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American Girl: Nanea #2
Hula for the Home Front
Nanea had hoped that going back to school would make life seem normal again. But everything has changed since the war, including Miss Smith's wonderful classroom. Nanea's dear friend Donna is gone, and now there's a new girl who seems to be getting all of Miss Smith's attention. There are also worries at home as Nanea's big brother talks about joining the Army. Nanea can't bear the thought of him leaving. In the swirl of changes, Nanea turns to hula. Dancing always makes her feel better. Then, Nanea gets a big idea―could hula help lift the spirits of the soldiers, too?
184 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2017
19 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Kirby Larson
48 books437 followersKirby Larson went from history-phobe to history fanatic while writing the 2007 Newbery Honor Book, HATTIE BIG SKY. Her passion for historical fiction is reflected in titles such as THE FENCES BETWEEN US, THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL, as well as the sequel to HATTIE BIG SKY, HATTIE EVER AFTER, and her two latest titles, DUKE--which was nominated for 5 state Young Reader Choice awards as well as being a finalist for the Washington State Book Award-- and DASH--which has garnered two starred reviews, a NAPPA Gold Award and a Capitol Choices nomination. She will have two new books out in 2016 -- watch for them!
In 2006, Kirby began a collaboration with her good friend Mary Nethery resulting in two award-winning nonfiction picture books: TWO BOBBIES: A TRUE STORY OF HURRICANE KATRINA, FRIENDSHIP AND SURVIVAL, and NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE AND A MIRACLE.
Kirby lives in Kenmore, Washington with her husband, Neil, and Winston the Wonder Dog. When she’s not reading or writing Kirby enjoys beach combing, bird watching, and traveling. She owns a tiara and is not afraid to use it.
In 2006, Kirby began a collaboration with her good friend Mary Nethery resulting in two award-winning nonfiction picture books: TWO BOBBIES: A TRUE STORY OF HURRICANE KATRINA, FRIENDSHIP AND SURVIVAL, and NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE AND A MIRACLE.
Kirby lives in Kenmore, Washington with her husband, Neil, and Winston the Wonder Dog. When she’s not reading or writing Kirby enjoys beach combing, bird watching, and traveling. She owns a tiara and is not afraid to use it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 8, 2022
The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult, inspired by the American Girls podcast.
This one starts up right where Book 1 left off: It's a few months after the Pearl Harbor attacks and school is about to restart. Nanea is slow to warm up to the new girl in her class since she misses the friend who used to sit in that seat, but with a little push, Dixie Moreno becomes a close friend, too.
In some ways, Dixie and Donna fill the same role in the story, but having both of them gives us a chance to talk about making new friends AND a pair of eyes in California as Japanese Americans there are sent to Manzanar and other internment camps. It's not a big plot point - certainly not as big as Uncle Fudge's detainment in Book 1 - but it's so, so important to include. It's sure not anywhere in Molly's books.
The central struggle in this one is Nanea wrestling with the feeling that the war and the Army are taking away the things she loves most: Donna is gone; Dad is still working long hours. David is about to turn 18 and wants to enlist. A classmate talks about a program that sends clever dogs to support the US Army - and Mele is demonstrably a smart dog. And while Nanea can't do anything about most of these points, she does come up with a way for Mele to help servicemen - without going anywhere.
I haven't finished Maryellen's core series yet, but I think Nanea's are the best of the three Beforever AG series. It feels like the brand has comfortably settled into this new format: Nanea's story balances important historical events with the feelings and priorities of one girl. Definitely would recommend.
This one starts up right where Book 1 left off: It's a few months after the Pearl Harbor attacks and school is about to restart. Nanea is slow to warm up to the new girl in her class since she misses the friend who used to sit in that seat, but with a little push, Dixie Moreno becomes a close friend, too.
In some ways, Dixie and Donna fill the same role in the story, but having both of them gives us a chance to talk about making new friends AND a pair of eyes in California as Japanese Americans there are sent to Manzanar and other internment camps. It's not a big plot point - certainly not as big as Uncle Fudge's detainment in Book 1 - but it's so, so important to include. It's sure not anywhere in Molly's books.
The central struggle in this one is Nanea wrestling with the feeling that the war and the Army are taking away the things she loves most: Donna is gone; Dad is still working long hours. David is about to turn 18 and wants to enlist. A classmate talks about a program that sends clever dogs to support the US Army - and Mele is demonstrably a smart dog. And while Nanea can't do anything about most of these points, she does come up with a way for Mele to help servicemen - without going anywhere.
I haven't finished Maryellen's core series yet, but I think Nanea's are the best of the three Beforever AG series. It feels like the brand has comfortably settled into this new format: Nanea's story balances important historical events with the feelings and priorities of one girl. Definitely would recommend.
September 17, 2017
Has a better plot than the first book. Still disappointed about the lack of illustrations, as well as the scant history section in the back - I remember those things being better when I was the target audience age!
November 7, 2024
disliked this book for the same reasons as the first. even more janky and disconnected and even more dog, which makes this even less appealing.
what was the point of Dixie as a character. Dixie you are nothing to me. I don't want the gap of her third friend to be suddenly filled by Donna's absence. I want her to feel that emptiness! And I especially don't want it filled by a girl who the plot treats as weirdly as Dixie. I can't put my finger on why she rubbed my the wrong way, but she really did.
what was the point of Dixie as a character. Dixie you are nothing to me. I don't want the gap of her third friend to be suddenly filled by Donna's absence. I want her to feel that emptiness! And I especially don't want it filled by a girl who the plot treats as weirdly as Dixie. I can't put my finger on why she rubbed my the wrong way, but she really did.
June 14, 2025
The way even an American Girl book that didn't exist when I was a kid can make me feel nostalgic is wild. But books like this are pretty much why I know as much history as I do. I picked this up on a whim from the American Girl store when I went in with my honorary niece and finally read it today. Now I just need to get the rest of Nanea's books and the other new ones since I was a kid. Maybe one day one of my nieces will want to read them too.
October 8, 2025
This book went into more detail about the time period and what everyone did after the war started. I related to this one a little bit more cause Nanea’s brother enlisted into the army. My own brother did that last year so I could relate to her and how she was feeling. Overall a super cute book.
December 20, 2018
The second book in the Nanea series. Again, I enjoyed reading what life was like after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Hawaiian traditions and foods.
October 24, 2024
This was an interesting one to read with my almost 7yr old who had very little knowledge of WWII. As with all American Girls, Nanea is an inspiring character with many wonderful qualities. I appreciated the way this sparked so many history lessons for my daughter, but was not happy about the sugar-coating of the Japanese internment camps. I understand needing to present this delicately for a child audience, but did not appreciate that it almost painted this as a necessary safety measure for the US. I wish I had read this part in advance and would’ve skipped it with my daughter instead of having to navigate how to undo what we read and explain this dark part of our history. Ultimately, this was only a page or so within an otherwise compelling story, but wanted to mention it especially if you have a daughter reading this independently.
April 2, 2018
It's February 1942, almost two months since the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Nanea Mitchell, 9, is getting ready to go back to school. But school won't be the same for her and her friend Lily now that their other friend Donna has been sent back to the United States with her mother. And then, she finds a new girl sitting in Donna's seat at school.
To make matters worse, the new girl, Dixie Morena, is given the important job of class War Stamps monitor, a job Nanea thought she should have been given. It's a job that involves the weekly sale of war stamps to the kids in the class, with the hope of winning a coveted Minuteman Flag if they buy enough stamps. Nanea tries to be friendly, but Dixie doesn't seem interested, in fact, she seems bored - always yawning and putting her head on her desk. But after an incident that finds both girls in the principal's office, Nanea, Lily, and Dixie finally become friends.
Nanea is also worried that her older brother David will enlist as soon as he turns 18 in May. David does a lot of volunteer work for Lieutenant Gregory, but wants to do more for the war effort. Older sister Mary Lou, 15, also does volunteer work for the war, and is never without her knitting, making needed items for soldiers.
Nanea comes up with the idea of forming the Honolulu Helpers, a club to help the war effort for kids
her age. Volunteers would do things like collecting bottles, babysitting so mothers could take first-aid classes, working in Victory Gardens, baking cookies, serving meals, and maybe even helping out in hospitals. But despite school, friends, and the Honolulu Helpers, Nanea still worries about her brother, the night time air raid drills, and the possibility of losing her beloved dog Mele again.
She is so afraid of losing Mele, that Nanea keeps her close by except during school. One day, as she is playing some records in her room, Nanea notices that Mele is moving to the music. Naturally, Nanea decides to teach her to hula, which, thanks to some tasty cookies, Mele picks up quite quickly. Later, at the USO show, the soldiers is so entertained by her hula dancing dog, that Nanea comes up with an idea of how to bring Mele to the soldiers in the hospital, who couldn't come to the show. But how to do that if dogs and kids aren't allowed in hospitals? Nanea enlists the help of Lieutenant Gregory, maybe he can convince the hospital to find a way.
Meanwhile, Nanea's class is falling behind with war stamp purchases, and it looks like there will be no Minuteman flag for them. But their teacher, Miss Smith, has a surprise guest come in a give them a pep talk. Will that help?
When you read an American Girl story, it's a safe bet that nothing too awful or scary is going to happen. They essentially present the life of a 9 year-old girl during a period of change and focus on how main character adjusts to those changes. There is lots of historical information introduced along the way, and the Nanea books are no different. Kirby Larson, who has had plenty of experience researching and writing historical fiction for young readers, has written the first two books, Growing Up with Aloha and this one.
I thought Hula on the Home Front was a well written work, that easily carried over from the first book and increased our understanding of what it was like being a 9 year-old at that time and place. Nanea is a sweet, generous character, but like all girls at some point, she also has to deal with feelings of jealousy and learn how to gracefully accept the new girl in her life, even as she misses her old friend. But Nanea also must deal with other big changes that impact her life - her father is often away from home working double shifts, while her mother helps out at the Red Cross. Then there is rationing, blackout curtains, and the Dogs for Defense program. Would Dogs for Defense want Mele? Could Nanea part with her beloved dog?
I do think it would be nice if more about Lily's family, who happen to be Japanese, were also included, especially given what was happening in the US at the time. Larson does introduce the internment of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, but doesn't really go into any detail about it. Could there be a book about Lily in the works?
Nanea is a nice addition to the WWII American Girl books, though I'm sorry they won't be publishing as many different ones as they did with the original historical characters. My kids, at home and in school, really loved reading those books and most never even owned a doll.
A lot of Hula on the Home Front does presuppose that the reader has read the first book where most of information about Hawaiian life and culture was given. There is still some given here, along with Hawaiian words with pronunciation and meaning found at the back of the book. Readers also do learn more about the meanings behind the movements of hula dancing, and its purpose.
As always, do read the section Inside Nanea's World for more information about war stamps, clubs formed by kids and other war time efforts. Though not a nice as the earlier American Girl stories, it is still helpful.
Hula on the Home Front will please AG fans, as well as those who like WWII history.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library.
To make matters worse, the new girl, Dixie Morena, is given the important job of class War Stamps monitor, a job Nanea thought she should have been given. It's a job that involves the weekly sale of war stamps to the kids in the class, with the hope of winning a coveted Minuteman Flag if they buy enough stamps. Nanea tries to be friendly, but Dixie doesn't seem interested, in fact, she seems bored - always yawning and putting her head on her desk. But after an incident that finds both girls in the principal's office, Nanea, Lily, and Dixie finally become friends.
Nanea is also worried that her older brother David will enlist as soon as he turns 18 in May. David does a lot of volunteer work for Lieutenant Gregory, but wants to do more for the war effort. Older sister Mary Lou, 15, also does volunteer work for the war, and is never without her knitting, making needed items for soldiers.
Nanea comes up with the idea of forming the Honolulu Helpers, a club to help the war effort for kids
her age. Volunteers would do things like collecting bottles, babysitting so mothers could take first-aid classes, working in Victory Gardens, baking cookies, serving meals, and maybe even helping out in hospitals. But despite school, friends, and the Honolulu Helpers, Nanea still worries about her brother, the night time air raid drills, and the possibility of losing her beloved dog Mele again.
She is so afraid of losing Mele, that Nanea keeps her close by except during school. One day, as she is playing some records in her room, Nanea notices that Mele is moving to the music. Naturally, Nanea decides to teach her to hula, which, thanks to some tasty cookies, Mele picks up quite quickly. Later, at the USO show, the soldiers is so entertained by her hula dancing dog, that Nanea comes up with an idea of how to bring Mele to the soldiers in the hospital, who couldn't come to the show. But how to do that if dogs and kids aren't allowed in hospitals? Nanea enlists the help of Lieutenant Gregory, maybe he can convince the hospital to find a way.
Meanwhile, Nanea's class is falling behind with war stamp purchases, and it looks like there will be no Minuteman flag for them. But their teacher, Miss Smith, has a surprise guest come in a give them a pep talk. Will that help?
When you read an American Girl story, it's a safe bet that nothing too awful or scary is going to happen. They essentially present the life of a 9 year-old girl during a period of change and focus on how main character adjusts to those changes. There is lots of historical information introduced along the way, and the Nanea books are no different. Kirby Larson, who has had plenty of experience researching and writing historical fiction for young readers, has written the first two books, Growing Up with Aloha and this one.
I thought Hula on the Home Front was a well written work, that easily carried over from the first book and increased our understanding of what it was like being a 9 year-old at that time and place. Nanea is a sweet, generous character, but like all girls at some point, she also has to deal with feelings of jealousy and learn how to gracefully accept the new girl in her life, even as she misses her old friend. But Nanea also must deal with other big changes that impact her life - her father is often away from home working double shifts, while her mother helps out at the Red Cross. Then there is rationing, blackout curtains, and the Dogs for Defense program. Would Dogs for Defense want Mele? Could Nanea part with her beloved dog?
I do think it would be nice if more about Lily's family, who happen to be Japanese, were also included, especially given what was happening in the US at the time. Larson does introduce the internment of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, but doesn't really go into any detail about it. Could there be a book about Lily in the works?
Nanea is a nice addition to the WWII American Girl books, though I'm sorry they won't be publishing as many different ones as they did with the original historical characters. My kids, at home and in school, really loved reading those books and most never even owned a doll.
A lot of Hula on the Home Front does presuppose that the reader has read the first book where most of information about Hawaiian life and culture was given. There is still some given here, along with Hawaiian words with pronunciation and meaning found at the back of the book. Readers also do learn more about the meanings behind the movements of hula dancing, and its purpose.
As always, do read the section Inside Nanea's World for more information about war stamps, clubs formed by kids and other war time efforts. Though not a nice as the earlier American Girl stories, it is still helpful.
Hula on the Home Front will please AG fans, as well as those who like WWII history.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was purchased for my personal library.
December 25, 2018
3.5 stars, rounded up because the image of a hula-dancing dog is spectacular.
December 9, 2021
Last year, I reread the first Nanea book on Pearl Harbor Day, and I meant to read this one again shortly after. I didn't get around to it for such an embarrassingly long time that I ended up just saving it for this year's anniversary.
When I was eating breakfast on 12/7/21 and realized that it had been EIGHTY YEARS since Pearl Harbor, I almost choked in my complete shock, exclaiming to my sister, "How can it have been eighty years?! It feels like yesterday, even though I wasn't anywhere close to born yet."
I appreciate books like this that make such a distant time feel ever-present to me. Even though this wasn't part of my childhood and didn't come out until 2017, it portrays life during and in the aftermath of the attack so vividly, and handles lots of war-related themes very well. American Girl did a great job of revisiting the 1940s from a different time and completely different cultural perspective than Molly's, and even though the title and premise for this book can make it seem cutesy or shallow, it deals with a lot of intense themes and complexities very well.
When I was eating breakfast on 12/7/21 and realized that it had been EIGHTY YEARS since Pearl Harbor, I almost choked in my complete shock, exclaiming to my sister, "How can it have been eighty years?! It feels like yesterday, even though I wasn't anywhere close to born yet."
I appreciate books like this that make such a distant time feel ever-present to me. Even though this wasn't part of my childhood and didn't come out until 2017, it portrays life during and in the aftermath of the attack so vividly, and handles lots of war-related themes very well. American Girl did a great job of revisiting the 1940s from a different time and completely different cultural perspective than Molly's, and even though the title and premise for this book can make it seem cutesy or shallow, it deals with a lot of intense themes and complexities very well.
March 26, 2024
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. It's not as disjointed as the 6 book to 2 book to 2 abridged series. But it was still choppy. It almost seemed as though there were no big plots. I was blasé about so much focus on the dog.
September 10, 2017
Like the first Nanea volume, this one had a plot point very similar to Maryellen's stories. Larson uses a lot of English words and phrases that kids aren't going to get, on top of the Hawaiian.
May 28, 2021
and that's a wrap on nanea's "classic" collection! overall i really enjoyed reading about nanea and what it was like for her growing up. i feel like this book went by much more quickly than the first, and to that end i felt like some of the more significant moments, like nanea's birthday, didn't get as much time spent on them as i would've liked. i also thought the ending was kind of abrupt. i understand ending it at the point they did but it felt a bit too soon after . i'm curious if the "you decide the ending" type book follows up on that at all, but i don't plan to read that, so this is the end of nanea's stories for me (i do want to read her mystery, though - i was aging out of the AG books right as the mysteries started to come out, so i'm curious about them now lol. but i know that's not part of the main story and i believe is written by another author). i'm curious to read more of the new historical girls' books after this!
August 1, 2023
“Hula for the Homefront” offers young readers a peek into what life was like for Hawaiians during the early years of U.S. involvement in WWII.
Nanae navigates growing up in a world at war, balancing her friendships and interests with supporting the war effort by reasoning money for her class to buy a war bond and raising service members’ morale with her dog.
While “Hula for the Homefront” is a fine book, it felt like it pulled some punches in teaching kids about the time period. Kirby Larson did a great job showing how even school children raised money to buy war bonds, which were used to fund materiel like tanks.
However, the book does not handle teaching young readers about the internment of Japanese Americans particularly well. It’s mentioned twice but is then breezed over—even in the note at the end of the book. This was particularly disappointing since older American Girl books handled other topics of difficult history carefully and thoroughly, making it personal to the doll and thus the reader.
Nanae navigates growing up in a world at war, balancing her friendships and interests with supporting the war effort by reasoning money for her class to buy a war bond and raising service members’ morale with her dog.
While “Hula for the Homefront” is a fine book, it felt like it pulled some punches in teaching kids about the time period. Kirby Larson did a great job showing how even school children raised money to buy war bonds, which were used to fund materiel like tanks.
However, the book does not handle teaching young readers about the internment of Japanese Americans particularly well. It’s mentioned twice but is then breezed over—even in the note at the end of the book. This was particularly disappointing since older American Girl books handled other topics of difficult history carefully and thoroughly, making it personal to the doll and thus the reader.
January 1, 2018
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book more than the first book. I felt it had a tighter plot and the characters were more well-developed. I also felt that it did a better job than the first book capturing the feel of the time and local culture. Through the stories of Nanea's family and friends, it was able to touch on a lot of issues Hawaii's citizens were facing at the start of WWII in an appropriate way for younger readers -- e.g. internment camps and discrimination against the Japanese, families being separated (due to the attack as well as military duty), drills, rationing, etc. While hula was touched on superficially in the first book, it felt like an add-on to make the book "seem" Hawaiian; in this book, we learned more of why hula is important to Nanea and her community, and how it uniquely helped them cope during the early war period. I also enjoyed seeing more of Nanea's family traditions.
April 11, 2018
Nanea is hoping that going back to school will put some normalcy back in her life after the bombing of Pearl Harbor but even school is different. Nanea's best friend Donna won't be with her, a new girl named Dixie is sitting in Donna's spot and Dixie seems to be getting all the attention from Nanea's teacher Ms. Smith. When Ms. Smith asks Nanea to be a buddy to Dixie Nanea isn't sure she can.
At home Nanea's brother David talks about joining the army which makes Nanea worry. She also worries about being separated from Mele. I really like how this book stays true to what the war was like while at the same time adding enough light moments such as Nanea's birthday to keep the story from getting too somber. I also really like the messages about being a friend and helping others
At home Nanea's brother David talks about joining the army which makes Nanea worry. She also worries about being separated from Mele. I really like how this book stays true to what the war was like while at the same time adding enough light moments such as Nanea's birthday to keep the story from getting too somber. I also really like the messages about being a friend and helping others
September 22, 2020
Nanea is charming, and the tension between patriotic duty and personal sacrifice during WWII will always be productive novel fodder. I need to re-read Molly before I can be sure of this, but I feel like Molly does get to be a kid longer (the I will not eat turnips incident comes to mind). Of course Molly's home didn't get bombed, so maybe it's realistic that Nanea matures faster. I love the continued commentary of the U.S.'s racist mistrust of its Japanese citizens. Others have said that Molly serves as AG's look at the European theater and Nanea's as their look at the Pacific theater. I think that's apt, and this is a great contribution to the canon. There are so many important differences between Oahu and Ohio that double dipping into this historical period is totally justified.
May 14, 2023
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2017
Even better than Growing Up With Aloha! This book had more clearly defined plot points that didn't just feel like tie-ins for doll items, and I felt like Nanea really blossomed as a character. I also felt like this book did a better job of fleshing out the secondary characters, too. All that said, it certainly didn't neglect the history, either. This book weaved together history and story in a much more fluid way than in Nanea's first book, and it doesn't shy away from the difficulties of wartime on the home front, nor the realities of America's less than perfect track-record towards its own citizens. Really recommended for younger readers and anyone who likes historical fiction.
October 9, 2019
I've no complaints here- Hula for the Home Front picks up about a week after Growing Up Aloha left off, with school resuming a few months after the Pearl Harbor attack. There's a new girl and Nanea is jealous (and still feeling the pain of Donna moving away as non-essential personnel). Her older brother is also a few months away from turning 18, and she worries that he will enlist in the US Army.
I still feel weird about this two book format vs. the original 6, but we still cover school, birthday, and big life change beats for Nanea, classic American Girl topics. I do miss having illustrations, but this is a good companion to Molly's perspective on how WWII affected young people.
I still feel weird about this two book format vs. the original 6, but we still cover school, birthday, and big life change beats for Nanea, classic American Girl topics. I do miss having illustrations, but this is a good companion to Molly's perspective on how WWII affected young people.
October 30, 2019
The second book in the American Girl Nanea series, Hula for the Home Front sees Hawaii continuing to deal with the aftermath of Pearl Harbor through the win at Midway. The story addresses many very serious topics like worrying about an older brother enlisting in the military, all written in a way kids can understand. The last few pages give the history of what was happening during the time period of the book and a little more information about things mentioned in the book like Dogs for Defense. I highly recommend this book to kids who enjoy historical fiction. It makes a great family read aloud!
October 8, 2023
Of the AG books I have read, Nanea's series is my favorite. I think it does the best job of really letting kids see the reality of what life was like during that time, while also managing to have a very realistic and relatable main character. Readers get to see the types of sacrifices that kids and families were forced to make during the war in Hawaii, while not being too depressing for it to handle. Nanea is also a great character. She does her best to be a good person, as well as striving to show how grown up she is, but she still makes understandable mistakes and has relatable negative feelings about what's happening in the world around her.
September 4, 2017
After reading the first book, "Growing Up with Aloha", I just had to get the second book and see how the story continues. I'm glad I did. This was a great follow up to the story, filled with surprises, a little predictablity (for those who don't like surprises), and some joy and sadness.
Beautifully written. I felt like Nanea and all the other characters were real. For fans of the 1940s Home Front, American Girl, Hawaii, and Hula, this is a must. Great story for girls and young women.
Beautifully written. I felt like Nanea and all the other characters were real. For fans of the 1940s Home Front, American Girl, Hawaii, and Hula, this is a must. Great story for girls and young women.
January 12, 2018
Nanea is a darling girl who wants to help in any way she can. The war is making her grow up more quickly, but she deals with the tough times really well. She takes her mind off of her troubles by teaching her dog, Mele, tricks and spending time with her friends and family. There is a third book in the series that continues on with Nanea's story.
January 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this particular new historical character for the American girl doll line up. I like that it focuses on her worries and how she overcomes them. I feel that's a real skill that can be helpful for children. I also learned something new, I don't remember learning about a second attack on pearl harbor that happened on March 4th. If I did learn about it in school it was glossed over.
January 31, 2020
An excellent conclusion to Nanea’s stories. I’ve loved reading about World War II through the eyes of a ten year old Hawaiian girl. American Girl historical books are my favorites and certainly are responsible for my love of historical fiction! Unfortunately I always want the doll after I read the books...
September 3, 2025
As with the first book, this had a strong storyline throughout and I enjoy reading about Nanea and her friends as they pull together to help their community during the early days of WWII. Strong themes of family, friendship, and courage stood out and this is another solid addition to the American Book book line.
July 6, 2021
Honestly impressed how this book handles difficult topics. Was fearful of reading it with my daughter bc of the setting of the aftermath of Pearl Harbor but was really well discussed for younger kids.
May 28, 2022
A continuation of Nanea’s story: complete with wartime drama - fear that her older brother will enlist, anxiety around Japan’s might in the pacific, while also weaving in Hawaiian culture. Loving the historical books that introduce history of specific eras in a relatable way to elementary students
March 14, 2018
Very well done. Age appropriate without whitewashing history. Cried at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews