52 pages • 1 hour read
A Boy at War
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
112
Novel • Fiction
Honolulu, Hawaii • 1940s
2001
YA
10-14 years
600L
Super Short Summary
In Harry Mazer's A Boy at War, Adam Pelko, a 14-year-old son of a naval officer, experiences the attack on Pearl Harbor while fishing with his friends on the morning of December 7, 1941. As he navigates the chaos, Adam witnesses the horrors of war, struggles to find safety, and searches for his father, Lieutenant Emory Pelko, stationed on the USS Arizona. The story depicts the violence of the attack and the racial prejudices faced by Japanese Americans.
Suspenseful
Emotional
Adventurous
Challenging
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
2,313 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Harry Mazer's A Boy at War is praised for its engaging portrayal of a young boy's experiences during the Pearl Harbor attack. The writing is noted for being accessible to young readers, capturing historical events vividly. Some critics felt character development was limited and the plot predictable. Overall, it serves as a compelling introductory historical fiction for middle-grade audiences.
Who Should Read A Boy at War?
A reader who enjoys young adult historical fiction, especially stories set during wartime, would appreciate A Boy at War by Harry Mazer. Fans of books like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne or Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, which also cover impactful historical events through a young person's perspective, would find this novel compelling.
2,313 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
112
Novel • Fiction
Honolulu, Hawaii • 1940s
2001
YA
10-14 years
600L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.