Invisible Heroes of World War II: Extraordinary Wartime Stories of Ordinary People

by Jerry Borrowman Narrated by Grover Gardner

Overview

Invisible Heroes of World War II documents ten fascinating true stories of a diverse group of soldiers and noncombatants from all over the world, including African Americans, women, and Native Americans, who fought with the Allies during World War II. These heroes made significant contributions in the war effort, and sometimes gave their lives for freedom and liberty, often without much recognition or fanfare. Some were frontline soldiers who were captured by the enemy and endured horrific conditions as POWs, others were ordinary citizens who fought in the French Resistance and provided vital operations to undermine Nazi occupation, while others were engineers, workers in industry, or war correspondents and photographers. All served with valor and distinction as part of the massive Allied forces who fought to free the world from tyranny and oppression.

Editorial Reviews

Booklist

"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."

Booklist

"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."

School Library Journal

04/01/2019

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

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169553017
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged

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