To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor
By: Jeff Shaara
My Rating: FIVE out of FIVE Stars
Best For: 16 and up

To Wake the Giant: A Day That Lived in Infamy, Brought to Life

Just like I loved his dad Michael’s take on The Battle of Gettysburg, I absolutely loved Jeff Shaara’s take on the year leading up to and just after December 7, 1941—the day that has indeed lived in infamy. The Shaara men are better at writing history than anyone else I’ve read. They take actual events, the people, what they said, their histories, and the context of their actions and create a narrative that reads like a fictional story. It’s so cool, and the events are so dramatic it’s hard to believe they actually happened.

What’s it about?

In 1941, as the world teeters on the brink of war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Secretary of State Cordell Hull watch uneasily as Japan expands its ambitions across Asia. But despite mounting concerns, no one believes that America’s main naval base at Pearl Harbor is under any real threat. This story puts the reader squarely in the middle of this high-stakes drama, told through the eyes of diverse characters. We see events unfold through the perspectives of Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (the Japanese architect of the attack), and nineteen-year-old sailor Tommy Biggs, who has happily accepted his assignment to the battleship USS Arizona. This novel opens up the mysteries of how Japan could launch one of history’s most devastating surprise attacks, exploring the personal, the painful, the tragic, and the thrilling along the way.

What did I think?

This might be my favorite Shaara book, and his father’s “The Killer Angels” is right up there too. The sense of immediacy is incredible, putting you right there in the middle of history as it happens. It was fascinating to read about the lengths Japan went to keep the attack secret and the depth of the failures that prevented the United States from learning of it. There’s a palpable sense of tension as you realize how the arrogance of American military leadership and the prevalent racism of the time—like the ridiculous myth that Japanese pilots couldn’t fly because of a defect in their inner ears—created a false sense of security.

The historical facts are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the tragedy all the more visceral. We are reminded of the immense cost: 2,403 American lives were lost, 1,177 of them on the USS Arizona alone. The attack sunk or damaged 21 ships, and 188 aircraft were destroyed. The haunting image of the USS Arizona still visible at the bottom of the harbor serves as a constant, somber reminder of that terrible day. For me, this hits especially close to home, as my grandfather was a WWII veteran who would never talk about his experience. These books give me an appreciation for what he and so many others went through.

Sensitive Content: War violence, some graphic.

Should you read it?

This is a must-read for anyone who loves military history or wants to understand how a date that lives in infamy could have happened. This dad says To Wake the Giant is best for 16 and up.

Happy Reading!