Since her dad is a Marine, Jody has lived in several places. Relocating to Pearl Harbor in 1940 was just another move, wasn't it? Then why is her mom reluctant to transfer and seems to live in fear? Thankfully, Jody has Happy, her mixed breed huge dog, to help her adjust and find "happiness" despite the uneasiness at home. Then her mom's fears are realized when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Jody, her mom, and her sister are evacuated to the mainland. Their mom sinks into depression. Her older sister is assaulted. Can Jody be the leader her dad asks her to be in his absence?
I liked learning about Pearl Harbor from a survivor's point of view.
Some chapters are from Happy's point of view. Although a Christian publisher (Zonderkidz) published this book, God is not mentioned. I think the phrase "after church" was mentioned and a "Oh, thank, Jesus" was included.
Considerations/Discuss: WWII, Pearl Harbor, Japanese American camps, mental illness, parent abandonment, Jody's older sister is assaulted by a man
Based on the memoir, The Children of Battleship Row, by Joan Zuber Earle.
*Highly recommend for 5th grader and older. (although the cover makes it seem like it is for a younger crowd)
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