APRIL 2020 - AudioFile
Author Lois Lowry narrates a heartrending historical account of lives lost during the events of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima—all told in verse. Lowry details her childhood memories of growing up in Hawaii and later moving to Japan, including reverent depictions of sailors and citizens who perished during the horrendous events of WWII. Lowry’s well-paced and gentle narration guides listeners through tragedy and hope, creating an approachable and immersive depiction that maintains emotional intensity. Her beautiful and sincere performance is intended for young listeners but doesn’t require the illustrations in the print edition—although they would make an excellent companion to the audiobook. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
The New York Times Book Review - John McMurtrie
Anchored by her musings, Lowry's plaintive, compassionate memoir honors the legacy of those lost in the attack that precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. The author takes us beyond the staggering death toll…to tell us about individual sailors and Marines. It's a short work, designated for middle-grade listeners, but it's rich in details, rendered in unfussy verse, that offer a visceral sense of some of those who were killed.
Publishers Weekly
03/16/2020
As a child, two-time Newbery Medalist Lowry lived in Hawaii and Japan, where her father was deployed during and after WWII. Lowry uses that personal lens to view two horrific acts of war: the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan and the atomic destruction of Hiroshima by the U.S. In a slim volume, a variety of poetic forms convey details about people whose lives were lost or forever changed: 37 sets of brothers were aboard the USS Arizona, where 1,177 people died; a four-year-old Japanese boy in Hiroshima was buried with his beloved red tricycle. The book’s structure makes the events feel like equivalent tragedies, which may trouble some readers, since both were acts of war, but the U.S. bombed noncombatants. A third section details Lowry’s experiences living in postwar Japan; some remembrances lighten the otherwise somber mood, including one surprise about Lowry’s childhood encounter with a boy who would also go on to become a luminary in children’s literature. Part memoir, part history, this is a powerful reminder that damage done will be remembered for many decades to come. Black-and-white illustrations by Pak have the feeling of vintage photographs. Ages 10–12. Author’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency. (Apr.)■
From the Publisher
"Anchored by her musings, Lowry’s plaintive, compassionate memoir honors the legacy of those lost in the attack that precipitated the United States’ entry into World War II." — New York Times Book Review
"A slim volume that's packed with emotion." — Wall Street Journal
"Lois Lowry has had an impressive career. She’s written more than 40 books and won the Newbery Medal twice, but she's never written a story in verse until now." — NPR Weekend Edition
"[On the Horizon is] deeply felt and emotive, not about sides but about people, sure to lead readers to think deeply on these dual tragedies of war. A must for all collections." — Booklist (starred review)
"All the personal stories—of sailors, civilians, and Lowry herself—are grounding. Pak's graphite illustrations are like still shots of history, adding to the emotion and somber feeling. A beautiful, powerful reflection on a tragic history." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"With vignettes about those who lost their lives—from sailors aboard the USS Arizona to civilians in Hiroshima—Lowry asks young readers to empathize with people on all sides of the conflict. Lowry’s message is simple: We all benefit from a more peaceful world." — Time for Kids
"On the Horizon’s remarkable poems are a powerful reminder of our shared humanity in times of conflict and war. Simply put, they are an extraordinary gift from one of America’s most distinguished writers." — BookPage
"Part memoir, part history, this is a powerful reminder that damage done will be remembered for many decades to come." — Publishers Weekly
"This series of beautiful, moving, and sometimes horrifying poems gives a voice to the young men on the USS Arizona and offers an equally moving tribute to the survivors of Hiroshima. Touching." — School Library Journal
“Entries are deft and compelling . . . and the experience of being an occupier in post-war Japan is a fraught and interesting one.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
New York Times Book Review
"Anchored by her musings, Lowry’s plaintive, compassionate memoir honors the legacy of those lost in the attack that precipitated the United States’ entry into World War II."
Booklist (starred review)
"[On the Horizon is] deeply felt and emotive, not about sides but about people, sure to lead readers to think deeply on these dual tragedies of war. A must for all collections."
NPR Weekend Edition
"Lois Lowry has had an impressive career. She’s written more than 40 books and won the Newbery Medal twice, but she's never written a story in verse until now."
Time for Kids
"With vignettes about those who lost their lives—from sailors aboard the USS Arizona to civilians in Hiroshima—Lowry asks young readers to empathize with people on all sides of the conflict. Lowry’s message is simple: We all benefit from a more peaceful world."
Wall Street Journal
"A slim volume that's packed with emotion."
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Entries are deft and compelling . . . and the experience of being an occupier in post-war Japan is a fraught and interesting one.
BookPage
"On the Horizon’s remarkable poems are a powerful reminder of our shared humanity in times of conflict and war. Simply put, they are an extraordinary gift from one of America’s most distinguished writers."
Wall Street Journal
"A slim volume that's packed with emotion."
School Library Journal
02/01/2020
Gr –—Lowry recounts her memories of being a child in Hawaii and her experience of moving to Tokyo when she was 11. Her personal experiences serve as the narrative foundation that eulogizes the many lives lost in two of World War II's tragic events: the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. This series of beautiful, moving, and sometimes horrifying poems gives a voice to the young men on the USS Arizona and offers an equally moving tribute to the survivors of Hiroshima. A brief introduction explains the author's presence in Hawaii and recounts the bombing of Pearl Harbor, followed by the poems of survivors as well as those who died. The poems are touching but also very specific and sometimes graphic. One discusses the captain of the Arizona and how his ring from the Naval Academy was found melted and fused to a mast of the ship. Poems about those who experienced Hiroshima are equally graphic but certainly just as compelling. The second half of the book provides a brief explanation about the bombing of Hiroshima followed by the poems. The final section depicts Lowry's experiences living in Tokyo. The author shares her hope for the future and stresses the interconnectedness of humanity. VERDICT While not an essential purchase, Lowry offers a unique view of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima in an unusual format that could be useful for the classroom. Teachers looking for different approaches to history could use this title to highlight the differences and similarities that perspective brings to history.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
APRIL 2020 - AudioFile
Author Lois Lowry narrates a heartrending historical account of lives lost during the events of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima—all told in verse. Lowry details her childhood memories of growing up in Hawaii and later moving to Japan, including reverent depictions of sailors and citizens who perished during the horrendous events of WWII. Lowry’s well-paced and gentle narration guides listeners through tragedy and hope, creating an approachable and immersive depiction that maintains emotional intensity. Her beautiful and sincere performance is intended for young listeners but doesn’t require the illustrations in the print edition—although they would make an excellent companion to the audiobook. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2020-01-12
In spare verse, Lowry reflects on moments in her childhood, including the bombings of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.
When she was a child, Lowry played at Waikiki Beach with her grandmother while her father filmed. In the old home movie, the USS Arizona appears through the mist on the horizon. Looking back at her childhood in Hawaii and then Japan, Lowry reflects on the bombings that began and ended a war and how they affected and connected everyone involved. In Part 1, she shares the lives and actions of sailors at Pearl Harbor. Part 2 is stories of civilians in Hiroshima affected by the bombing. Part 3 presents her own experience as an American in Japan shortly after the war ended. The poems bring the haunting human scale of war to the forefront, like the Christmas cards a sailor sent days before he died or the 4-year-old who was buried with his red tricycle after Hiroshima. All the personal stories—of sailors, civilians, and Lowry herself—are grounding. There is heartbreak and hope, reminding readers to reflect on the past to create a more peaceful future. Lowry uses a variety of poetry styles, identifying some, such as triolet and haiku. Pak's graphite illustrations are like still shots of history, adding to the emotion and somber feeling. He includes some sailors of color among the mostly white U.S. forces; Lowry is white.
A beautiful, powerful reflection on a tragic history. (author's note, bibliography) (Memoir/poetry. 10-14)
