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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for this ARC. I gave this book 4 ½ stars, but think the target audience of tweens would rate it a 5 star read. This action packed book will keep younger readers turning the pages to find out more about Pearl Harbor. The author also includes notes about the real story and the elements he changed to make his story flow. Once again Alan Gratz does not disappoint!
On the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, two boys from military families forge a bond over a shared passion for comic books and the dream of creating their own hero. Frank, haunted by a mysterious "Incident" that left him anxious and afraid, worries about everything from giant eels to flip-flops. Stanley, son of a flight crew chief and a Japanese mother, grew up on the island and becomes Frank’s closest friend.
Frank's older sister is dating Brooks, a seaman stationed on the battleship Utah. When he invites Frank and Stanley on a tour of the Utah, no one thought that December 7th, 1941 would become “a date which will live in infamy”. As the unthinkable unfolds, Pearl Harbor succumbs to a devastating attack, engulfing the Utah in a hailstorm of gunfire. Thrust into the heart of chaos, Frank and Stanley must fight for their lives, escaping the sinking vessel amidst the pandemonium. But even as they struggle to survive the initial attacks, the boys discover prejudice and suspicion cast upon Japanese Americans. Can Frank overcome his fears to stand by his friend?
On the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, two boys from military families forge a bond over a shared passion for comic books and the dream of creating their own hero. Frank, haunted by a mysterious "Incident" that left him anxious and afraid, worries about everything from giant eels to flip-flops. Stanley, son of a flight crew chief and a Japanese mother, grew up on the island and becomes Frank’s closest friend.
Frank's older sister is dating Brooks, a seaman stationed on the battleship Utah. When he invites Frank and Stanley on a tour of the Utah, no one thought that December 7th, 1941 would become “a date which will live in infamy”. As the unthinkable unfolds, Pearl Harbor succumbs to a devastating attack, engulfing the Utah in a hailstorm of gunfire. Thrust into the heart of chaos, Frank and Stanley must fight for their lives, escaping the sinking vessel amidst the pandemonium. But even as they struggle to survive the initial attacks, the boys discover prejudice and suspicion cast upon Japanese Americans. Can Frank overcome his fears to stand by his friend?
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
inspiring
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this book. It was informative about the Pearl Harbor attack. I enjoyed learning more the attack.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence
Moderate: Grief, War
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Alan Gratz has done it again. He is able to capture the horrors of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath of how it affected Japanese-Americans. I always recommend listening to his books if you are able to because it usually is truly an immersive experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, War
"'A real hero steps in when they see people getting hurt, no matter what'" — a quote that the characters of Heroes wonderfully demonstrate in so many different ways. From the very beginning of the book, the nonstop action carried me right through the story! I felt really involved in the action of the plot and enjoyed Gratz's attention to sensory details — it greatly helped to bring the story to life. The plot is definitely well structured and holds a lot of exciting action. The main characters, Frank and Stanley, have so many realistic thoughts, emotions, strengths, and weaknesses that I found it very easy to connect with them during their dynamic development. Since this novel accurately portrays the cruelty that Japanese Americans faced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the fear and shock of such mistreatment is presented in a personal level with the reader through Stanley's character (he has Japanese ancestry). Displaying descriptive word choices and smooth flow, Gratz's writing style is a balanced approach for the riveting action in the story. Heroes is an exciting and action-packed look at a day "which will live in infamy."
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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