Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 5-9. Eyewittness testimony of Japanese and American men and women from various backgrounds enriches this balanced treatment of World War II that joins an ever-expanding assortment of books on the subject. The first-person perspectives allow for a more complex view of events as well as individuals involved in a conflict that swept people up--and nearly swept them away. Allen begins his account in Kyushu, Japan, where pilots and submarine crews train for the attack. Subsequent chapters move to Hawaii where survivors describe the bombing from the cockpit, the deck, and the shore, giving readers an emotionally charged view of the devastation. A final chapter on the aftermath of Pearl Harbor briefly notes the unjust internment of Japanese Americans and introduces readers to the USS Arizona memorial, seeing it through the eyes of one of the Japanese sailors. The first-person voices along with dozens of black-and-white photos and several full-color maps make this a draw for both browsers and World War II buffs. A time line and a bibliography are appended.--Randy Meyer
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4 Up-In this effective narrative built from first-person oral histories, striking photographs are combined with excellent maps, resulting in a sophisticated design. The arresting visuals are the foil for powerful tales of warfare, destruction, and patriotism. A noteworthy foreword is followed by accounts of American sailors such as Clark Simmons, who was awakened on December 7, 1941, by explosions outside his battleship, and others, including that of Haruo Yoshino, who was among the Japanese pilots dropping the torpedoes. Both sides of this dramatic story are humanized and fairly presented in a sound, historical context. Interesting postscripts follow up on several of the individuals highlighted, and a unique time line integrates a minute-by-minute account of the attack with a more general one of the Pacific and European conflicts. This compelling title will be of interest to general readers and is an ideal resource for units on World War II.-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
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. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Allen skillfully blends background information and eyewitness accounts from Japanese pilots, American servicemen, and nurses in this copiously illustrated addition to the canon of books commemorating December 7, 1941. Japanese pilots and submarine crew recall their intensive training in the months prior to December. Americans on board destroyers and battleships remember where they were when the first explosions ripped apart their ships. An army nurse talks about the smell of burning oil on a base previously scented with gardenias and hibiscus. Allen also writes briefly about the memorials on Hawaii, the American internment of Japanese, and the Americans of Japanese ancestry who fought so gallantly in Europe. Detailed physical and political maps and a timeline help readers follow the events of the day and of WWII. While Allen refers to issues relating to codes, code-breaking, and delays in delivery of messages, his focus is primarily on providing a "you-are-there" feeling for readers and a connection to the pervading sense of bewilderment, fear, and courage exhibited by those whose lives were threatened. A handsome title that will appeal to WWII buffs. Includes Web sites, bibliography, index, and a foreword by the diver Robert D. Ballard. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
