Invisible Heroes of World War II

April 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-World War II famously gave rise to human atrocities such as the Holocaust and the atomic bomb, but it also became a proving ground for heroes who refused to back down from the fight against evil. This title tells the stories of many of these brave soldiers and noncombatants spanning both the European and Pacific theaters. Profiles range from a survivor of the deadly Battan Death March to a female French resistance commander to the combat engineers who provided the infrastructure for troops to advance into battle. The first half shares stories of individuals from the war, two of which are previously untold and were discovered by a personal connection to the author. The second half focuses on often overlooked groups such as the Navajo code talkers and the Purple Heart Battalion. Each of these group descriptions includes several anecdotes from individuals involved. The short biographical sketches are well cited and include quotes from both the cast of heroes and speeches honoring them in later years when applicable. Difficult topics such as torture and personal loss are approached with grace by neither glossing over nor overly examining the experiences. Each individual or group story includes background information, giving readers a chance to see what elements led up to their heroic acts and service during the conflict. VERDICT A solid primer for those just learning about World War II, this collection also offers new stories that will interest even the most avid history buff.-Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Schools

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2019
Borrowman, author of the award-winning Compassionate Soldier (2017), presents 10 chapter-length biographies that tell a variety of WWII stories, including those of photojournalist Dickey Chappelle, Bataan Death March survivor Robert Patton, and U.S. Army Private Joseph Medicine Crow. Borrowman utilizes certain previously published material, referencing autobiographies, specialized encyclopedias, and battle histories. An exception is the in-depth and compelling interview conducted with Patton prior to his death in 2007. By its general nature and brevity, the book lends itself to leisure reading, although readers should be aware that the content is occasionally brutal in its descriptions. The book's strongest element is how it provides a quick and insightful overview of just how diverse the stories of WWII participants were, including, as it does, women's stories as well as those of African Americans and Japanese Americans. There is also coverage of a group of airmen who went missing over British Columbia while transporting a combat aircraft, offering further proof of just how long the reach of the war can be. Unusual and compelling.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)