You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It’s not the being scared that matters. That’s only human. It’s what you do when you’re scared that counts.
I can always count on Alan Gratz to provide a quality historical fiction lens on an event I may or may not know about. Heroes, his 2024 release, is about Pearl Harbor. While this is a topic I hyperfixated on in my younger years, I think this book is a great introduction to Pearl Harbor and the start of World War II. I was initially surprised there wasn’t more than one narrator telling this story as I’ve come to expect that from Gratz. However, I think this book was just as effective with only Frank telling the story. I especially love that Frank’s best friend, Stanley, is part Japanese American. Seeing the speed in which white Americans turned on Japanese Americans was not surprising to me but I think it will be eye-opening for young readers.
Most of this book takes place in one day, which is highly appropriate both for this historical event and the age of the reader. I appreciated there was some background information about both Frank and Stanley before the bombings started. I especially loved the few chapters at the end that took place after Pearl Harbor so readers could see what happened to some of these characters after that fateful day.
I did listen to this book and I can’t help but share that every time I heard the narrator say Stanley’s name I often imagined it as “Stan Lee” in my brain - especially during the parts they were talking about their comic book drawings. That would have been a fun, but I’m sure widely inaccurate historical, Easter egg. I did, however, love the actual comic that was present at the end of the book.
Most of this book takes place in one day, which is highly appropriate both for this historical event and the age of the reader. I appreciated there was some background information about both Frank and Stanley before the bombings started. I especially loved the few chapters at the end that took place after Pearl Harbor so readers could see what happened to some of these characters after that fateful day.
I did listen to this book and I can’t help but share that every time I heard the narrator say Stanley’s name I often imagined it as “Stan Lee” in my brain - especially during the parts they were talking about their comic book drawings. That would have been a fun, but I’m sure widely inaccurate historical, Easter egg. I did, however, love the actual comic that was present at the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Alan Gratz, you have done it again. This is now the fourth of his books that I have read, and it is one of my favorites. Heroes follows Frank and his Japanese-American friend Stanley and their journey right before, during, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Frank is afraid of everything, and I truly mean everything. From falling down to giant eels to flip flops, Frank deals with a lot of anxiety for a thirteen-year-old. However, he and Stanley are put in an impossible situation that asks them to find the strength to be heroes during the attack.
After the attack, more trouble is stirred up for the two as Frank must wrestle with the effects of prejudice and racism as it affects his best friend.
Throughout the story, the two boys discuss their love of comic books and superheroes; Frank as the writer and Stanley as the illustrator. The novel's end features a 10-page comic that is charming and such an interesting and heartwarming addition to this story.
This was such a great read, and I can't wait to recommend it when it comes out to my middle-grade readers, although this book would be enjoyable for all readers alike!
Alan Gratz, you have done it again. This is now the fourth of his books that I have read, and it is one of my favorites. Heroes follows Frank and his Japanese-American friend Stanley and their journey right before, during, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Frank is afraid of everything, and I truly mean everything. From falling down to giant eels to flip flops, Frank deals with a lot of anxiety for a thirteen-year-old. However, he and Stanley are put in an impossible situation that asks them to find the strength to be heroes during the attack.
After the attack, more trouble is stirred up for the two as Frank must wrestle with the effects of prejudice and racism as it affects his best friend.
Throughout the story, the two boys discuss their love of comic books and superheroes; Frank as the writer and Stanley as the illustrator. The novel's end features a 10-page comic that is charming and such an interesting and heartwarming addition to this story.
This was such a great read, and I can't wait to recommend it when it comes out to my middle-grade readers, although this book would be enjoyable for all readers alike!
This story is told in first person by thirteen-year-old Frank and narrated primarily by Pete Cross. I listened to the audiobook and found it to be a quick, compelling adventure full of heart and the history of Pearl Harbor. Frank is a great character. Frank is literally afraid of everything from drowning to barbecue grills and standing up to bullies despite his growing size. Great read for young people who are afraid and can relate to overcoming fear.
Frank and his best friend Stanley are invited to tour the USS Utah in Pearl Harbor. Both have family in the service. During their tour, the attack on Pearl Harbor begins. There’s an author’s note in the end about the timing of everything and some of the latitude taken for purposes of telling the story. I enjoyed viewing the attack from the perspective of these young men. Once the attack happens, the story is action packed and difficult to put down. It’s just one thing after another in short chapters that end on cliffhangers that encourage you to keep going instead of putting the story down. There’s also a small subplot regarding Stanley and his Japanese American mother and their treatment during and after the attack.
This was my second read by Alan Gratz. My local library group chose Refugee as a group read several years ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While his books are written for middle grade readers, I would recommend them to anyone of any age.
Frank and his best friend Stanley are invited to tour the USS Utah in Pearl Harbor. Both have family in the service. During their tour, the attack on Pearl Harbor begins. There’s an author’s note in the end about the timing of everything and some of the latitude taken for purposes of telling the story. I enjoyed viewing the attack from the perspective of these young men. Once the attack happens, the story is action packed and difficult to put down. It’s just one thing after another in short chapters that end on cliffhangers that encourage you to keep going instead of putting the story down. There’s also a small subplot regarding Stanley and his Japanese American mother and their treatment during and after the attack.
This was my second read by Alan Gratz. My local library group chose Refugee as a group read several years ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While his books are written for middle grade readers, I would recommend them to anyone of any age.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really helped me understand the kind of hatred japanese Americans felt during ww2. Their story sadly often gets forgotten behind all of the weird Pride and Black Lives Matter stuff.
Yes again Alan Gratz does not disappoint! His young adult Historical Fiction texts put you back in the time and place of a historic event. This one, based on the attack of Pearl Harbor made you feel empathy for the young children that survived this horrific event that lead to America joining WWII.
What an amazing story of fear and friendship as our two heroes navigate the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The historical facts Gratz includes make the story flow nicely and it’s enjoyable while also staying relatively accurate.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury