Dear America: Early Sunday Morning - Barry Denenberg (Scholastic - Oct 2001)

Series: Dear America
 
Sunday, December 7, 1941
 
At first I thought I was still dreaming. I heard an incessant droning, like the sound the China Clipper's propellers made, only much louder, more high-pitched. . . .
 
There were hundreds of planes in the sky. . . . They were coming in unbelievably low, barely clearing the treetops, circling in the sky and then peeling off, forming smaller groups of four and five. . . .
 
"It's Pearl Harbor! It's Pearl Harbor!" Andy was screaming. He was pointing to the column of black smoke that was rising up in the skies above Pearl Harbor. The smoke was mixing with the rays of the early morning sun, creating an eerie, bloodred sky.
 
This was a good look at the events leading up to Pearl Harbor from the viewpoint of a twelve-year-old girl. Amber and her family were new arrivals to Hawaii, and I liked seeing her adjust to the vastly different environment. Her narration of the events of that day was vivid, and I could feel her horror and fear. The aftermath was also described well, especially Amber's volunteering at the hospital.
 
I liked Amber's curiosity and how she embraced the new experiences of living in Hawaii. Her friendship with the Japanese girl, Kame, was sweet, and I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other.