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Alan Gratz

Grenade

Alan GratzFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

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Book Brief

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Alan Gratz

Grenade

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Okinawa, Japan • 1940s

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

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Super Short Summary

In Alan Gratz’s Grenade, 13-year-old Hideki Kaneshiro, conscripted by the Blood and Iron Student Corps during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, and young US Marine Ray Majors navigate the brutalities of war, each confronting the complexities of violence and humanity. This novel describes violent conflict and death during wartime, and includes anti-Asian racism and ethnic and racial slurs.

Suspenseful

Emotional

Challenging

Dark

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.5

12,780 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Grenade by Alan Gratz is lauded for its intense, fast-paced narrative and compelling historical context. Readers appreciate the well-developed characters and the emotional depth of the story. However, some critics find the violence too graphic for younger audiences. Overall, the novel receives praise for its gripping portrayal of World War II.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Grenade?

Fans of tense, historical fiction like The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or Refugee by Alan Gratz will be gripped by Grenade. Ideal for readers aged 9-12 who are interested in World War II stories and themes of survival, courage, and empathy, it offers a poignant, action-packed narrative.

4.5

12,780 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Okinawa, Japan • 1940s

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

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