Product Description

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII
DECEMBER, 1941

I just hope the war stays far, far away from us

Janey loves the beautiful trees, delicious fruits, and exotic mix of people on the island of Oahu, where her father has come to work at Hickam Airfield. But she's terribly homesick for her friends back in Kansas -- especially with all the frightening talk about war and rumors of a Japanese invasion of Hawaii. Then, on December 7th, Janey's worst nightmares come true. Japanese bombs and bullets shatter the early morning peace. Fleeing with her mother, brother, and Akiko -- the girl across the street, who barely speaks to her -- Janey is terrified for her father at the airfield. During the long, tense hours of worry and fear, Janey must try to find her courage. Will the war turn everything upside down? Will Janey be scared and lonely forever?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4668901 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Turtleback

From School Library Journal
Gr 4-8-Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, begins rather normally for Janey and her mother and little brother, except that her father has been called to Hickam Airfield to fix a welding problem. Janey and her family have recently moved from Kansas to Oahu. Everything here is different, but the sixth grader likes her new school. She would also like to be friends with Akiko Fujiwara, who lives across the street, but the family keeps its distance. Then, with the air attack on Pearl Harbor, everything changes. Through Janey, readers experience the terror of the dropping bombs and strafing, and concern over Mr. Blue's whereabouts. Separated from her parents, Akiko goes with the Blues as they search for a place of safety and a way to reunite with Janey's father. The mood of fear and uncertainty is well maintained, and information about the attack is neatly interwoven with the story. Readers also see, though they do not fully understand, how quickly tolerance and acceptance of Japanese-Americans could turn to irrational fear and hatred in the aftermath of the attack. A good historical novel that doesn't seem like a history lesson.

Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

The Unforgettable Morning
This book is a real touching one. The suffering of all the characters was passed to the reader and worried him also. It was a great book because it taught great lessons of love and especially of life. It also taught about how surprising the morning of the Japanese attacks in Hawaii were and how clueless the people were of what was happening. I hope you also enjoy the book and learn as much as I did about the terrifying morning of December 7, 1941.

A 6th grade student

Book Report - American Diaries Janey G. Blue
I read the book American Diaries Janey G. Blue. This book is great. It is a really amazing book because its about a twelve year olds life and part of our countrys history. I thought this book was interesting because of the excitement. This is now one of my favorite books. I learned some interesting facts. That when there is danger you have to go into another city. I would recommend this book for three resons. One of the reasons I would recommend this book is it kept me interested. Another reason is because I liked it. Last I recommend this book because it kept me busy.

American Diaries Janey G. Blue is an oustanding book.

A great new book from the American Diaries series.
Twelve-year-old Janey, her parents, and her four-year-old brother Michael have left their home in Kansas to live on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. It's December 1941, and Janey's father, a welder, has been hired by the military to work at Hickman Airfield, near Pearl Harbor. Janey loves the beauty of her new home, but she is terrified by the threat of war between the United States and Japan, which could lead to an invasion of Hawaii. On the peaceful Sunday morning of December 7, without warning, Japanese planes attack. Janey and her mother and brother are separated from her father. They are forced to evacuate their home, but Janey is determined to return - because she knows in her heart that her father can't be dead, and that she will see him again. This was an excellent new book in the American Diaries series that captured the terror of the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, as faced by the many civilian families living on the island.