(2) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old boys Frank McCoy and Stanley Summers live on Ford Island, a naval base in the middle of Pearl Harbor. They have become fast friends, bonding over a shared interest in comic books. Frank's family recently moved to Hawaii from the mainland, where he is hoping to leave behind not just memories of a traumatic incident but the constant worry and fear that plague him as a result. When Frank doesn't stand up for Stanley during a fight with bullies, it causes a rift in their friendship. Nevertheless, they are both invited to the USS Utah the next day, December 7, 1941, which places them in the thick of things during the attack on Pearl Harbor. While both boys survive the horrific events of that day, they confront a great deal of death as well as mayhem and internal demons. Frank comes to terms with his fear, while Stanley -- whose mother is Japanese -- is already being targeted for harassment. Frank's family is relocated to California shortly afterward and the boys bid a sad farewell, but not before Frank passes a draft of a story for their comic book to Stanley. The novel concludes with the opening scenes of their finished comic book collaboration, published many years in the future. Short chapters and fast pacing with lots of dialogue and action make this an easy recommendation for Gratz fans (Grenade, rev. 11/18; Ground Zero, rev. 3/21; and others). An author's note with additional historical and background information is appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) YA Illustrated by Kenard Pak. In a poetry collection that's as much structure as style and theme, Lowry considers two events: the bombings of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. In the book's first section, poems about the author's connections to Pearl Harbor (she was born in Hawaii and lived there before the war) are interspersed with others commemorating some of the sailors who served on the USS Arizona. (The presence of an appended bibliography seems to indicate that these sailors and their experiences are not fictional, but there's no statement to that effect.) The second section, about Hiroshima, takes a similar tack, with poems inspired by Lowry's postwar childhood in Tokyo included among others devoted to the experiences of those in Japan on August 6th, 1945. "She was a young girl with / a singed uniform, and / a lifetime / of nightmares." A third section brings together the surprising link, discovered almost fifty years after the war, between the little Lois of the first section and a certain Koichi Seii introduced in the second. (We all learned about it at the 1994 Newbery-Caldecott Banquet.) There's a lot of scaffolding for such a slim book, but the poems themselves, a mix of free verse and (sometimes questionable) rhyme, are agreeably spare; the best are the triolets that close each section: "We could not be friends. Not then. Not yet. / Until the cloud dispersed and cleared, / we needed time to mend, forget. / We could not be friends. Not then. Not yet..." Modest pencil sketches throughout reflect and enhance the elegiac mood.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(2) 4-6 As a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and FDR's ensuing Executive Order 9066, eight-year-old Mae Yanagi and her family were uprooted from their home in Hayward, California, and forced to relocate to Topaz, a so-called Japanese internment camp (see appended note on terminology) in the desert of central Utah. Mae's third-grade class kept a journal that year, and her journal is used as the starting point to explore, in eleven chapters, what it was like to live in Topaz, especially from a child's viewpoint. Tunnell (The Children of Topaz) touches on such topics as holiday observances, medical care, pets, recreation, and religious worship. The reminiscences of Mae and her classmates are aptly woven into the narrative, and the resiliency of these children is inspiring. Numerous black-and-white photographs as well as color reproductions of the journal entries--there's something on nearly every page--break up the text, while the ample back matter includes an enlightening chapter-long author's note, photo notes and credits, source notes, a glossary, a selected bibliography, and an index.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 The Japanese attack on nearby Pearl Harbor shocks and frightens twelve-year-old Rosie. Then her parents (of German descent) are imprisoned as "enemy aliens." Shunned, displaced from their Honolulu home, and staying with resentful relatives, Rosie and her brother can only wait, hoping for their parents' release. Erwin has crafted well-written historical fiction on a lesser-known aspect of World War II internment. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Famous Ships series. These books chronicle the histories of three ill-fated modern ships, including the largely forgotten Wilhelm Gustloff, which was transporting German refugees when it was torpedoed by a Russian submarine during WWII. Each readable narrative covers the design, construction, and operation of the ship; its misfortunes are suspensefully described. Excellent archival photographs, diagrams, and "Mini-Bios" enhance the volumes. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Famous Ships titles: The Wilhelm Gustoff Story, The USS Arizona Story, and The Titanic Story.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) 4-6 On Koji's thirteenth birthday, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. Despite being only half-Japanese, Koji is forced to report to the Alameda Downs Assembly Center where his (white) mother voluntarily accompanies him. Through astute choices of medium (pen and watercolor), color (earth tones with red and blue accents), and composition (shifting perspectives and panel layouts), Faulkner creates a vivid and compelling internment-camp graphic novel. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2014

(3) YA World War II series. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, Hank finds himself on the USS Yorktown. Missing his family, he befriends a fellow sailor and, along with the dangers of war, learns about the racism his friend must face. Hank's naiveté is shed as he learns difficult life lessons. Heavy topics such as war and prejudice are approached with compassion and gravity in this second series installment.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(2) 4-6 In this WWII-set verse novel, Mina Tagawa and her family are sent to the Minidoka Relocation Center. Mina's beloved grandfather dies, and her brother Nick enlists and is sent to the European front. Interspersed throughout the main text are letters Mina writes to her (imprisoned) father, her best friend, and to Nick. Nagai's writing is spare and rhythmic--it's real poetry.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014

(4) 4-6 World War II: Day by Day series. These thorough books use a timeline format to give ultra-detailed information about important aspects of World War II through concise, day-by-day (sometimes hour-by-hour) entries drawn from primary sources and eyewitness accounts. Military aficionados will find the setup interesting, but the rapid-fire delivery of facts may overwhelm the average reader. Numerous small photos and inserts give a cluttered appearance. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World War II: Day by Day titles: D-Day, The Pacific, Europe and North Africa, and The Third Reich.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Perspectives on Modern World History series. Each dense volume presents a collection of essays and articles that explore a critical point in modern world history. The events are discussed from multiple perspectives, including views from those who participated in them or were otherwise key figures. The writing covers historical background, controversies, and personal viewpoints. A few pictures, sidebars, and pull-quotes supplement each text-heavy book. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Perspectives on Modern World History titles: The John F. Kennedy Assassination, The Attack on Pearl Harbor, and The Cuban Missile Crisis.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Place in History series. Archival photographs, maps, and sidebars combine with engaging texts to present thorough histories of the featured sites and landmarks. The chronological unfolding of events, interesting facts, personal accounts, and the current perspective provide well-rounded discussions of the impact and significance of these settings. The cramped design is a drawback. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Place in History titles: The Twin Towers, Hiroshima, Pearl Harbor, The Berlin Wall, Auschwitz, and The Normandy Beaches.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA World History series. Archival photographs combine with dense text to provide an introduction to the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The impact and aftermath of the tumultuous period in world history is also explored for readers. Sidebars featuring news headlines and personal accounts add some immediacy to the historical account. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Historical Fiction Adventures series. In 1773 Boston, seventeen-year-old Oliver Carter is an apothecary for Dr. Benjamin Church. Church sells secrets to the British and places Oliver in grave danger (Liberty's). After Pearl Harbor, twelve-year-old Harry Yakamoto's family is sent to Manzanar. Things are made bearable only by playing baseball (Lucky). Brief historical accounts are appended to the character-driven stories, which tend toward overexplanation. Reading list, websites. Review cover these Historical Fiction Adventures titles: The Lucky Baseball and Liberty's Son.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) YA Milestones in American History series. Short, clearly written chapters explore these two pivotal events in U.S. history. The curricular-support titles are amply illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs and reproductions and bolstered by biographical sketches and excerpts from primary documents. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Milestone in American History titles: The Sinking of the USS [cf4]Maine[cf3] and The Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Witness to History series. Following an introduction that defines primary and secondary sources, left-hand pages superficially discuss historical events and right-hand pages provide firsthand accounts from a range of people (a Russian student, a Japanese pilot). The primary source material is this series's asset. Captioned photos extend the text. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Witness to History titles: Pearl Harbor and The Collapse of Communism.

Reviewer: Kate Murphy

(4) 4-6 Events That Shaped America series. This overview of the bombing of Pearl Harbor covers the United States's isolationist policy, events leading up to the bombing, the bombing itself, and its aftermath. The text's brevity lends itself to misleading information, and details tend to get lost in the big picture. Boxed quotes and sidebars break up the text, which is illustrated with photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Days That Shook the World series. From circumstances preceding each incident to its aftermath, the titles in this well-researched series present a comprehensive account of the featured historical event. The accessible text is enhanced by archival material, maps, diagrams, and quotes from prominent individuals. Though the design is tight, research-driven readers will find the bounty of information useful. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Days That Shook the World titles: Pearl Harbor and Assassination in Sarajevo.]

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) YA Supplemented with color maps, a two-page time line, and black-and-white photos depicting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, this is a vivid and often riveting account. Partly based on interviews with both Japanese and American survivors and witnesses, the book traces the preparation, military tactics, and impact of the deadly assault as well as efforts to memorialize the attack. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 In American History series. Two key events of the twentieth century are recounted in blandly written texts. Pearl Harbor tries to cover too much ground, resulting in a rather rushed volume; Missile Crisis is, by virtue of its subject matter, somewhat more focused. Both books feature boxed excerpts from source documents and unexceptional black-and-white photographs. Time lines are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta