Nancy Wake: Fearless Spy of World War II

by Jessica Gunderson, Alice Larsson (Illustrator)

Overview

In the early 1940s, during World War II, Germany’s Nazi regime expanded into neighboring European countries. In France, groups of anti-Nazi citizens, known as the French Resistance, fought to stop Germany’s reign of terror. A brave woman named Nancy Wake became one of the movement’s greatest assets as a spy. In her role, Wake often transported Jews to safe locations and rode her bicycle through German checkpoints to deliver messages and supplies. For her ability to avoid capture, the enemy nicknamed her the “White Mouse.” In this full-color graphic novel, discover more about this fearless woman who faced the enemies of World War II.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666334128
Publisher:	Capstone Press
Publication date:	08/01/2022
Series:	Women Warriors of World War II
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	GN620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Jessica Gunderson grew up in the small town of Washburn, North Dakota. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has written more than fifty books for young readers. Her book Ropes of Revolution won the 2008 Moonbeam Award for best graphic novel. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and cat.

Alice Larsson is a London based illustrator originally from Sweden. A natural creative, she is thrilled to be able to connect characters and stories through her work. Outside of drawing, Alice loves spending time with family and friends, as well as reading as many books as possible, which sparks her creativity.

Alice has worked with a variety of publishers and writers on a wide range of international projects but focuses mainly on educational books and children’s storybooks.

Table of Contents

If I have the chance 4

The White Mouse 6

Escape and Return 12

Code Name "Hélène" 18

The Bicycle Ride 22

Glossary 30

Read More 31

Internet Sites 31

About the Author 32

About the Illustrator 32

Interviews

World War II remains a bestselling topic across formats and age ranges;

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2022

Gr 3–4—Female heroes of World War II have their stories related in these four graphic biographies. Sophie Scholl was a young German woman who, disillusioned with Hitler, endangered her life by campaigning against the Nazis. Army and Navy nurses bravely take care of wounded soldiers in the Philippines while enduring terrible hardships and internment by the Japanese. An Australian journalist in France takes huge risks as a spy for the French Resistance. The woman who becomes the first Black lieutenant colonel in the WACS heads a team of other Black female soldiers in sorting mail for troops in Europe while enduring racial discrimination by their white colleagues. The authors and illustrators of these graphic narratives do an excellent job of conveying suspense; readers unfamiliar with the stories about Scholl and Wake will find themselves especially eager to turn the pages. The tales of the nurses and the WACS sensitively portray the difficult circumstances the women found themselves in and how they were able to rise above their respective trials and tribulations. Tones of sepia, grays, browns, and dark green found in the frames' backgrounds complement the stories of these remarkable women. VERDICT The excellent narratives combined with engaging drawings do a fine job of introducing readers to important players in a crucial point of history. Purchase should definitely be considered by school and public libraries.

School Library Journal