Voices of Pearl Harbor

Gr 4–8—Brief narratives from a variety of people present a chronological account of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and its importance for World War II. The "voices" are those of a native islander in 1940 watching the Pacific Fleet arrive, a Japanese mother whose son is training for a secret mission, a nurse, the son of a Navy officer, various soldiers, pilots, and admirals from both sides of the conflict, among others, demonstrating the far-reaching effects of war. Dramatic paintings provide a good sense of the time and place. The opening pages show people looking up anxiously as ominous plane shadows cross the ground on which they stand. Later scenes depict explosions, injuries, and death without graphic detail. The dialogue is fictionalized, but based on historical research, and an author's note adds useful background information. This book is not intended as an introduction to Pearl Harbor, but it is a valuable supplementary source to enrich classroom study.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA