From an award-winning author comes a vivid depiction of an act of war from opposing sides of the conflict in World War II—and a rare reconciliation and wish for peace that evolved years later.
Adults wage war, while children are unwitting victims, pulled into a maelstrom of fear and hate without any choice. This is a story about two groups of teenagers on opposite sides of the world, forever connected by an act of war. It is a story about the adults some of those teens became, forever connected by acts of forgiveness, understanding, and peace. And it is a story about one remarkable man, whose heart belonged both to America and Japan, who put that peace and understanding in motion. Panning the camera wide, Tanya Lee Stone lays the global groundwork for the story’s context before zooming in on the lives of the people involved, providing an intimate look at how their changing perspectives impact their actions. Through meticulous research, interviews, and archival photo curation, Stone skillfully weaves all of these stories together, illuminating how, despite the devastating pain and destruction caused by war, peace can be a chain reaction. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note, source notes, bibliography, and index.
Foreword by Ben Takeshita. Author’s notes. Source notes. Bibliography. Suggestions for further reading. Index. Black-and-white historical photographs, maps, and reproductions.
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School Library Journal
Gr 4–6—When Japan struck Pearl Harbor in 1941, it sparked a devastating war in the Pacific. The United States reacted by forcing all Japanese Americans into internment camps. In this narrative nonfiction book, three stories about the events surrounding the war in the Pacific are expertly woven together. When the United States dropped bombs over Japan, the Japanese retaliated by creating giant balloon bombs, 33 feet in diameter. These balloons carried three bombs each all the way across the Pacific to the United States (over 9,000 were launched). The bombs were manufactured in secret facilities by teenage schoolgirls. Only 300 bombs were found in North America (one as recently as 2019): one had devastating consequences. Six civilians were on their way to a picnic in Oregon and discovered one of the bombs and inadvertently set it off, killing everyone in the immediate area. This book describes events from the perspective of the victims and survivors of the balloon bomb in Oregon, the schoolgirls who made the bombs in Japan, and a young Japanese American's experience in an internment camp. These stories are intertwined and show how people's perspectives change through time. There are occasional points of interest throughout each chapter, as well as many historical photographs of the balloons, and life in the internment camps. The author also provides extensive notes and an expansive bibliography. Back and front matter contain a table of contents and an index. VERDICT A wonderful selection for nonfiction shelves, this is a compelling narrative of peace and war—but most importantly, redemption.—Kristin J. Anderson