Walsh, Jenni L. Operation Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond. Zonderkidz, 2024. 978-0-310-15926-1. 240 p. $18.99. Grades 4-6.

In 1940, Jody and her military family are on the move to a small military base in Hawaii, known as Pearl Harbor. To help with all of her transitions, Jody creates Top Ten lists that she accomplishes with her retired and loyal dog, Happy. As the war starts to creep closer to her new home, Jody also begins to recognize that happy isn’t as young as he used to be, so she starts a new list, “Operation: Happy,” of things that they can enjoy together. But when the island is attacked and Jody’s life is rearranged, the Operation: Happy list becomes a way to help her cope and protect her family. Her father must stay behind on the island as Jody, her sister, mother, and Happy are evacuated to California. Things stay tough, as Jody navigates a new school and her mother’s crippling depression. Jody’s resilience shines as she continues to add and check things off of her Happy list.

THOUGHTS: A good introduction to World War II for upper elementary, although the descriptions of war get pretty intense and scary. Based on a real person’s memoir, it covers a wide range of topics without going too in-depth with many of them. The Zuber’s are a proud military family with sibling rivalry and sibling bonding. Some elements felt strange; the foreshadowing from the mother feels a bit heavy handed, a very brief surface view of xenophobia and Japanese internment camps, her older sister’s assault by a stranger and rescue by Happy, and the only one week tin collection campaign. The writing felt more modern but would be easier for younger audiences to approach it. Having the occasional chapter from Happy’s point of view helps to lighten up some of the tougher topics.

Historical Fiction