• Under the Blood-Red Sun

  • Under the Blood-Red Sun, Book 1
  • By: Graham Salisbury
  • Narrated by: Greg Watanabe
  • Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (91 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Under the Blood-Red Sun  By  cover art

Under the Blood-Red Sun

By: Graham Salisbury
Narrated by: Greg Watanabe
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $16.20

Buy for $16.20

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Tomi was born in Hawaii. His grandfather and parents were born in Japan and came to America to escape poverty. World War II seems far away from Tomi and his friends, who are too busy playing ball on their eighth-grade team, the Rats.

But then Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese, and the United States declares war on Japan. Japanese men are rounded up, and Tomi’s father and grandfather are arrested.

It’s a terrifying time to be Japanese in America. But one thing doesn’t change: the loyalty of Tomi’s buddies, the Rats.

©2014 Graham Salisbury (P)2014 Listening Library

Critic reviews

Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults. A Booklist Children’s Editor’s Choice.

Featured Article: The Best Young Adult Audiobooks to Listen to as a Grown Woman


For some reason, a lot of people equate "growing up" with "growing serious." But while interests may change over time, age does not have to be the deciding factor in what games you play, what movies you watch, or what books you enjoy. The young adult audiobooks on this list are truly timeless: grownup listeners can relate to YA classics in a whole new way or find new favorites among more recent offerings.

What listeners say about Under the Blood-Red Sun

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    63
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    62
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    55
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story

Enjoyable story, although I wish it had gone deeper into the injustices they faced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great younger YA historical fiction

I read this ALA notable book when it first came out and loved it. The story starts shortly before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and opens the life of a young Japanese American, Tomikazu and his family living near the harbor. After you "see" his normal life with racing pigeons, baseball, school, deep sea fishing, friends & family... the bombs fall and we then watch as his family is torn apart and he steps up to help. Covering material similar to "The Corner of Bitter & Sweet" and "Tallgrass," this is aimed for a younger audience... I'd guess 6th to 9th grade.

The book opens slowly and the narrator has a slow "Hawaiian" pace... I was antsy at first, but after the bombs fall and the plot picked up I didn't notice it as much. I'd be tempted to increase the speed if I read again. This would be a good book to listen to with a child... opening topics for discussion like history, war, loss, discrimination, patriotism, fear, courage, change and bullies. These kinda hard topics aren't as much fun as some fiction but still needed for a well rounded education. Older teens/adults would enjoy "Tallgrass."

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good but la long story

When you read the book itself it is really long. It goes really slow to but over all it is a good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book!

It wasn't quite what I thought.... But I like to hear about the the Japanese American families in Hawaii during ww2. Good book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

What would you do if your country hated you? Could you display honorable behavior or not?

These are questions that young Tommy (pronounced toe-me must struggle to answer for himself in order to find his place in the world around him. Why because the year is 1941 and the United States is at war. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a big problem for someone this boy's age given that they probably be busy with school and other things but Tommy well he has a slight problem. What problem you ask, if you'd like to know that I highly recommend you begin reading under the blood-red sun by Graham Saulsberry it's the first book in a four-book series of historical fiction books suitable for readers of about 12 or so. Why 12 kids well because then you'll be roughly around the same age as the boy in the story. It's time for an indenture. Happy reading to all, PS. The name of the series is prisoners of the Empire for those who would like to know

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!