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“We never saw the ship. But she was there… She carried more than twelve hundred men on deck, or working down below. We didn‘t look up. We didn‘t know. ”

This is a great way to incorporate poetry into social studies and a way to discuss pivotal events in our history that caused a lot of sadness in our history. The emotion and rhythm that is in the poems deliver the material well and allows for different activity opportunities.

On the Horizon is a poetry book with reflections on World War II written by Lois Lowry, published in 2020. Written through poems, he provides an account on the lives that were lost in two of WWII‘s most infamous events: Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.

I think that this was a great book, highlighting the importance that heroes can make in disastrous situations.
One of the poems that resonated with me was “Aloha“. It talked about how a grandmother became a hero. This book highlights a tragedy, but it turns it into a way that we can make a difference. No matter how big or small. This would be a great book for older kids, not the younger kids.

“She carried more than
twelve hundred men
on deck, or working down below.
We didn‘t look up. We didn‘t know.”

this was a great book, highlighting the importance that heroes can make in disastrous situations. One of the poems that resonated with me was “Aloha”. It talked about how a grandmother became a hero. This book highlights a tragedy, but it turns it into a way that we can make a difference. No matter how big or small. This would be a great book for older kids, not the younger kids.

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry. Was published in 2020. Won the Goodreads choice award. A memoir that looks back on the lives of people who were affected by the bombings of Pear Harbor and Hiroshima. The poems are separated into sections. Each sections is focused on the hero‘s of that day. No matter if the heroes were big or small they were highlighted and honored.

“She carried more than
twelve hundred men
on deck, or working down below.
We didn‘t look up. We didn‘t know.”

I think that this was a great book, highlighting the importance that heroes can make in disastrous situations. One of the poems that resonated with me was “Aloha”. It talked about how a grandmother became a hero. This book highlights a tragedy, but it turns it into a way that we can make a difference. No matter how big or small. This would be a great book for older kids, not the younger kids.

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry. Was published in 2020. Won the Goodreads choice award. A memoir that looks back on the lives of people who were affected by the bombings of Pear Harbor and Hiroshima. The poems are separated into sections. Each sections is focused on the hero‘s of that day. No matter if the heroes were big or small they were highlighted and honored.

“I tiptoed, pranced, and flirted with waves. Just we three and empty beach. Nothing stirring.“

This poem reminds me of the beach a lot and I love the beach myself. The wording used to describe the scenery describes how I would like to be on the beach. Describes how the waves look from the shore and the environment overall at the beach with no one around except the characters talked about in the poem.

I picked the poem The Beach within On the Horizon. This poem was short but detailed. It has a smooth way with the words and has a lot of meaning behind the words written. It paints a simple image in your head as you read the poem to get a feel for where it is taking place.

“Six hours back. No talk, still, None. Except, My god. What have we done?“

I really liked this book. It has many different poems all about the second world war. Most of them are back and forth between perspectives. I read the poem called “Names“. It is about the code name of the bomb and the names of the pilot and crew on the plane. It uses different rhyming words ad the end of each sentence and flows with good rhythm. The poem was really good but especially the end which made me feel a gut wrenching feeling.

Library book stack ... do I have time, no, but the children‘s/YA section get me every time 🤷‍♀️

I did already read On the Horizon - beautiful poetry about connections revolving around her real life and WW2 by Louis Lowry

A nonfiction book in verse about some of the people on the Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor and some of those who were in Hiroshima on the day of the bombing. The Author laces the two events together with the threads of her connections to Hawaii and Japan. This was a great way to dip into the events without being overwhelmed. I will be recommending this to many readers!

Through a series of reflections, author Lois Lowry shows readers the humanity of a few of those who died in World War II.
When author Lois Lowry found a family film of her at 3 playing on the Hawaiian beach where her family lived, she discovers the USS Arizona in the background.

Later in her young life Lowry would live in Japan for several years. Lowry weaves together her story with others is this mesmerizing tribute to those who died.

I'm giving this a tentative pick... a few of the stories gave me chills, but Lowry really isn't a poet. I think I would have enjoyed this more in a different format

I was excited about this—Lowry is a favorite, and this promised her reflections on Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima. She weaves personal experience in with historical research, introducing people impacted by these tragic & pivotal events. There was a great message of common ground between the victims of both tragedies, and it was interesting to read of Lowry‘s childhood in Hawaii & Japan, but I found the poetry weak and the book disappointing overall.

They had buried it with him,
The red tricycle
That he called his friend.
And forty years passed.
He was three.
Now he would be a man.
When his parents felt ready,
His father, old now, dug in the garden.
Gently they took his small bones
And moved them to a family grave.
His friend, the tricycle?
It rests now in a museum.

#astoryinverse #summerfunjr #bingo
@4thhouseontheleft @StayCurious

A look at the author‘s life as it connects with the beginning and end of the U.S.‘s involvement in WWII. It‘s nonfiction poetry that brings out personal stories and links two children‘s stories. Moving.

Man, I‘ve been having trouble getting into middle grade lately. This memoir-in-verse covers the bombings of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. It‘s a lot of loss touchingly conveyed, although all pretty distant from Lowry‘s personal experience. I think kids would find its message of the tragedy of war touching, but as an adult I wanted something more pointed. The author‘s note was my favorite part.

Lowry does it again! This a lovely book of short essays, poems, and verse that offers insights into World War 2. Given that “the Greatest Generation” is all but ending, this collection felt like a moment of history preserved. Simple but stunningly beautiful. 🌟🌟🌟🌟