Nov 25

Nov 25 Invisible Heros of World War II

Written By: Jerry Borrowman

It is an honor to bring these stories to light so that the bravery and sacrifice of so many people offered in behalf of freedom are recognized (p1).

Last week, while at the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) National Conference, I walked past a booth in the exhibition hall and heard a young woman speaking passionately about a beautiful, intelligent female spy from World War II. Her name was Nancy Wake. Nancy Wake was known as the “White Mouse” of the French Resistance. This woman fearlessly put her life on the line to save thousands of Jewish lives.

Nancy’s story of selflessness and bravery is just one of the inspiring perspectives that author, Jerry Borrowman has written into his book. One of the most important aspects of student inquiry is perspective. In order to come to an accurate and deeper understanding of a period of time in history, it is necessary to have perspective and not just on the stories we are all familiar with, but from those that we don’t read about in classroom history books. This is something that Borrowman successfully brings forth in this collection of Extraordinary Wartime Stories of Ordinary People.

This book provides jumping off points for further research and classroom discussion for upper middle and high school students from the perspective of the French Resistance fighters, a journalist, women working in the war industries, the Navajo code talkers, a prisoner of war (P.O.W.), an African American WWII soldier, and more.

I am grateful to have received a pre-released copy at the AASL conference and have placed it on our school library “must-have” list. The collection format and size make it manageable for even our busiest readers. My students are sure to devour this book and so will you.

Get Reading!