On the Horizon by Lois Lowry

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Lois Lowry looks back at history through a personal lens as she draws from her own memories as a child in Hawaii and Japan, as well as from historical research, in this stunning work in verse for young readers.

On the Horizon tells the story of people whose lives were lost or forever altered by the twin tragedies of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.  Based on the lives of soldiers at Pearl Harbor and civilians in Hiroshima, On the Horizon contemplates humanity and war through verse that sings with pain, truth, and the importance of bridging cultural divides. This masterful work emphasizes empathy and understanding in search of commonality and friendship, vital lessons for students as well as citizens of today’s world. Kenard Pak’s stunning illustrations depict real-life people, places, and events, making for an incredibly vivid return to our collective past.

My thoughts-

When I was 9 years old I checked out a book at my school library that would spur a lifelong love of reading and a lifelong devotion to reading about WWII. That book was Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. When I saw that she wrote a new children's book about WWII I was on board immediately. The beginning and end of the book talk about Lowry's own experiences during that time as a child in Hawaii and Japan, and the essays in between are about many of the different men who lost their lives in these battles. I love that Lowry wrote this book for children in a way that they could learn about the war without trying to sugar coat what happened, but without being overly gory. I learned new things as an adult too. I recommend this book to anyone, adult or child alike.