Pearl Harbor (American Girl: Real Stories From My Time)

American Girl: Real Stories From My Time

by Jennifer Swanson, Kelley McMorris (Illustrator)

Explore real stories and facts about the attacks on Pearl Harbor with American Girl BeForever character Nanea! Discover the stories of the real people and events that shaped American history in the Real Stories From My Time series. Perfect for book reports with full-page illustrations throughout, these nonfiction chapter books also include historical photos, maps, a timeline, a glossary, and a bibliography at the back. Plus, in each book, an American Girl historical character shares a bit of her own fictional story. Pearl Harbor features real stories of that fateful Sunday morning in 1941 when Japanese planes executed a surprise attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. American Girl Nanea Mitchell shares her own experiences adjusting to the drastic changes to everyday life in Hawaii following the attack.

Genres: World War II, History, Childrens, Historical, Middle Grade, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 26, 2018

About the author

Science Rocks! And so do Jennifer Swanson’s books. She is the award-winning author of over 45 nonfiction books for children. Using her background in science and history that she received from the U.S. Naval Academy, and her M.S. in Education, Jennifer excels at taking complex facts and making them accessible, compelling, and humorous for young readers, Jennifer's passion for science resonates in in all her books but especially, Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact and BEASTLY BIONICS which both received Florida Book Awards and NSTA BEST STEM book awards. Her Save the Crash-test Dummies book received an NSTA BEST STEM Award and a Parent’s Choice GOLD Award. Jennifer has been a featured speaker at the Tucson Book Festival, National NSTA conferences, the Highlights Foundation, the World Science Festival (twice), the Atlanta Science Festival (twice) and the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival in 2019. You can find Jennifer through her website www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love how it was a history lesson about Hawaii from the beginning of the country up through World War II and I also love how Nanea(a fictional character/new American Girl)was weaved through the book too.

[Joey Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a sad and horrible experience that happened to the sweet people of Hawaii. I already knew about Pearl Harbor before reading this but this book went into more detail in just how harrowing it was and the huge impact it had on everyone. It was horrific and devastating but what it showed is that no matter what the people there really are Ohana and pull together to help each other and to love each other throughout everything.

Again the book tied into the actual books by American Girl sharing snippets of Nanea’s story and her experience of the tragic event that unfolded where she lived, sharing how it effected her whole family.

The book was informative like they usually are, taking you right to that time in history, making you feel heartbroken and shaken by the horrific acts that have unfolded in this world. I loved that the author herself was part of the U.S Navy to me that adds to the story as it is so real for her. (Yes I always read the author bios at the back of the book)

I’ve said this before but I really hope that American Girl continue this series making more characters stories become real and true, sharing from the events in history that unfolded in their time period. Including both the incredible fact based story and the characters story within it.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: When most people think of Hawaii, they picture a lush, tropical island with miles of sandy beaches and palm trees swaying in the warm breeze--and that picture is pretty accurate!

Premise/plot: This American Girl chapter book blends nonfiction and fiction together to teach young readers about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The first three chapters give young readers a background on Hawaii. The remaining chapters focus on the attack itself and the aftermath.

Most chapters include a brief section set apart as Nanea's Story. This fiction story is set in a different font. There's no mistaking what is fiction and what is nonfiction in this one.

My thoughts: I haven't read many--if any--American Girl chapter books. I liked this one. Part of me can't help wishing that it was all nonfiction or all fiction. The Magic Treehouse series, I believe, often has a fiction book and a nonfiction companion book that go together.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved seeing the illustrations in this book and little snippets of Nanea's story mixed in with the real life event and facts. That was cool! This book is more nonfiction, but I liked it! It was interesting and kept my attention. This book is way thinner than Nanea's actual book, so it was a much quicker read.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good quick primer to the events of Pearl Harbor. I liked that the information of Hawaii included a less Euro-centric view and had discovered in quotation marks. I did learn that they saw the planes approaching on radar and ignored it; I thought that was wild.

[Elina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nonfiction story it took place in pearl harbor it is sad and mostly about a war the American military was bombing pearl harbor in a surprise attack and suddenly the people hawaii went into the war zone no idea what would happen next

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Girl- Nanea Mitchell

Story blends Pearl Harbor and American Girl, Nanea Mitchell life.

[Keshia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series and what AG is doing with these. They make history interesting for children.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well-done basic introduction to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which brought the United States into World War II.

[Lydia]

Let us preview books Pearl Harbor

[colleen bucco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is book is full of history and how people feel during and after the attack. I love this book because it not only has nane’s story in it but it also has real people in it too. This a book that everyone one should read to get a feel for just people also came together after the attack to help each other too