Who is a hero? Is it some comic-book character who flies around saving people? Or is it a person who stands up to bullies at school? The new book, Heroes, by Alan Gratz reflects how we think of our everyday heroes. Best friends Frank and Stanley near the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. Their dads both are stationed at Pearl Harbor, and the boys assume everything will be safe. After all, World War II’s only going on in Europe, and there’s no way there would ever be a threat in Hawaii. Then, everything implodes. While touring a battleship at the base on December 7th, 1941, a squadron of fighter jets zoomed overhead. Thinking it’s just a practice mission, life goes on as normal, with no trace of danger. Split seconds later, bullets rain down and bodies start falling limply into the water. The boys suddenly realize the unthinkable is happening: Japan is attacking America. The boys are in a fight for survival, and just want to live to see another day. However, Stanley finds himself in another fight: against the hateful comments of those who don’t trust Japanese-Americans like him. Heroes is a powerfully written story about finding inner courage and strength in the midst of danger. Additionally, it is written in a lens that shines light on the struggles of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Gratz is good at presenting these themes and ideas in a way that is understandable for young readers while still being impactful for older readers.
The author of Heroes, Alan Gratz, is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author. Alan Gratz has written numerous other books, including Two Degrees, Ground Zero, Allies, and Refugee. Gratz has written over 20 novels and graphic novels for young readers, and has won 14 state awards. Heroes was an instant #1 on the NY Times bestseller list.
Heroes is a good read for anyone interested in historical fiction, World War II, or wartime novels. If you enjoyed reading Heroes, you may also enjoy other books by Alan Gratz, such as Ban This Book, Grenade, and others.
