Harry Mazar's "A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor" tells of Adam who is the son of a military lieutenant on the USS Arizona and his family has just relocated to Hawaii's Oahu island. Struggling to fit into yet another high school, Adam makes friends with Davi, an American born Japanese boy. Against his father's word, Adam meets up with Davi and his cousin Martin one Sunday morning to fish in Pearl Harbor. This fateful day happens to be December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and sunk the USS Arizona. When the three boys' little boat is shot at, Adam is separated from his friends when they are taken to the hospital. He sets off on a mission to find his father.
Mazer's work of historical fiction is touching and real. With much description of the island and the setting, the reader gets the feeling that they too are experiencing this important day in US history. One can picture the amount of destruction from the author's account of the story. The narrative recalls the vivid attack with exceptional graphic detail and action packed events. The protagonist learns about his power of bravery and heroism when he encounters obstacles in his journey to see if his father is alive. Adam also learns valuable life lessons in friendship and discrimination. Any student who enjoys historical fiction will want to read this dramatic story.
