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Product Description An Orbis Pictus Honor Book for Outstanding Nonfiction 2019 In this important and moving true story of reconciliation after war, beautifully illustrated in watercolor, a Japanese pilot bombs the continental U.S. during WWII—the only enemy ever to do so—and comes back 20 years later to apologize. The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, drew the United States into World War II in 1941. But few are aware that several months later, the Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita dropped bombs in the woods outside a small town in coastal Oregon. This is the story of those bombings, and what came after, when Fujita returned to Oregon twenty years later, this time to apologize. This remarkable true story, beautifully illustrated in watercolor, is an important and moving account of reconciliation after war. From School Library Journal Gr 2-5-In this moving tale of war and reconciliation Nobleman relates the experiences of Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita, who flew two bombing missions over Brookings, OR, in 1942 (causing little damage and no loss of life) and returned to the scene 20 years later at the town's invitation to deliver a formal apology. What began as a then-controversial stunt intended to promote local tourism turned into something more profound-a warm lifelong relationship, with exchanges of visits and gifts until his death in 1997. Iwai matches the account's measured, matter-of-fact language with quiet watercolor scenes of a distant plane and a subdued explosion, of the dignified Fujita and his postwar family (who knew nothing of his missions until the invitation arrived), and of townsfolk welcoming him with a parade and ceremonies. Rather than adding a typical (and tedious) recap at the end, the author closes with a note on what drew him to this episode and an appreciation of the spirit shown on both sides, but particularly Fujita's: "He went from fighting to uniting. Which took more courage?" VERDICT A worthy addition for younger middle graders.-John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review An Orbis Pictus Honor Book for Outstanding Nonfiction 2019 "A thought-provoking meditation on the power of forgiveness."-- The New York Times Book Review "Nobuo's story of reconciliation, not only for him, but for Japan and the U.S., is powerful and poignant....The story captures a side of World War II readers may not have seen before. A must-read story of a lesser-known World War II event and its aftermath."-- Kirkus "Full-color spreads and vignettes match a clear narrative that pays tribute to a change of heart and the importance of cultural understanding."-- Publishers Weekly "This quiet story is less about war than the toll it takes on those who fight, the possibility of reconciliation, and the value of understanding other cultures. The fluid, emotionally resonant ink-and-watercolor illustrations create period scenes effectively while capturing the tone of the text. A war story with a heartening conclusion."-- Booklist "Nobleman knows just the right tone to strike with this story, and he unfolds its events with a storyteller’s flair."-- The Horn Book Magazine About the Author Marc Tyler Nobleman writes books for all ages. His titles include Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story, Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are Real, Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman, and Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, which inspired both the Hulu feature documentary Batman & Bill and a TED Talk. Follow him on Twitter @MarcTNobleman and on Instragram @mtnobleman. Melissa Iwai has illustrated many books for young children, as well as the nonfiction picture book Thirty Minutes Over Oregon. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family. Visit her online at melissaiwai.com, on Twitter @meliwai, and on I