The Mushroom in the Sky

In the 80th anniversary year, Jackie French explores the dropping of the bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which ended World War 2.

1942.

Japan has bombed Sydney Harbour. Sixteen-year-old Ossie lies about his age to protect his country, even though it means abandoning his only family, a one-eyed dog named Lucky.

Kind-hearted Mrs Plum is already looking after forty-six dogs belonging to soldiers who've gone to war. She can't possibly care for another. But just when she's becoming desperate to find a way to feed them, help arrives: thirteen-year-old Kat Murphy volunteers to take Lucky and persuades the girls at school to help, too.

As Kat and Lucky grow closer, Kat realises he can still see Ossie, the master he loves. And somehow, Kat and Ossie catch glimpses into each other's lives, too. This extraordinary connection helps Ossie survive when he is taken as a prisoner of war to Japan. There, he witnesses a strange mushroom cloud rise above Nagasaki – the result of a bomb that will take, save and change lives, and forever leave the question: was it worth it?

Taken from first-hand Japanese accounts of that momentous but often misunderstood time, this is a story of quiet heroism and endurance in the face of an unimaginable horror that continues to resound to this day.

Mumma Chelles Review

Jackie French’s The Mushroom in the Sky is a moving and deeply hopeful story that gently introduces young readers to the realities of war and the importance of peace.

Told with her trademark compassion and insight, it balances honesty with optimism — reminding us that even in the darkest moments, kindness and courage can help rebuild the world. With stunning illustrations and a message that lingers, this book opens the door to meaningful conversations about empathy, history, and humanity.

Best suited for readers aged 7–12, it’s a powerful choice for classrooms, libraries, or family shelves — a story that encourages reflection, understanding, and the belief that peace always begins with us.

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