Heroes of World War II

Gr 4 Up-In this illustrated nonfiction book, 25 different accounts of heroism from World War II are shared. These stories primarily center individuals but do recognize some groups such as Indigenous warriors and soldiers from India. The book, which is full color throughout, begins with a spread describing the factors leading to WWII and the key elements during the war. Following that is a historical time line. Each account is featured on a spread that includes illustrations, photographs, and text about the named individual, offering further historical context. The text is in blocks of colors as captions or in narrative segments on a notebook paper background. The featured subjects encompass multiple nationalities and races resulting in a diversity of experiences with a solid balance of men and women. While each individual’s story is a shallow overview, in sum they provide an excellent introduction to the people and time period. This book will serve as a starting place to learn about WWII and an introduction to new historical figures but will not be suitable for longer research.

VERDICT A limited but solid choice for expanding school or public library collections featuring a diversity of personages in World War II.

This engaging book briefly profiles 25 individuals (or groups) who were WWII heroes, ranging from the well known (the Tuskegee Airmen, John F. Kennedy, Oskar Schindler) to the more obscure. Some fresh subjects include: Queen Elizabeth II’s mother-in-law, Princess Alice of Battenberg, who hid a Jewish family in Greece during the war; Abdol Hossein Sardari, “The Iranian Schindler, who saved 2,000 people from the Holocaust; Parisian spy Violette Szabo, who sabotaged German weapons factories in France before being captured and killed at Ravensbrück concentration camp; and Nadezha Popova, squadron commander of the Soviet Union Night Witches and one of WWII’s most highly decorated warriors. Profiles include the subject’s photo or illustrated image, birth and death dates, and sidebars with additional information. An introductory chapter mentions Japanese incarceration camps, plus often overlooked information about Italian American detainment and German American relocation. Appealing color illustrations and photographs accompany the easy-to-read and interesting profiles that may spur readers to do further research.

Jarret Keene is an assistant professor in the English department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he teaches American literature and the graphic novel. He has written many books - travel guide, rock-band biography, poetry collections - and edited short-fiction anthologies. His YA dystopian novel Hammer of the Dogs has been featured in Writer’s Digest and Publishers Weekly. His books for Bushel & Peck Books include Heroes of World War II and Decide & Survive: Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Ricardo Gualberto is an artist based in Brazil. His bold colours and simple shapes adorn numerous publications.

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