Guts & Glory: World War II

by Ben Thompson

Overview

History comes alive for kids like no textbook can in this epic account of World War II that's perfect for history buffs and reluctant readers! Contains awesome illustrations!

From massive aerial battles that clouded the skies with planes to deathly secret operations deep behind enemy lines, the events of World War II are some of the most awe-inspiring of all time. Discover legendary commanders, tremendous fights, elite soldiers, and courageous individuals whose deeds truly made the difference in this jaw-dropping guide to the biggest war the world has ever seen.

History buff and popular blogger Ben Thompson's extensive research and irresistible storytelling put readers right in the middle of the action in this unforgettable installment in the Guts&Glory series!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316320603
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Series:	Hot Button Series
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	402,719
File size:	46 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ben Thompson is the author of Guts&Glory: The American Civil War and Guts&Glory: The Vikings. For more than ten years, he has been producing humorous, history-related material, including articles for publications such as Military Times and for organizations like the American Mustache Institute. Ben has researched hundreds of World War II heroes for his various projects and is also really good at World of Tanks on the Xbox. He invites you to visit his website at gutsandgloryhistory.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Guts & Glory: The American Civil War:
"The book's greatest strength is its colloquial storytelling.... Thompson's passion for his subject is infectious.... An easy, breezy series opener that should help create a few new history buffs."—Kirkus Reviews

"Action-packed.... Thompson adopts an urgent and sometimes humorous tone that conveys infectious enthusiasm.... A rousing introduction to this defining conflict that makes the history appealing and relatable."—Publishers Weekly

"Thompson displays a solid knowledge of the Civil War.... He ably covers major battles, campaigns, and figures...mixing informational passages and fact boxes with colorful action sequences."—School Library Journal

"An entertaining overview.... What brings these events to life, particularly for reluctant readers, is Thompson's spirited, conversational narration.... Should keep students engaged."
—Booklist

Praise for Guts & Glory: The American Revolution:


"Thompson's books are a meaty delight. Digestible chapters are packed with info, one-page bios hit the highlights of their subject's lives, and sidebars full of interesting tidbits are all part of the appeal of the nonfiction Guts & Glory series.... A very satisfying read that even adults will find useful."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Did you know that the Canadian actor who played Scotty on the original Star Trek TV series was wounded three times during the D-Day landings and went on to be a WWII fighter pilot? Were you aware that current American soldiers who are wounded receive Purple Heart medals minted during WWII in anticipation of the horrendous casualties an invasion of Japan would have cost? Did you know that a Polish regiment serving with the Allies kept a brown bear as a mascot and used him to move artillery shells up to the front lines during critical battles? These are but a few of the little known facts that readers will encounter in this non-traditional rendering of the bloodiest war in human history. The “Guts & Glory” series is designed to tackle important historical subjects in a way that may better appeal to middle and high school readers. This goal of making history more accessible to younger readers is attempted through a “hip” narrative and illustrations that seem more like those encountered in graphic novels than academic texts. The author also approaches World War II in an episodic manner focused primarily on interesting anecdotes about individual fighters rather than the broader strokes common in historical narrative. In some ways this methodology works in terms of using references and language that younger readers may well appreciate. However, in other ways Ben Thompson’s rhetoric sometimes misleads readers and draws their focus away from the serious subject at hand and toward the writer’s attempts to be witty. Further, there is an underlying theme that warfare leads to courage and heroism in ways that only it can. This fervor and dramatization of war and all its attendant suffering seems to be a pathway to misleading youngsters and giving them the impression that “guts & glory” is cool instead on one of the most horrendous aspects of human history. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Greg M. Romaneck