Pearl Harbor Is Burning!: A Story of World War II (Once Upon America) [Paperback]

Kathleen V. Kudlinski (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Once Upon America

In 1941, Frank meets Kenji, a Japanese-American boy who lives in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where Frank and his family have just moved. But then the unthinkable happens--Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese. Can Frank and Kenji still be friends? "A good springboard for thoughts and discussion of perennial, increasingly visible issues."--Kirkus Reviews.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- Frank wishes his family had never moved to Hawaii. He has no friends and the local boys taunt him as a haoli , an outsider. When Kenji, a Japanese-American boy, offers friendship, they discover a lot in common, especially a love of baseball. The two boys are in Frank's tree house overlooking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, where they watch with fascination and horror as ship after ship is blown up in the water. Conflicting messages and rumors being broadcast over the radio serve as a background for confusion as people react to the emergency. An effective snapshot of the past, this book presents a realistic picture of what residents of Honolulu experienced on that fateful day. --Phyllis K. Kennemer, Jefferson County School District, Lakewood,
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

In a brief historical episode, two fifth-graders (one of them a Japanese-American) witness the bombing of Pearl Harbor and its immediate aftermath. Though unhappy in his new Hawaiian home, Frank makes an instant friend in Kenji Imoto, the landlord's son; the two talk baseball, and, after watching the attack, Frank is invited to spend the night in the Imotos' traditional household. Plot and character take a backseat here to expressions of racial tension: Frank is hazed by schoolmates as a ``haoli'' (white); he encounters anti-Asian prejudice in his mother; he's disoriented by the Imotos' social customs and sees them arguing about whether to conceal their heritage. Frank also reflects very little on his experiences, with the spare narrative virtually free of background or analysis; the author does mention in an afterword that internment camps appeared on the mainland but not in Hawaii, where suspicion seldom reached as high a pitch. A good springboard for thought and discussion of perennial, increasingly visible issues. Himler provides several full-page soft pencil drawings. (Fiction. 10-13) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140345094
• ISBN-13: 978-0140345094
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #560,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pearl Harbor is Burning!, September 30, 2001

By 

a teacher (London, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pearl Harbor Is Burning!: A Story of World War II (Once Upon America) (Paperback)

The story takes place in Hawaii, where two boys from very different backgrounds become friends during the strike on Pearl Harbor. This short story is a very good read. My only complaint is that the story ends too soon. The author took time to develop characters but ended the story. It really makes you want to know more about what happens to them in the aftermath of the attack. This book would be a great choice for teachers to read in their classrooms in light of recent events.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Much History Here, July 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pearl Harbor Is Burning!: A Story of World War II (Once Upon America) (Paperback)

My son is reading PEARL HARBOR IS BURNING, which is short not only on the mood and atmosphere of the time but also on facts. One child dons a "Baltimore Orioles" jacket even though the baseball team didn't move to Baltimore until the 1950's.

The book should focus on the events of Pearl Harbor,not on the story of racial tensions,which is grafted on. That's an important theme, but it doesn't belong here.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pearl Harbor is Burning, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pearl Harbor Is Burning!: A Story of World War II (Once Upon America) (Paperback)

This is a story of two fifth grade boys who witness the bombing of Pearl Harbor. One is Japanese, the other American. The story is more about the boys and their different families, life-styles, and cultures, than about the historical event of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The bombing is centered around the relationship of Frank and Kenji. Frank's character makes a turnaround in his feelings toward people who are different from his family. The story is historically accurate and fast-paced. It would be appropriate for 9-12 year olds. This book could also be the starting point for numerous group discussions, such as racism and inhumane treatment of those who are different. The pencil sketch illustrations are very appealing.