On the Horizon
About this ebook
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.
In turns haunting, heartbreaking, and uplifting, On the Horizon will remind readers of the horrors and heroism in our past, as well as offer hope for our future.
- Personal WWII History: Author Lois Lowry draws on her own childhood memories of living in Hawaii before the attack and in Japan after the war, connecting readers directly to the past.
- Book in Verse: Experience these historical events through lyrical free verse that brings the individual stories of soldiers and civilians to life with poignancy and power.
- Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima: Explore the connected stories of the young American sailors aboard the USS Arizona and the Japanese families, including a boy with a red tricycle, devastated by the atomic bomb.
- A Call for Empathy: This moving narrative bridges cultural divides, focusing on shared humanity to foster understanding and hope in a new generation of readers.
- Powerful Classroom Resource: Featuring stunning black-and-white illustrations, this Newbery medalist's work is an essential, accessible, and unforgettable introduction to WWII history for middle grade students.
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About the author
Lois Lowry is the author of more than fifty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, Number the Stars and The Giver.
Kenard Pak is originally from Howard County, Maryland. He worked as a visual development artist for DreamWorks Animation, Disney Feature Animation, and Laika Studios before he began illustrating picture books, including Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?, The Dinner That Cooked Itself, The Fog, and Cat Wishes. He has also written and illustrated a seasonal series that began with Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn. Kenard lives and works in lovely San Francisco with his wife and cats. You can visit his website at pandagun.com.
