Discussion Guide: Heroes by Alan Gratz (Grades 5-7)

Looking for a NEW historical fiction middle grade book to teach or use in a book club this year? Here’s one I recommend for grades 5-7!

Heroes is set during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in the 1940s and follows two friends and army brats, Frank and Stanley, living on Pearl Harbor in the hours before, during, and after the attack.

Written by Alan Gratz, a well-known author of fan-favorite middle grade literature, this book is historical fiction with plenty of action and strong kid appeal. It tackles important and relatable themes like prejudice and friendship, both of which appeal to kids in the target grades.

This guide includes pre-reading, discussion, and reflection questions, over 50 vocabulary words, lots of extension activities, and curriculum connections to use in the classroom.

All our discussion guides are created in collaboration with Evelyn Khoo-Schwartz, a teacher-librarian with years of experience teaching and contributing to the SLJ blog.