Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for an advanced reading copy of Returning the Sword. Returning the Sword will be released to retailers on October 7, 2025.

Returning the Sword is a sweet biography of post world war 2. A soldier is sent for post war recovery, and is told to keep a sword. He gets home to America, but can’t forget his war memories. Over time, he realizes that the sword belonged to someone. This story is about how the sword got its way back to its family and should be an important part of how there is good after war.

I really enjoyed reading this story. I never knew about this part of WWII. This book is very informative. I liked that it had the information of what happened during the real events in the back of the book as well. I think anyone could enjoy this book and not only Children. It is a very interesting story.

I loved the artwork in the book. I thought that all of it was very beautiful and drawn really well. One of my favorites was how the artist drew the nature aspects of the book. The trees and the ocean were beautiful. The pacing of the book was good too. I felt like I sunk into the story very easily with how the pace was in combination with the images.

The writing was done really well. I could feel the every emotion of the characters with each page I read. Reading this book definately made me want to learn more about the topics even more. The writer really knows how to spark your interest. I think children who love art will love looking at the photos of this book and parents who love history will like to share this book with their kids.

Rating: 5 stars Audience: Children’s nonfiction, ages 8+, but truly for all ages Themes: Empathy, peace, global citizenship, historical healing


This book is a quiet marvel. Returning the Sword tells the true story of Captain Orval Amdahl, a U.S. soldier who arrived in Nagasaki after the atomic bombing in 1945. Though he had fought against Japan, what he witnessed in the aftermath—loss, resilience, and humanity—left a lasting imprint. He was haunted not only by the devastation he saw in Nagasaki, but by the war itself. The sword he chose as a souvenir became a symbol of that haunting—for 68 years it was quiet reminder of the lives affected, the choices made, and the questions that lingered. This book touches lightly on PTSD, offering a gentle but powerful opening for conversations about trauma, memory, and healing—especially with younger readers who are beginning to explore the emotional layers of history. And uses the story of the swords time with him in the US and his eventual deduction and quest to return it via the sword’s tag to find the original family and return it—not in triumph, but in peace

This story is about empathy, and having the quiet strength to do what’s right. It’s about the power of one person to mend a breach, to honor history, and to act with dignity.

Although written for children, this book is for anyone with a curious mind or a reflective heart. The illustrations by Amanda Yoshida are tender and evocative, perfectly complementing the emotional depth of the story.

With the 80th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing approaching on August 9, 2025, this book offers a timely and necessary invitation: to learn from history, to reflect on what peace truly means, and to ask ourselves—What would I do if this were me?

Captain Amdahl’s story made me feel a little sad, a little curious, and a lot proud. It’s a testament to the quiet greatness of those who choose compassion over conquest, and legacy over silence.

These are my reflections after reading Returning the Sword. Captain Orval Amdahl’s story reminded me that there is nothing more noble than a person who acts with honor and dignity—even in the aftermath of war, even when haunted by memory, even when the world feels irreparably broken. At the end I am only left thinking : What beauty there is in grace. What power there is in understanding. What strength there is in empathy. And Capt. Orval Amdahl proved that there is nothing more noble than a person who acts with honor and dignity.

I thought this was a wonderful story that brought some healing to a world that needed it. Our main character didn't understand that it was wrong to take the sword as it was someone all his other comrades were doing. When he got in touch with a researcher and was able to return the sword, he gave it willingly. I think this is a great story for children to understand that mistakes can be made and amended, even if it is a few decades later.

This was a beautifully illustrated fascinating look at a WWII veteran's experiences abroad and at home, where he returned with a Japanese sword once the US army defeated Japan. For years the man cared for this sword and wondered about its history. Written by the reporter who helped him connect with the family that it belonged to, this is a sentimental story about how old wrongs can be corrected and we are all citizens of the world.

I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.