I'm so glad I heard Lois Lowry chatting about this book on her Facebook a few weeks ago. After listening, I immediately ordered a copy.
ON THE HORIZON is written in a series of poems and reflects on Lois Lowry's memories of living in Honolulu at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It wasn't until later that she realized she and her grandmother were on the beach at the time the USS Arizona passed on the horizon. Not long after that, the great ship lay on the bottom of Pearl Harbor along with most of her crew.
Lowry recounts her memories, and she also shares events as they may have been experienced by some of the sailors on the USS Arizona. She also explains what the days that followed may have been like for the crew of the Enola Gay as they released the bomb on Hiroshima, and the terror of the Japanese who witnessed the explosion of the bomb, many losing their lives instantly or painfully years later.
Lowry spent some of her childhood in Tokyo where she learned even more about the war and those who survived. Much later in life her path even crossed that of an individual she realized she knew from her early years in Tokyo. Shared memories of Lowry riding her green bicycle add tender moments to this heartfelt story.
Although ON THE HORIZON is less that 100 pages, it is packed with history and emotion only an author like Lois Lowry can express. Fans of Lowry's or those who simply appreciate a beautiful nod to history are sure to be touched by this book.
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