War Stories

The Six-Day Hero by Tammar Stein

From the publisher's website: "Motti knows that war is coming. Israel is only nineteen years old — the same age as Motti's brave older brother, Gideon — and the tiny country is surrounded by enemies. It's only a matter of time before Egypt, Jordan and Syria attack. Motti wishes he could join the Israeli army like Gideon and be a hero. But when his best friend's family flees the country and his brother goes off to fight, Motti realizes this war isn't a game. His family is in danger, and Israel's very survival is at stake."

The Winter War by William Durbin

When Russia invaded Finland in 1939, the Finns hardly stood a chance. The Russian army outmanned them, and were better equipped. And yet, the tough Finns didn't make it easy, and the Russians suffered heavy losses. This book tells the story of two young people who helped their country thwart the Russians' plans.  Marko is a great skier, so despite a leg weakened by polio, he is able to secretly deliver messages to the front line in the dark of night, going through the forest where no tank can pass. His friend Karl helps, desperate to avenge the deaths of his entire family. But Karl harbors a secret...

A thrilling tale of World War II, based on the real three-month war that became known as the Winter War.

Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak

From the publisher's website: "Based on a real series of events that happened during World War II, Soldier Bear tells the story of an orphaned bear cub adopted by a group of Polish soldiers in Iran. The soldiers raise the bear and eventually enlist him as a soldier to ensure that he stays with the company. He travels with them from Iran to Italy, and then on to Scotland. Voytek's mischief gets him into trouble along the way, but he also provides some unexpected encouragement for the soldiers amidst the reality of war: Voytek learns to carry bombs for the company, saves the camp from a spy, and keeps them constantly entertained with his antics."

Winner of the Batchelder Award.

Genevieve's War by Patricia Reilly Giff

From the publisher: "It’s not always thinking of being happy. Doing the right thing will make you happy.

Despite the farm-work and her irritable grandmother Memé, Genevieve thinks she may have found a new home in Alsace, France, where she spent the summer of 1939.  Without much to return to in New York, Gen is ready to see if this new life will make her happy.

But then World War II erupts. The Nazis conquer France. 

Now everyone in Alsace must speak German, act German, and think German–or else. Even worse, a cold Nazi officer has commandeered a room in Memé’s farmhouse–and he can tell that Gen and her grandmother aren’t loyal to the Reich.

But Gen won’t be cowed. And when her friend Rémy commits an act of sabotage, she hides him in the last place the Germans will look–in the attic, right above the Nazi’s head."

This is a companion to the award-winning series that begins with Lily's Crossing.

Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes

From the publisher: "Italy, 1944: Florence is occupied by Nazi forces. The Italian resistance movement has not given up hope, though — and neither have thirteen-year- old Paolo and his sister, Costanza. As their mother is pressured into harboring escaping POWs, Paolo and Costanza each find a part to play in opposing the German forces. Both are desperate to fight the occupation, but what can two siblings — with only a bicycle to help them — do against a whole army? Middle-grade fans of history and adventure will be riveted by the action and the vividly evoked tension of World War II."

The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett

From the publisher: "One morning in the woods of World War I France, two young sisters stumble upon an astonishing find — a soldier, temporarily blinded by war, who has walked away from battle longing to see his gravely ill younger brother. Soon the care of the soldier becomes the girls’ preoccupation, but it’s not just the secret they share that emboldens them to steal food and other comforting items for the man. They are fascinated by what he holds in his hand — a tiny silver donkey. As the girls and their brother devise a plan for the soldier’s safe passage home, he repays them by telling four wondrous tales about the humble donkey — from the legend of Bethlehem to a myth of India, from a story of rescue in war to a tale of family close to the soldier’s heart. "

Also by this author: The Midnight Zoo.

The Fighting Ground by Avi

The entire story takes place in one day: April 3, 1778. Jonathan, 13, has been left behind to work the fields of his family's farm.  His father, brother, and cousin are helping to fight the British, and he wants nothing more than to join them. His father told him he must NOT join the fighting, that he is too young. But when the tavern bell tolls, calling all able-bodied men of the town to bring their guns to the town green, Jonathan ignores his father's warning.  Little does he know that in 24 hours, he will see and do things that will change him, forever.

Heroes by Alan Gratz

The latest from a fave author. From the author's website: "December 7, 1941. Best friends Frank and Stanley have it good. Their dads–one a Navy pilot, the other a flight crew chief–are stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where the air smells like pineapples, the clear blue water sparkles in the sun, and dozens of US battleships, cruisers, and aircraft carriers stand silent sentinel. World War II is raging everywhere else, and it’s all anyone can talk about–but so far, the United States has remained neutral. For Frank and Stanley, that means more time to daydream about becoming comic book creators. They’ve made up their own superhero in the mold of new characters like Superman, Captain America, and Wonder Woman, and with Stanley’s drawing skills and Frank’s writing skills, they’re sure they’ll get their own comic published one day.

And then everything explodes.

Frank and Stanley are touring the battleship USS Utah when planes roar overhead, dropping bombs and firing machine guns. Surprised sailors scramble to respond, and as Frank and Stanley take cover they finally understand what’s happening: it’s a Japanese sneak attack! The United States wouldn’t go to war, so the war has come to them.

The boys fight to make their way home amid the chaos and carnage, but disaster and danger are everywhere–from torpedoes and bullets to the shocking cruelty of their former friends and neighbors. Because Stanley’s mom is Japanese American, which makes her, and him, “the enemy” in most people’s eyes. And try as he might, Frank can’t truly understand what his best friend is going through.

If Frank and Stanley make it through this infamous day, can their friendship–and their dreams–survive? Or has everything they know and love been destroyed?"

Uprising by Jennifer Nielsen

A new book from a master, inspired by a true story. From the author's website: "Twelve-year-old Lidia is outside her grandfather's house when planes fly overhead, bearing the Nazi cross on each wing. Before the bombs hit the ground, Lidia realizes her life is about to change forever. Poland has fallen under German occupation, and her father makes the brave decision to join the Polish army to fight against the Nazis. Lidia wants to follow him into war, but she's far too young, and she's needed by her mother and brother.

After her family returns to Warsaw, where life has changed irrevocably, Lidia continues to play the piano, finding comfort in Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven. But she also wants to aid the Jewish people held captive in the Warsaw Ghetto. With the help of a friend, Lidia begins to smuggle wheat and food into the ghetto. Still, she feels like she could be doing so much more. She wants to fight. After her brother joins the resistance, Lidia wants only to follow in his footsteps. Soon, she begins to work as a courier, smuggling weapons and messages for the resistance throughout the city.

When the Warsaw city uprising begins—one year after the more well-known Warsaw Ghetto uprising by Polish Jews—with gunfire and bombs echoing throughout the streets, Lidia joins the Polish nationalists’ fight, too, and she and her peers fight with everything they’ve got. Life will continue to surprise Lidia, as she and the resistance fighters do their best to defeat the German soldiers. No matter the consequences, they’re willing to defend their freedom and their homes from the Nazi invaders—even with their lives."

Sink or Swim by Steve Watkins

Inspired by a true story of the youngest boy to serve in WWII!

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Colton's brother, Danny has joined the Navy. Before he ships out, he and Colton are out fishing (been to the Outer Banks?), each in their own skiff, with a net between them. Suddenly, a German U-boat surfaces, dragging Danny and his boat under the waves. The callous German sailors laugh at Colton's distress, and he vows to get even.  He manages to save Danny, who lies in a coma, barely alive.  Colton decides to take his place in the Navy, and vows to hunt the U-boats and sink them.  How nobody at boot camp realized this kid was only 12 is beyond me. But it really happened. And German U-boats really did patrol off our American shores.  

This book is about the friendships, courage, and skills forged in war. The battle scenes will have you on the edge of your seat! 

War Stories by Gordon Korman

Another great read from Korman!  This story of lies and truth alternates between World War II and present day.

Trevor loves his grandfather Jacob, a war hero who almost single-handedly liberated a French village from the Nazis.  Trevor is obsessed with World War II, reading everything he can, and playing war video games. When the 50th anniversary of the village's liberation is planned, they invite Jacob to attend.  Trevor, his dad, and grandfather decide to make a whole trip out of it. Jacob wants to retrace his steps in the war -- from training all the way to the village he saved.  Trevor is beyond excited and gets into online chat about the event as they get closer and closer.  But then some people post messages saying Jacob is no hero, and they don't want him there.  What's going on?  Trevor's heard the stories of his grandfather's heroism all his life -- why would anyone say that? They can't be lies!  Or can they?  His grandfather won't answer Trevor's questions.

Chapters alternate between Trevor in the present-day, and Jacob's actions in the war. 

Rescue by Jennifer A. Nielsen

A World War II story of espionage, intrigue, and survival! When Meg Kenyon's father left to fight in the war, he left behind a jar of codes to decipher. It was their favorite game. But there aren't many of the precious gifts left, and now there are rumors her father is being held in a Nazi prison camp. Their town in France is occupied by Nazis, making Meg, her mother, and grandmother careful of everything they do and say.

It seems there's nothing Meg can do to help her father, until one day, she finds a British spy hiding in her grandmother's barn.  Amazingly, he is on a mission to guide an escaped German family to freedom in Spain. But he's injured, and can't complete the mission.  It's up to Meg to take them -- in exchange for help to free her father. It's a harrowing journey, with the Nazis pursuing them and dangers both obvious and hidden... 

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

Meticulously researched down to the minute, this is the story of one (fictional) boy's survival and escape from one of the Twin Towers on 9/11. Brandon's father works at Windows on the World (the restaurant atop the World Trade Center), and he loves going to work with him. He knows which elevators stop at which floors.  Brandon slips away from his dad at one point, trying to get to a store in the underground mall. But while he's in the elevator, a plane hits the tower, cutting him off from his dad, and putting his life in grave danger. Brandon will do everything he can to try to get to his dad, and everything he must to escape the tower before it falls.

Fast forward 20 years, and Reshmina is a girl whose whole life has been affected by war in Afghanistan. One day, the battle comes to her own little town, and the results are devastating.  She finds a wounded American soldier, Taz, and her devout Muslim faith says she should help him. But is the enemy? Will her family be shunned? What should she do?

With Gratz' trademark historical accuracy, as well as human perspectives and connections across time and place, you won't be able to put this one down.

Allies by Alan Gratz

Follows various points of view of young people involved in the D-Day attack, from soldiers arriving in boats, to a young girl who happened to be in a fishing shack on the beach that morning (talk about the wrong place at the wrong time!). 

More war stories by this author: Code of Honor, Refugee, Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, and coming soon, Ground Zero, about 9/11.

Grenade by Alan Gratz

The story of two boys on the island of Okinawa, an American soldier and an Okinawan boy.  Most of the Japanese soldiers have been sent elsewhere, so Hideki and his classmates are pulled out of middle school and each handed two grenades.  With little training, and told tales of the horrible, animals, the Americans, they are told to kill Americans, then themselves.  Ray is a young man who left home to get away from his father. He, too, is told lies about the Japanese.  Will this war turn him into a monster, like his father?  They both wander the island, trying to avoid killing and being killed.  Eventually, they will meet.  But not before you learn a lot about Okinawan culture (distinct from Japanese), and the horrors of war.

Mulan: Before the Sword by Grace Lin

From the author's website: "Family is important to Hua Mulan — even if her parents don’t understand why she would rather ride her horse, Black Wind, than weave, or how her notorious clumsiness can be so differ­ent from the graceful demeanor of her younger sister, Xiu. But despite their differences, Mulan has a deep love for her family, especially Xiu.

So when her sister is bitten by a poi­sonous spider, Mulan does everything she can to help, including seeking out a renowned healer. However, it quickly becomes apparent that there is more to both the mysterious spider bite and the healer than meets the eye.

On a quest with the Jade Rabbit of legend, Mulan visits extraordinary places, meets Immortals, and faces incredible obstacles while searching for an antidote for her sister. And the danger only rises when Mulan learns of a prophecy foretelling that a mem­ber of the Hua family will one day save the Emperor . . . and of the powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to prevent it from coming to pass."

I Pledge Allegiance by Chris Lynch

The first of a series of quick reads. 

From the publisher: "Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck are best friends for life. So when one of the teens is drafted into the Vietnam War, the others sign up, too. Although they each serve in a different branch, they are fighting the war together - and they pledge to do all they can to come home together. Haunted by dreams of violence and death, Morris makes it his personal mission to watch over his friends - and the best place to do that is in the US Navy. Stationed off the coast of Vietnam on the USS Boston, Morris and his fellow sailors provide crucial support to the troops on the ground.

But the Boston itself isn't safe from attack. And as Morris finds his courage and resolve tested like never before, he keeps coming back to a single thought.

He made a pledge. He must keep them safe."

Lynch also has a series on World War II.

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

From the publisher's website: "Young Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan. Because he has a foreign education, her father is arrested by the Taliban, the religious group that controls the country. Since women cannot appear in public unless covered head to toe, or go to school, or work outside the home, the family becomes increasingly desperate until Parvana conceives a plan. She cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to earn money for her family. Parvana's determination to survive is the force that drives this novel set against the backdrop of an intolerable situation brought about by war and religious fanaticism. "

Sophia's War by Avi

From the publisher's website: "In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and resolves to do all she can to help the American cause.

Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of General Clinton, the supreme commander of the British forces in America. Through her work she becomes aware that someone in the American army might be switching sides, and she uncovers a plot that will grievously damage the Americans if it succeeds. But the identity of the would-be traitor is so shocking that no one believes her, and so Sophia decides to stop the treacherous plot herself, at great personal peril: She’s young, she’s a girl, and she’s running out of time. And if she fails, she’s facing an execution of her own."

Also by this author: The Fighting Ground, Iron Thunder, etc.

The Enemy Above by Michael Spradlin

From the publisher's website: "Nazi gun fire can only mean one thing: The Germans are closing in. And twelve-year-old Anton knows his family can't outrun them. A web of underground caves seems like the perfect place to hide. But danger lurks above the surface.

Ruthless Major Karl Von Duesen of the Gestapo has made it his mission to round up every Jew in the Ukrainian countryside. Anton knows if his community is discovered, they will be sent off to work camps, or worse.

When a surprise invasion catches them off guard, Anton makes a radical decision. He won't run any longer. And he won't hide. He will stop being the hunted, and start doing some hunting of his own."

Other war stories by this author: The Prisoner of War, the Medal of Honor series, Into the Killing Seas, the Youngest Templar series, and the Pararescue series.

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

From the publisher's website: "Based on the true story of Cambodian advocate Arn Chorn-Pond, and authentically told from his point of view as a young boy, this is an achingly raw and powerful historical novel about a child of war who becomes a man of peace. It includes an author's note and acknowledgments from Arn Chorn-Pond himself.

When soldiers arrive in his hometown, Arn is just a normal little boy. But after the soldiers march the entire population into the countryside, his life is changed forever.

Arn is separated from his family and assigned to a labor camp: working in the rice paddies under a blazing sun, he sees the other children dying before his eyes. One day, the soldiers ask if any of the kids can play an instrument. Arn's never played a note in his life, but he volunteers.

This decision will save his life, but it will pull him into the very center of what we know today as the Killing Fields. And just as the country is about to be liberated, Arn is handed a gun and forced to become a soldier."

An Eagle in the Snow by Michael Morpurgo

From the publisher: "England, 1940. Barney’s home has been destroyed by bombing, and he and his mother are traveling to the countryside when German planes attack. Their train is forced to take shelter in a tunnel and there, in the darkness, a stranger— a fellow passenger—begins to tell them a story about two young soldiers who came face to face in the previous war. One British, one German. Both lived, but the British soldier was haunted by the encounter once he realized who the German was: the young Adolf Hitler.

The British soldier made a moral decision. Was it the right one?"

Other war stories and historical fiction, short stories, and nonfiction by this author: War Horse, Kensuke's Kingdom, Friend or Foe, Flamingo Boy, Only Remembered, In the Mouth of the Wolf, Poppy Field, The Mozart Question, The Great War, and War: Stories of Conflict.

Scar by J. Albert Mann

A son of a Revolutionary War Patriot and a Mohawk boy meet in the aftermath of a battle.  Wow.  Just.  Wow. 

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein

If you like spies and World War II thrillers, this is the book for you! Fifteen-year-old Louisa leaves London to escape the Blitz, wanting to do SOMETHING to help fight the war, in honor of her parents, who were killed.  She gets a job as a caretaker for an elderly German woman in the tiny village of Windyedge, Scotland, thinking it will be an easy but kind of boring gig.  But the elderly woman is not what she seems, and neither is anything else in Windyedge!  There is an airfield, an outpost of the British Royal Air Force, where a small squadron is posted, including Jamie Beaufort-Stuart, the dashing young pilot.  Ellen McEwen is a volunteer driver for the Air Force, and a tough, smart cookie.  

But the war comes to Windyedge when a German pilot makes a surprise landing at the airfield, and leaves behind a key that leads Louisa to a mysterious Enigma machine.  An incredible discovery that could help the Allies win the war!

With crossover characters from Wein's award-winning Code Name Verity, and breathless suspense, this is a great read! 

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

This is a story of World War II from the point-of-view of two teenage soldiers, one an American, one a German. They are both underage, both idolize soldiers, both patriots. 

Utah farm boy Spence Morgan is 17, small for his age and not very good at school.  Everyone in town is impressed with and proud of soldiers.  More than anything, Spence wants to impress LuAnn Crowther, the prettiest girl in school, and have everybody think he’s something special. 

Dieter Hedrick is only 15, and a star of the Hitler Youth.  He has swallowed Hitler’s propaganda hook, line and sinker, and thinks the greatest honor would be to die for Germany.  

Both boys are itching to do brave and heroic things. But war is not so glamorous as they have been led to believe. They are hungry, cold, and scared much of the time. 

When Spence and Dieter finally meet, in the Ardennes forest of Belgium, they will both get a chance to distinguish themselves.  And they will change each other’s lives forever.

The Wall by William Sutcliffe

An allegory for the Israeli-Palestine conflict.  From the publisher: "Joshua is thirteen. He lives with his mother and stepfather in Amarias, an isolated town on top of a hill, where all the houses are brand new. At the edge of Amarias is a high wall, guarded by soldiers, which can only be crossed through a heavily fortified checkpoint. Joshua has been taught that beyond the concrete is a brutal and unforgiving enemy, and that The Wall is the only thing keeping him and his people safe.

One day, looking for a lost football, Joshua stumbles across a tunnel which leads towards this forbidden territory. He knows he won't get another opportunity to see what is beyond The Wall until he's old enough for military service, and the chance to crawl through and solve the mystery is too tempting to resist. He's heard plenty of stories about the other side, but nothing has prepared him for what he finds...

The Wall is a novel about a boy who undertakes a short journey to another world, to a place where everything he knows about loyalty, identity and justice is turned upside down. It is also a political fable that powerfully evokes the realities of life on the West Bank, telling the story of a Settler child who finds there are two sides to every story."

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

Sophie grew up in Congo, helping her mother at the wildlife sanctuary where they save baby bonobos who were captured (and their parents murdered) in the illegal animal trade. Her parents split up, but she spends all her summers back at the sanctuary she loves.  The problem is, that this summer, bonobos aren't the only ones getting murdered and captured. There is an armed revolution -- the government is overthrown, and murderous, machete-wielding rebels are burning down villages and killing everyone. When they reach the sanctuary, Sophie and Otto, the infant bonobo who has bonded to her, must escape, hiding out in the jungle with wild bonobos. Can they survive?  This book was a National Book Award Finalist, and is part of the Ape Quartet. Visit the author's website for more information about these amazing animals.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Did you know that women served as pilots and spies in World War II?  Alternates in point-of-view between Maddie, an English pilot, and Julie, a Scottish spy.  Their plane crashed behind enemy lines in occupied France, and Julie was captured.  Julie is being tortured for information, but will tell only the story of her friendship with Maddie (sprinkling in hints about her location and the enemy in code). Maddie is desperate to help her friend, and use the information to aid the French Resistance against the Nazis. This book won the Edgar Award, and the Printz Honor, and is an extraordinary tale of friendship and honor.  Few books tell the stories of women in war, and this is one of the best.

HS

Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

From the publisher: "Robin "Birdy" Perry, a new army recruit from the Harlem section of New York City, isn't quite sure why he joined the army, but he's sure where he's headed: Iraq. Birdy and the others in the Civilian Affairs Battalion are supposed to help secure and stabilize the country and successfully interact with the Iraqi people. Officially, the code name for their maneuvers is Operation Iraqi Freedom. But the young men and women in the CA unit have a simpler name for it.

In this novel, Walter Dean Myers looks at contemporary war with the same power and searing insight he brought to the Vietnam War in his classic, Fallen Angels. He creates memorable characters, like the book's narrator, Birdy, a young recruit from Harlem who's questioning why he even enlisted; Marla, a tough-talking, wisecracking gunner; Jonesy, a guitar-playing bluesman who just wants to make it back to Georgia and open a club; and a whole unit of other young men and women, and drops them in Iraq, where they are supposed to help secure and stabilize Iraq and successfully interact with the Iraqi people. The young civil affairs soldiers soon find their definition of "winning" ever more elusive and their good intentions being replaced by terms like "survival" and "despair." Caught in the crossfire, Myers' richly rendered characters are just beginning to understand the meaning of war in this powerful, realistic novel of our times."

On Blood Road by Steve Watkins

From the publisher's website: "The last place on earth Taylor Sorenson wants to be is in Saigon in the middle of the Vietnam War. His mom dragged him here to visit his dad, who's stationed at the US embassy, and Taylor is bored out of his skull. One night, during an embassy dinner, he decides to sneak out to see the Tet celebrations in the city. But before he makes it very far, fighting erupts across all of South Vietnam — and Taylor is captured by the North Vietnamese Army.

Realizing he could be an important bargaining chip, the NVA decides to move Taylor to the north. The only way there is the Ho Chi Ming Trail, a series of dangerous paths that snake from South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia before finally reaching North Vietnam. But thousands have died on the trail, and Taylor doesn't know what's waiting for him at the end."

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins

Alternates between two teen narrators. Chiko is a smart Burmese boy forced to join the army, though he objects to what they do. Tu Reh is the son of a Karenni leader, who fights for independence and hates the Burmese because they burned down his family farm and home. Each struggles to align the consequences of war with their own values and honor. when Chiko is injured, their paths cross, and stories intertwine.

If you want to know more about this war, check out the author's website.

Soldier X by Don Wulffson

From the publisher's website: "Sixteen-year-old Erik Brandt barely knows what Germany is fighting for when he is drafted into Hitler’s army in 1944. Sent to the killing fields of the Eastern Front, he is surrounded by unimaginable sights, more horrific than he ever thought possible. It’s kill or be killed, and it seems clear that Erik’s days are numbered. Until, covered in blood and seriously injured, he conceives of another way to survive. Filled with gritty and visceral detail, Soldier X will change the way every reader thinks about the reality of war."

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

From the publisher's website: "Fifteen-year-old New Yorker Daisy is sent to live in the English countryside with cousins she’s never even met. When England is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy, the cousins find themselves on their own. Power fails, system fail. As they grow more isolated, the farm becomes a kind of Eden, with no rules. Until the war arrives in their midst.

Daisy’s is a war story, a survival story, a love story—all told in the voice of a subversive and witty teenager. "  HS

The Price of Duty by Todd Strasser

From the publisher's website: "Jake Liddell is a hero.

At least, that’s what everyone says he is. The military is even awarding him a Silver Star for his heroic achievements—a huge honor for the son of a military family. Now he’s home, recovering from an injury, but it seems the war has followed him back. He needs pills in order to sleep, a young woman is trying to persuade him into speaking out against military recruitment tactics, and his grandfather is already urging him back onto the battlefield. He doesn’t know what to do; nothing makes sense anymore.

There is only one thing that Jake knows for certain: he is no hero. "   HS

Warriors in the Crossfire by Nancy Bo Flood

From the publisher's website: "This gripping historical novel is set on the tiny island of Saipan, which the Japanese had long governed, near the end of World War II. Thirteen-year-old Joseph, the son of a local village chief, and his half-Japanese best friend, Kento, have their loyalties tested when U.S. troops arrive and one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific war is fought. Caught in the crossfire between the Americans and Japanese, the boys learn what it really means to be a warrior. The novel is based on historical facts, and an afterword describes the real-life account of what happened on Saipan—the unimaginable horrors of what is now called Suicide Cliff. "