? Ah, I wish I had that too. I wish I have more heart too. More of it. Lots of it.
Wounded in the bombing, Mieko is sent to live with her grandparents in the countryside, and scarred by the emotional wounds of the war, struggles to find herself in her beloved art of calligraphy. How does she find it? What’s the fifth element? Ah, I wish I had that too. I wish I have more heart too. More of it. Lots of it.
December 13, 2018
I thought I saw the fluttering leaves arise,
Returning to their branches;
No, it was only butterflies!
(explanation: learning to accept things you cannot change and most important, you are accepting yourself)
On August 9, 1945 a nuclear bomb named 'Fat Man' was exploded in Nagasaki giving deaths of thousands of civilians from children to elders, approximately 200,000 people consider the amount of deaths 3 days before in Hiroshima. Not only killed people and destroyed the cities but also the dream and hope of the survivors, it dries out causing 2 years of great depression in Japan. After the bombing, the new century was named as the Nuclear Age. (Kwesi)
Returning to their branches;
No, it was only butterflies!
(explanation: learning to accept things you cannot change and most important, you are accepting yourself)
On August 9, 1945 a nuclear bomb named 'Fat Man' was exploded in Nagasaki giving deaths of thousands of civilians from children to elders, approximately 200,000 people consider the amount of deaths 3 days before in Hiroshima. Not only killed people and destroyed the cities but also the dream and hope of the survivors, it dries out causing 2 years of great depression in Japan. After the bombing, the new century was named as the Nuclear Age. (Kwesi)
December 21, 2020
A beutiful story, just a must read. 😍
February 6, 2019
Sweet and simple
February 21, 2019
i loved this book so much
June 3, 2016
It's the story of a little girl who goes to live with her grandparents after the bombs drop on Japan during WW2. Born with a natural gift for calligraphy and art, the injury she receives when the bomb is dropped calls her ability into question by making her question her fifth treasure, "the beauty in the heart." It is this gift that makes her such a talented artist. This is the story of how she finds it again. As Publisher's Weekly said, "Overall, this is a sensitively and beautifully crafted story that juxtaposes the strength of Japanese art and philosophy with the complex emotional wake of the bombing. Once again, this author has created a vivid portrait of courage, drawn from a time that deserves to be remembered."
3-5 grade
3-5 grade
September 13, 2011
a very sad story of survival and loss
Read
July 31, 2011Wonderful read!
June 16, 2016
The fifth treasure could be anything, confidence, trustworthy, love, friendship, and beauty.
When you have the fifth treasure, that means you have everything, that means you have the life.
When you have the fifth treasure, that means you have everything, that means you have the life.
November 20, 2018
Certain people we meet give us back parts of us that we once lost.
July 1, 2021
This story is extra special to me cause Mieko was able to put my inner, tangled thoughts into words, simple words yet weigh gold.
Art! Art is the charm and beauty of life and to be able to draw, to trace your brush or pencil along the paper is a blessing itself. Is it the meaning of true happiness I have been searching for always, I wonder? But drawing doesn’t always come that smoothly. Sometimes things happen. And you’re broken, damaged, and consumed by hatred. There go by weeks, months or even years, and I just sit on my chair and stare at the blank paper as it stars back at me. It is a horrible, terrible thing not to be able to draw,, because your heart is simply dead.
Likewise, Mieko‘ treasure made her able to continue draw with love and grace, and while it was beauty in the heart for her, my treasure was my very own soul and emotions that poured along the brush strokes and kept me on the path.
I see myself in Mieko and I deeply understand what it means to lose your art treasure. I have been there countless times, but like Mieko, I was able to retrieve my treasure and learn how to heal and draw again.
This book has also introduced me to the Japanese Calligraphy art, word-pictures, which I first heard about on NHKworld news TV channel; back then I learned the picture-word for Mother, a mother holding her child. I wish I could memorize the pic word for Friendship but it’s hard :/
This short story also brilliantly tackled other themes like the impacts of the war and the Nagasaki atom bomb left on the Japanese society (we see images of poverty such as how students were obliged to use newspapers to write on instead of paper). Also, friendship was given its fair share in the story. Another bitter reminder why one must cherish his friends...
Quotes I picked
Mr. Araki had also told her, “Mieko, you are one of the lucky few who are “born with the fifth treasure—beauty in the heart. When you paint, that beauty flows from your heart to your hand, to the brush, and out onto the paper. With lots of practice, you will surely become a great artist.”
“With all the bitterness and hate inside of me,” she thought, “there isn’t room for any beauty. ” The fifth treasure was gone.”
“Shh—shh! You must stop crying,” Grandpa whispered. “Your tears will not help those who were killed by the “atom bomb. Their souls must swim across the River of Death to heaven. Every tear you shed drops into the river and makes it deeper.”
“Mother had often warned her that a nasty word was like a bird—once it flew out of her mouth it would never fly back. Mieko pressed her lips together so that the word could not escape.”
“Mieko heard her mother saying, “Always see beauty, never see ugliness. ”
“See that? Rice does not grow all by itself. I must plant the seeds, fertilize them, and see that no weeds stop their growth. Then I must separate the seedlings and plant them farther apart. It is not easy.” His face was serious. “It is not easy to make friends either, especially when you hate almost “ everyone.”
“Believe me, Mieko, some lovely sunny day you will look around and find a friend. And in your happiness you will paint beautiful word-pictures again. Just like before.”
“The sunshine was sparkling on the blue ocean, fishermen were hanging and mending their nets, sand crabs were skittering across the shore, and sea birds were swooping down for their dinner. But Mieko saw none of it. She couldn’t see anything but her own loneliness.
“Mieko, you can be a bitter person all your life, but you are only hurting yourself and your family. Hatred will grow in your heart like a bad weed until there is no room for love or beauty.”
“Remember, a gem, unless polished, does not glitter.”
“Here is the word-picture for ‘happiness.’ It looks quite different when painted by two great artists, doesn’t it? They each have a fifth treasure, but their own personalities and styles show up in their work.
Mieko pored over the pages.
“You must paint not what the eye sees,” Grandpa said, “but what the heart knows. If your heart has beauty, so will your painting. Do you understand?”
“Mieko sat back and studied the word-picture. It was better. The door to her private magical world was opening just a crack. Perhaps a little bit of beauty had crept back into her heart. But would enough of the fifth treasure come back to make the strokes perfect and full of feeling? In time for the contest?”
So far, the short Japanese stories I read all share similar vibes, that is overcoming hardships/ loss( humans or natural disasters) and finding meanings once again in life. Stories like The Big Wave and???
Art! Art is the charm and beauty of life and to be able to draw, to trace your brush or pencil along the paper is a blessing itself. Is it the meaning of true happiness I have been searching for always, I wonder? But drawing doesn’t always come that smoothly. Sometimes things happen. And you’re broken, damaged, and consumed by hatred. There go by weeks, months or even years, and I just sit on my chair and stare at the blank paper as it stars back at me. It is a horrible, terrible thing not to be able to draw,, because your heart is simply dead.
Likewise, Mieko‘ treasure made her able to continue draw with love and grace, and while it was beauty in the heart for her, my treasure was my very own soul and emotions that poured along the brush strokes and kept me on the path.
I see myself in Mieko and I deeply understand what it means to lose your art treasure. I have been there countless times, but like Mieko, I was able to retrieve my treasure and learn how to heal and draw again.
This book has also introduced me to the Japanese Calligraphy art, word-pictures, which I first heard about on NHKworld news TV channel; back then I learned the picture-word for Mother, a mother holding her child. I wish I could memorize the pic word for Friendship but it’s hard :/
This short story also brilliantly tackled other themes like the impacts of the war and the Nagasaki atom bomb left on the Japanese society (we see images of poverty such as how students were obliged to use newspapers to write on instead of paper). Also, friendship was given its fair share in the story. Another bitter reminder why one must cherish his friends...
Quotes I picked
Mr. Araki had also told her, “Mieko, you are one of the lucky few who are “born with the fifth treasure—beauty in the heart. When you paint, that beauty flows from your heart to your hand, to the brush, and out onto the paper. With lots of practice, you will surely become a great artist.”
“With all the bitterness and hate inside of me,” she thought, “there isn’t room for any beauty. ” The fifth treasure was gone.”
“Shh—shh! You must stop crying,” Grandpa whispered. “Your tears will not help those who were killed by the “atom bomb. Their souls must swim across the River of Death to heaven. Every tear you shed drops into the river and makes it deeper.”
“Mother had often warned her that a nasty word was like a bird—once it flew out of her mouth it would never fly back. Mieko pressed her lips together so that the word could not escape.”
“Mieko heard her mother saying, “Always see beauty, never see ugliness. ”
“See that? Rice does not grow all by itself. I must plant the seeds, fertilize them, and see that no weeds stop their growth. Then I must separate the seedlings and plant them farther apart. It is not easy.” His face was serious. “It is not easy to make friends either, especially when you hate almost “ everyone.”
“Believe me, Mieko, some lovely sunny day you will look around and find a friend. And in your happiness you will paint beautiful word-pictures again. Just like before.”
“The sunshine was sparkling on the blue ocean, fishermen were hanging and mending their nets, sand crabs were skittering across the shore, and sea birds were swooping down for their dinner. But Mieko saw none of it. She couldn’t see anything but her own loneliness.
“Mieko, you can be a bitter person all your life, but you are only hurting yourself and your family. Hatred will grow in your heart like a bad weed until there is no room for love or beauty.”
“Remember, a gem, unless polished, does not glitter.”
“Here is the word-picture for ‘happiness.’ It looks quite different when painted by two great artists, doesn’t it? They each have a fifth treasure, but their own personalities and styles show up in their work.
Mieko pored over the pages.
“You must paint not what the eye sees,” Grandpa said, “but what the heart knows. If your heart has beauty, so will your painting. Do you understand?”
“Mieko sat back and studied the word-picture. It was better. The door to her private magical world was opening just a crack. Perhaps a little bit of beauty had crept back into her heart. But would enough of the fifth treasure come back to make the strokes perfect and full of feeling? In time for the contest?”
So far, the short Japanese stories I read all share similar vibes, that is overcoming hardships/ loss( humans or natural disasters) and finding meanings once again in life. Stories like The Big Wave and???
September 1, 2023
Por accidente borre todo lo que escribí 💔, y me había inspirado. Lo intentaré de nuevo TT.
Es mi lectura más larga en inglés así que me siento orgullosa :D.
Poco a poco iré mejorando.
Mieko es una niña que infortunadamente se vio afectada por la bomba de Nagasaki, su mano con la que hacía caligrafía se vio herida llevando a Mieko a pensar que había perdido su "quinto encanto" la belleza, para ser una gran artista.
Para su recuperación es llevada al campo donde es cuidada por sus abuelos, por un tiempo Mieko se ve en una fase de negación y dolor, Mieko pensaba que su mano ahora estaba "arruinada" y no volvería a hacer pinturas jamás. Pero con el apoyo de Yoshi su amiga, la tía de Yoshi y sus abuelos que le hacen entender que la belleza está en "su corazón" y no en lo exterior que se da cuenta que tiene que aceptarse a sí misma y Mieko vuelve a pintar y a encontrar su quinto encanto.
“I do believe you are becoming wise,” he said with a chuckle. “You are learning to accept things
you cannot change. And most important, you are accepting yourself—scars and all.”
No fue tan inspirador como el anterior (yo solo quería copiar el texto ya que antes me pasó que al salir a investigar una palabra, volví a la app y se borro lo que escribí, pero ahora paso que mientras seleccionaba el texto le di clic a una letra por accidente lo que hizo que todo el texto desapareciera 😭 y justo estaba pensado en tener cuidado).
Es mi lectura más larga en inglés así que me siento orgullosa :D.
Poco a poco iré mejorando.
Mieko es una niña que infortunadamente se vio afectada por la bomba de Nagasaki, su mano con la que hacía caligrafía se vio herida llevando a Mieko a pensar que había perdido su "quinto encanto" la belleza, para ser una gran artista.
Para su recuperación es llevada al campo donde es cuidada por sus abuelos, por un tiempo Mieko se ve en una fase de negación y dolor, Mieko pensaba que su mano ahora estaba "arruinada" y no volvería a hacer pinturas jamás. Pero con el apoyo de Yoshi su amiga, la tía de Yoshi y sus abuelos que le hacen entender que la belleza está en "su corazón" y no en lo exterior que se da cuenta que tiene que aceptarse a sí misma y Mieko vuelve a pintar y a encontrar su quinto encanto.
“I do believe you are becoming wise,” he said with a chuckle. “You are learning to accept things
you cannot change. And most important, you are accepting yourself—scars and all.”
No fue tan inspirador como el anterior (yo solo quería copiar el texto ya que antes me pasó que al salir a investigar una palabra, volví a la app y se borro lo que escribí, pero ahora paso que mientras seleccionaba el texto le di clic a una letra por accidente lo que hizo que todo el texto desapareciera 😭 y justo estaba pensado en tener cuidado).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2024
Rating: 4 stars
Eleanor Coerr's tales have never left a potent impression on us here, but Mieko was a story that was truly fascinating in its composition. Coerr seems to concern herself mainly with the events of the atomic bomb droppings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Mieko follows a girl whose hand was crippled in the destruction of Nagasaki. To Mieko this is less about her disfigurement and more about her loss of the Fifth Treasure, or the love of beauty in all things. Mieko is a calligraphy artist, so the injury to her hand has inhibited her ability to paint as she used to. This story is similar in structure to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, but we found this one to be far more entertaining.
The prose is still juvenile, but Coerr seems to write in a more lyrical style concerning the events of the story. Overall, Mieko is a tale of triumph over grief and physical disability. Mieko's hand is not only a physical disfigurement, but a spiritual one. We enjoyed watching her grow and begin to trust others and herself more. We recommend this to a younger audience since the tone does not naturally reflect what many young adult readers are searching for. We appreciate Coerr for bringing these stories from out of the destruction of such a tragic event, and we hope her stories continue to be told to the next generation of readers.
"'Spilled water never returns to the glass,'"
Eleanor Coerr's tales have never left a potent impression on us here, but Mieko was a story that was truly fascinating in its composition. Coerr seems to concern herself mainly with the events of the atomic bomb droppings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Mieko follows a girl whose hand was crippled in the destruction of Nagasaki. To Mieko this is less about her disfigurement and more about her loss of the Fifth Treasure, or the love of beauty in all things. Mieko is a calligraphy artist, so the injury to her hand has inhibited her ability to paint as she used to. This story is similar in structure to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, but we found this one to be far more entertaining.
The prose is still juvenile, but Coerr seems to write in a more lyrical style concerning the events of the story. Overall, Mieko is a tale of triumph over grief and physical disability. Mieko's hand is not only a physical disfigurement, but a spiritual one. We enjoyed watching her grow and begin to trust others and herself more. We recommend this to a younger audience since the tone does not naturally reflect what many young adult readers are searching for. We appreciate Coerr for bringing these stories from out of the destruction of such a tragic event, and we hope her stories continue to be told to the next generation of readers.
October 27, 2024
Mieko and the Fifth Treasure is a book about an elementary school girl who lives in Japan. The story is told post world war 2 and her arm was injured during the bombing on Nagasaki. Due to her arm being injured, she is no longer able to enjoy her hobby of painting kanji and becomes less hopeful about life. After the bombing, her parents send her to live with her grandparents in the countryside so she can recover in a safe and calm place. She begins to attend school there and is bullied on her first day because of her arm. Mieko feels even less hopeful about her new life until things start to turn around as she befriends someone from her school.
I enjoyed this book as it was told as a narrative from Mieko and how she experienced life after the bombing. I wish this book held a little more information about the impact of the bombing, but I think this is a book that elementary schoolers would enjoy. And a little picky note, I wish the author would’ve called kanji as it is, kanji, instead of referring to it as word pictures. I understand that people might not know what kanji is, but I think it would’ve been better if kanji was described and then referred to as kanji throughout the rest of the book.
I think this book could be used to teach writing CCSS for 3rd graders. I think this book could be used as an example for 3rd graders to research a historical topic and then write a narrative about someone who lived in that time.
I enjoyed this book as it was told as a narrative from Mieko and how she experienced life after the bombing. I wish this book held a little more information about the impact of the bombing, but I think this is a book that elementary schoolers would enjoy. And a little picky note, I wish the author would’ve called kanji as it is, kanji, instead of referring to it as word pictures. I understand that people might not know what kanji is, but I think it would’ve been better if kanji was described and then referred to as kanji throughout the rest of the book.
I think this book could be used to teach writing CCSS for 3rd graders. I think this book could be used as an example for 3rd graders to research a historical topic and then write a narrative about someone who lived in that time.
January 14, 2020
In the wake of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, ten-year Mieko is sent to live briefly with her grandparents in the countryside, while her parents—both doctors—stay behind to look after the wounded of Nagasaki. Mieko’s hand was wounded by flying glass, and the wound makes it difficult for her to practise the calligraphy she once so excelled at.
This is a short, sweet book about a child losing her most prized talent, doubting herself, and learning to live through it, to pick herself up. Mieko is a believable little girl, with all the doubts and insecurities of one who is not just hampered by injury, but also having to deal with a new school and strangers, far from her parents and her old friends. Her gradual opening up, and how she finds the confidence to continue, are well-depicted. Plus, the portrayal of 1945 Japan, part modern, part traditional, is interesting.
This is a short, sweet book about a child losing her most prized talent, doubting herself, and learning to live through it, to pick herself up. Mieko is a believable little girl, with all the doubts and insecurities of one who is not just hampered by injury, but also having to deal with a new school and strangers, far from her parents and her old friends. Her gradual opening up, and how she finds the confidence to continue, are well-depicted. Plus, the portrayal of 1945 Japan, part modern, part traditional, is interesting.
December 9, 2022
Mieko is the main character of the Mieko and the Fifth Treasure. She is a talented artist and calligrapher. Unfortunately, her hand is badly hurt during the bombings of the war. The scared little girl is sent to live with her grandparents in the countryside, where it is safer. But Mieko is worried and afraid that she’s lost her 5th treasure, “beauty in her heart.” This treasure is the key to her happiness and her beautiful art.
She faces a lot of trouble in her new school, and her classmate bullies her and laughs at her. This makes Mieko angry, but her grandparents are very amiable that they eventually lift her darkness through their patience and wisdom.
This story teaches us that time and patience can help with many things.I believe this book has warmed many readers like me
She faces a lot of trouble in her new school, and her classmate bullies her and laughs at her. This makes Mieko angry, but her grandparents are very amiable that they eventually lift her darkness through their patience and wisdom.
This story teaches us that time and patience can help with many things.I believe this book has warmed many readers like me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2018
It is a kinda touching story in which a little girl was stucked in sorrow due to the " monster hand " she had after going through a war.The little girl - Mieko - gradually forced herself to live in the dark because she was afraid that others woould criticize her, classmates would treat tease het for being different from them.She literally had a hard time to struggle and then suddenly came a lovely friend who protected Mieko, who was willing to be beside her and she actually helped Mieko to stand out and leave behind all those dark moments and get back to who Mieko truly is.
Lovely story, also, one plus for very logical and amazing pyschological description.
Lovely story, also, one plus for very logical and amazing pyschological description.
January 3, 2022
A girl who loves to paint Mieko survives the atomic bomb that hit Nagasaki but her hand gets badly injured shielding herself. The book talks about her struggles and healing after this. I loved when Yoshi and Mieko became friends. I also loved it when Mieko was able to paint again. Being a painter myself this book was very emotional and one I can relate to greatly. I to had to relearn to paint again. When I first got my brain tumor the brush was hard to control with my tremors and twitches. It took me awhile to relearn but I did like Mieko. I definitely recommend this book.
Keep or Donate? Keep because the story meant a lot to me.
Keep or Donate? Keep because the story meant a lot to me.
November 2, 2019
A pre-read for our geography studies in homeschool next year. Could be assigned to the younger kids as well, since it doesn't dwell on the bomb so much as the girl's healing physically and emotionally from the trauma. There's unkindness from the kids at her new school. This book would be helpful to explain some elements of Japanese culture, especially the picture-writing. I was wishing there was better communication between her and those around her, so she could get out of her funk a little faster. But it ended well.
April 12, 2022
Ages: 8-11
This book is about a young girl who survived the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki at the end of WWII. She was injured, and her dream of becoming a calligraphy artist was up in the air for some time. But more than physical injuries, she is filled with fear and uncertainty as the months pass. The book is about her journey back to love, friendship, and an appreciation for beauty even after her body heals.
Easy, light read for children that touches on the aftermath of the atomic bombs. Nothing graphic.
This book is about a young girl who survived the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki at the end of WWII. She was injured, and her dream of becoming a calligraphy artist was up in the air for some time. But more than physical injuries, she is filled with fear and uncertainty as the months pass. The book is about her journey back to love, friendship, and an appreciation for beauty even after her body heals.
Easy, light read for children that touches on the aftermath of the atomic bombs. Nothing graphic.
May 28, 2020
I haven't gone for the more detail of the book and don't want to be a spoiler, I just read and the story was heart touching. As I'm now just concentrating on my language improvement the book helped me add a lot of trending vocabularies but sometimes words couldn't connect with the circumstances and that's the only negative feeling it gave me and as I'm always looking for the positive I haven't find the book has any drawbacks.
March 29, 2021
This book is short but surprisingly excellent in portraying the perspective of a teenage girl during the post-war. The dramatisation she experienced and how she was prompted to recover from the darkness.
The conversation between her grandparents and her friends shows a deep understanding that most little people during her age wanting to be heard and understood. The storyline is simple but it gives a warmly beautiful feeling to the reader, love it.
The conversation between her grandparents and her friends shows a deep understanding that most little people during her age wanting to be heard and understood. The storyline is simple but it gives a warmly beautiful feeling to the reader, love it.
June 10, 2022
The great thing about Mieko and the fifth treasure is that it's a very short book (it's only 77 pages long), so it's easy to read. Again, the book is aimed at young people who speak English natively. Therefore, if you are a student, you will have no problems with the level of the book. Mieko and the Fifth Treasure will keep your interest as you learn many interesting things about Japan and its culture.
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