Code Name Pauline: A Review

Title: Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent

Author: Pearl Witherington Cornioley, edited by Kathryn J. Atwood

Genre: Memoir, YA

"I don't like blowing my own trumpet, I find it really difficult, but at the same time I want people to know what really happened." 

-Pearl Witherington Cornioley at the beginning of Code Name Pauline

Growing up, Cecile Pearl Witherington didn't have an easy childhood. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother grew up in a well-to-do family and wasn't prepared for the struggles of being a "single parent." At a young age, Pearl took on a lot of responsibility that ultimately prepared her for her important role in World War II.
Because of her British citizenship and her upbringing in Paris, Pearl spoke English and French. she became an SOE agent. When the Germans invaded France, Pearl and her family fled back to England.

The SOE (Special Operations Executive) is one of those little-known yet fascinating events of World War II. It was so top-secret most had never heard of it until after the war. A British organization designed to help resistance movements in Nazi-occupied Europe, the SOE participated in sabotage, espionage, reconnaissance, and all types of guerrilla warfare. After grueling SOE training and three practice jumps, 29-year-old Pearl parachuted into Nazi-occupied France on a cold September night in 1943.

Pearl and her husband Henri

Posing as a cosmetics saleswoman, Pearl began her resistance work by participating in little acts of defiance against the Nazis. Things take a turn for the worst when her boss Maurice Southgate was captured by the Gestapo (Nazi police) and taken to Buchenwald (a concentration camp) - leaving Pearl in charge of 3,500 resistance workers. For the rest of the war, she bravely led the 3,500 resistance workers under the name Pauline.

After the war, Pearl settled down with her pre-war fiance, Henri Cornioley. She never spoke about her work in the resistance because she was afraid her story would be twisted with Hollywood-drama or exaggerations. Fifty years later, Pearl began to realize the impact her story could have on young people. She told a French journalist about their wartime experiences, and her story was published in France as Pauline. This book, Code Name Pauline, is the English translation, edited by Kathryn J. Atwood.

This book, since it is aimed at a young adult audience, is pretty easy to follow along. The story is straightforward and told solely as it had happened - very little drama is present. Pearl gracefully took all of life's challenges. The beginning of each chapter fills us in with some historical background, which really helps the reader, especially if he has never heard of the SOE.

I have always loved strong female protagonists, especially in true stories. I loved Kathryn Atwood's book Women Heroes of World War II and I was so excited to hear she was in the process of editing another book (this book). Our culture does not put enough emphasis on true heroes, like Henri and Pearl. We need to show young girls courageous females like Pearl and do exactly what she would have wanted - share her story to encourage young people facing trials in their life.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review.

11 WWI and Great Depression Novels

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Most people know War Horse from the Steven Spielberg movie. (I loved the movie!) Albert and his colt Joey have been inseparable ever since Albert's father bought Joey at an auction. When Albert goes to fight (in WWI), Joey is right alongside him. I didn't find the book is graphic (nor as interesting) as the PG-13 movie, but still great book and movie.

My Brother's Shadow by Monika Schröder
Told from the perspective of a German youth towards the end of WWI, My Brother's Shadow tells the fictional story of 16 year old Moritz. With a disabled brother who just got back from war, a Jewish (girl)friend, and a fanatic-socialist mother, Moritz's life is chaos.

Sergeant York: An American Hero by David Lee
This is a biography of a great Christian WWI hero, Alvin York. York was the most decorated soldier during WWI. He received the Medal of Honor for a certain heroic feat, including capturing 132 Germans and 32 machine guns.

The Night Flyers by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
Pam is a twelve year-old girl growing up in North Carolina with her mother during World War I. Before her father went off to war, he gave her a loft of homing pigeons. When a man with a foreign accent comes to town, everyone in the town fears the worst. Is he a foreign spy? Fast paced and filled with adventure, I enjoyed this book simply because of the writing, it was interesting, and it had a little known plot. Homing pigeons were one of the most valuable animals during both WWI and WWII.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Told in first-person free verse poetry, this Newbery winner is told from the view of a young girl in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. When her mother dies, Billie Jo is stuck with her ill-tempered father just trying to make ends meet. I'm not a big poetry person and this didn't take me long to read, but it truly wasn't bad.

The Kit Series by American Girl
Welcome to Kit's World
Not only is there the six standard Kit Kittredge books, Kit has a few mysteries, and a "Welcome to Kit's World", which includes more about the Great Depression.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
This Newbery winner tells the adventures of a ten year-old orphan with nothing more than an old suitcase and some flyers.
have not read yet!

Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky (A Dear America book)
During the Depression in Indiana, 12 year-old Minnie Swift's family has been hit as hard as everyone else. Told over the span of one month (December). A young girl comes and stays with the Swift's, helping them with their struggles, highs, and lows as they help her with hers.
have not read yet!

Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Grandma Dowdel's back! She's just as feisty and terrifying and goodhearted as she was in Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago, and every bit as funny. In the first book, a Newbery Honor winner, Grandma's rampages were seen through the eyes of her grandson Joey, who, with his sister, Mary Alice, was sent down from Chicago for a week every summer to visit. But now it's 1937 and Joey has gone off to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps, while 15-year-old Mary Alice has to go stay with Grandma alone--for a whole year, maybe longer. From the very first moment when she arrives at the
depot clutching her Philco portable radio and her cat, Bootsie, Mary Alice knows it won't be easy. And it's not. She has to sleep alone in the attic, attend a hick town school where in spite of her worn-out coat she's "the rich girl from Chicago," and be an accomplice in Grandma's outrageous schemes to run the town her own way--and do good while nobody's looking. But being Grandma's sidekick is always interesting, and by the end of the year, Mary Alice has grown to see the formidable love in the heart of her formidable Grandma. --Patty Campbell from Amazon --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
have not read yet!

When Christmas Comes Again: The WWI Diary of Simone Spencer by Beth Seidel Levine (A Dear America Book)
It's April 1917, and Simone's brother just got shipped off to war. Like most books in the Dear America series, this one explores a little known aspect of WWI - the American French-speaking Hello Girls.
have not read yet!

For a list of more juvenile WWI, see this list with age ranges and short summaries.

What are some of your favorite juvenile novels about WWI and the Great Depression?

11 Little-Known Event Books

This is part of a series called 11 Lists of 11 Books. I have read all books unless otherwise noted.

Coal mines and the Lattimer Massacre - September 1897

A Coal Miner's Bride by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Until reading this book, I had never heard of the Lattimer Massacre. On September 10, 1897, about 300-400 coal miners (mostly immigrants) protested against unfair wages and treatment. 19 miners died, and several other were injured.

This book, A Coal Miner's Bride, tells the story of the fictional Anetka, a young Polish teenager who moves to America after her father arranges a marriage to a widower with three girls. A Coal Miner's Bride is a great story about immigration, coal mines, strikes, and true love.

The Ireland Potato Famine - 1845-1852

Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff

Approximately one million Irishmen died of starvation after a potato disease killed Ireland's large potato crop. Another million immigrated to America, and this is one of those stories.

The fictional Nory Ryan and her family have lived in Ireland for decades, but life is not easy. The story of this young girl's resilience is amazing!

To top it off, Patricia Reilly Giff is a very talent writer. Nory Ryan's Song's sequel is Maggie's Door. Both novels are great and an excellent look at historical fiction.

Anti-Semitism in America - 1862

The War Within by Carol Matas

In 1862, Ulysses Grant issued General Order #11, expelling all Jews from Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The Jews in these areas had 24 hours to pack their stuff and move.
Growing up proper Southern in Mississippi, 13 year-old Hannah's life is changed from these events and more. As she moves up north with her family, her views began to slowly change as she matures over the course of the American Civil War.

The Newsie Strike - July-August 1899
The Journal of Finn Reardon: a Newsie by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

OK, you may have heard of the Newsie strike thanks to the Christian Bale movie. Ironically, a few of the characters in the Disney movie were real; except the main characters. Kid Blink (with the eyepatch) and Racetrack (who sang "King of New York" were two real people.
In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, newspaper costs increased. The newsies had to buy the papers for 60 cents instead of 50 cents. They would sell the newspapers for one cent each, originally making 50 cents. After the war, all the newspapers lowered their prices; except the New York World and the New York Morning Journal.
The REAL Newsie strike was from July 20th to August 2 and the leader was Kid Blink. Although the movie shows the strike as a huge success, it actually was a partial failure. The only thing that changed was both papers agreed to buy back any unsold papers the newsies had.
The Journal of Finn Reardon is part of the series My Name is America. My Name is America is the "boy" version of the "girl" series Dear America. Although Finn Reardon is fictional, many characters in the book are real.

Jewish persecution in Russia - late 1800s and early 1900s

Sworn Enemies by Carol Matas

I had heard of Jewish persecution in Russia, but I never really realized how bad it was until I read Sworn Enemies. The Russian government was kidnapping young Jewish boys (as young as age 8) for the Russian army. Ultimately, the goal was forced conversion to Christianity.

This book is told from the views of two Jewish teens who have both been spared from the czars army for different reasons; Zev who is spared from because of his job as a chapter (he is the one who actually does the kidnapping) and the scholarly Aaron, whose father is paying the government not to arrest him. 

In a twist of fate, both Zev and Aaron are both arrested and soon meet up with each other. Will they set their differences aside to work together? {A twist ending!}

SPOILER: I found this ending really incomplete, as Aaron and Zev still hate each other as the final pages close.

Armenian Genocide - 1915

Not Even My Name by Thea Halo

During and after WWI, 1.5 million Armenians and Greeks were senselessly murdered. In this memoir told by her daughter Thea, Sano describes life as a little girl growing up in Turkey and facing horrible persecution. At age fifteen, Sano is brought to America and continues her everyday struggles, including marrying a 40-something year-old man. I really enjoyed this memoir, but it was very heart-breaking to read at times. It was well-written and kept me intrigued.

Hello Girls - WWI

When Christmas Comes Again: The WWI Diary of Simone Spencer by Beth Seidel Levine (A Dear America Book)

In 1917, over 7,000 French-speaking American girls signed up for the job as a "hello girl" - a switchboard operator. Only 450 were chosen. General John Pershing "created" this job to improve communication on the Western Front.

Although this is a fictional story, like most books in the Dear America series, it stays close to real-life.

168 Allied airmen in Buchenwald - October 1944

Behind Enemy Lines by Carol Matas

This is probably the least-known event I'm featuring. The stories that came out of WWII never cease to amaze me. Some stories are bizarre beyond bizarre (like the cat who survived the sinking of three different ships) and some just show everyday men with an insane amount of courage (The Great Escape, Escape From Sobibor). This is one of those stories.

For two months, 168 Allied (82 Americans, 48 Brits, 26 Canadians, 9 Australians, 2 New Zealanders and a Jamaican) airmen were held prisoner in Buchenwald concentration camp after crashing in France.

This story, although fictional, is about a young Canadian pilot who goes through this.

If you are interested, there is an amazing documentary (I was one of the lucky few who watched it on the Military Channel in November!) called The Lost Airmen of Buchenwald.


The biggest medical relief in history - April 1945
Remembering Belsen by Ben Flanagan

The liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp is known as the biggest medical relief in history. Being said, all material on this subject is VERY graphic, but the liberation of Belsen is an AMAZING story. Out of all of the resources, I am featuring Remembering Belsen because it is written primarily through stories of survivors and liberators; the entire book is filled with testimonies, not words from the author.

Recommended for ages 13+. 
Other great books about the subject include: (I have read all)
Letters From Belsen 1945 by Muriel Knox Doherty
The Survivors: The Story of the Belsen Remnant by Leslie Hardman
After Daybreak by Ben Shepherd
Straight On by Robert Collis 

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment - WWII

The Great Starvation Experiment by Todd Tucker

I have not read this book, but it looks very interesting. During WWII, (all?) young men were drafted. This was a problem for young pacifists, who didn't want to fight but wanted to do something important for the war effort.
The pacifists had the bizarre jobs (like working in asylums - a whole other story) of the war that nobody really wanted. Voluntarily starving yourself to death for an experiment was one of those bizarre jobs.
This tells the bizarre/fascinating WWII story of 36 pacifist men who volunteered for a starvation experiment. The experiment tested refeeding, the effects of starvation, and rehabilitating starvation victims in war-torn Europe.

Anyone who's read this or knows more about it: Let me know what you think.

Cambodian Genocide - 1975

First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung

The Cambodian Genocide lasted from 1975-1979 and resulted in the death of two million Cambodian citizens. The genocide was after the Cambodia Civil War. The perpetrators were the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia's Communist party.

This is the story of a young girl who survives against all odds. Despite the majority of her family not surviving, Loung does survive. I haven't read this yet, but it has pretty great reviews. Due to the nature, I would imagine this is best for grades 9+.

What are some books that are part of the little-known and obscure events in history? I'd love to hear your thoughts and recommendations!I love learning about history!!

11 WWII Fiction Novels

This is part of a series called 11 Lists of 11 Books. I have read all books unless otherwise noted.

Daniel's Story by Carol Matas - Holocaust
Part Elie Wiesel and part Anne Frank, Daniel's Story is the story of young teenager Daniel. The chapters are divided into 4 chapters: Pictures of Frankfurt, Pictures of Lodz, Pictures of Auschwitz, and Pictures From Buchenwald. The story opens with 14 year old Daniel in a train, headed to a place no an unknown destination. Their journey from the Lodz Ghetto to death camp Auschwitz to concentration camp Buchenwald is told in an unflinching but age-appropriate manner. I really enjoyed this memoir, and it has a few good life lessons I really appreciated.
The USHMM (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) created an exhibit dedicated to the children of the Holocaust, and they named it Daniel's Story, after the book. Although this exhibit is no longer available, it can be seen here.

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti - German Resistance

Helmuth Hübener is my political hero. I love him so much, I featured him in my Ten World War II Heroes series. This is his fictional biography. Teenager Helmuth and two friends secretly created an anti-Nazi pamphlet and spread it all over Germany. This book gives an accurate portrayal on  how he became involved in his own resistance, what he must have felt in prison, and the courage he had that so many other adults didn't.

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz and Jack Gruener - Holocaust
If I could meet any three living Holocaust survivors, Jack Gruener would be on this list. Jack (Yanek) Gruener survived a ghetto, two death marches - and ten concentration camps. (all before his 18th birthday)
What set this apart from every other Holocaust memoir/novel I've read was Jack's humanity. He never gives up despite overwhelming odds. He has multiple chances to steal from fellow inmates, but refuses to.
This book is a true story. To make it more interesting, Gratz added some fictional dialogue but the story as a whole is true. The parts I know are true include: Jack hiding in the barracks from Amon Göth, Jack surviving ten concentration camps, Jack asking the kapo for bread on a death march, and Jack surviving.

Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff - Home Front (America)

Willow Run was a real plant in Michigan during WWII that manufactured B-24 Liberator bombers. And it is the place 11 year-old Meggie has to live after her father gets a job there. Her brother is in the army and her uncle is German, making him a target for bullies. Meggie is a relatable, very real character with struggles, dreams, and fears.

Escape from Warsaw by Ian Serraillier - Poland
Originally titled "The Silver Sword"
Joseph is sent to a prison camp for being anti-Nazi and his wife is deported to Germany. Joseph escapes and heads to Switzerland and sends his three children - Ruth, Edek, and Bronia - to meet him in Switzerland. The book is loosely based on a true story.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne - Holocaust

I'll admit, this novel is unrealistic at times. I mean, the German son of a Nazi officer doesn't know who Hitler is, children use English words unrealistically, and two children would never be able to go near barbed wire in a concentration camp without getting shot. However, I believe it is the message Boyne conveys that makes this so powerful.
Eight year-old Bruno is enjoying his privileged life in Germany. When his family moves to Out-With, (Auschwitz, an infamous concentration camp) Bruno soon becomes bored and meets a young Jewish boy across the barbed-wire fence - Shmuel. Shmuel (Hebrew for "Samuel") is 8 as well, and the two become fast friends. Shmuel and Bruno are very similar, both are the exact same age, have the same birthday, both are sweet and innocent. Their only difference is they are of a different race.
Although not gory at all, this heartbreaking story's ending will shock you. The movie very closely matches to the book. I believe everyone should read this book or watch the movie. Never forget.

MAJOR SPOILER AND LESSON: In the end, young Bruno and Shmuel are both gassed as the two search for Shmuel's father. I strongly believe the message here is prejudice hurts everyone, not just the victim. The second message is hatred is taught. Children aren't born hating another person simply because of race.

Behind the Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams - Holocaust

It's 1942. Korinna is one of millions of German children caught in the fanatical Hitler Youth. However, Korinna's parents couldn't disagree more with Hitler and his fanatical ideas - they have a Jewish family hidden in Korinna's bedroom wall. From a young age, Hitler Youth were encouraged to turn in anyone anti-Nazi, including their own parents. Will Korinna turn her parents in, or will they get caught on their own? If they do, what happens to Korinna?

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - Danish Resistance
This Newbery Winner tells the story of the Danish Resistance. In real life, the Danish Resistance rescued 99% of its Jewish population. This story is about the fictional Annemarie Johansen, who helps her Jewish friend and neighbor Ellen escape to the neutral Sweden. A great story of courage!

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff - America

Growing up on the home front, ten-year-old Lily has the perfect life. Until her father is drafted. Sent away to live with her grandmother, Lily meets young refugee, Albert, and the two become friends. Conflict centers on Lily's bad habit, lying. Patricia Reilly Giff is a very talented writer and how Lily's story unfolds is both interesting and unique.


Run, Boy, Run by Uri Orlev - Holocaust
Could your 8 year-old self live in a forest - alone - undercover - and with only one arm?
Srulik is a young Jew who goes undercover as a Pole. He faces many challenges - finding food, avoiding anti-Semitism, the Nazis, the harsh Polish winters. As if that wasn't hard enough, this courageous 8 year-old loses his arm in an accident. Genesis 17 was a major problem for all Jewish boys in hiding. Surlik, like every other Jewish male, is circumcised. This comes up quite a few times in the story, along with a few profanities. Taking this out, this is a fantastic novel. Oh, and did I mention it is based on a true story?


Farewell to Manzaner by Jeanne Houston - Japanese Internment Camps
The Journal of Ben Uchida, citizen #13559, Mirror Lake, California - a Dear America Book
Both of these books cover Japanese internment camps, and both of these are fiction. I haven't read either of these, but have heard nothing but positive feedback on both. If you've read these, let me know what you think!

Other WWII novels for the age range that I have read but weren't my top favorites include: 

- Once by Morris Gleitzman (I've read the sequels are better)

- Snow Treasure by McSwigan (great plot, okay writing style)

-When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr (slow, but good)

I happen to read more WWII nonfiction than WWII fiction.

What are your favorite WWII fiction novels for the designated age range?

11 WWII Picture Books

This is part of a series called 11 Lists of 11 Books. I have read all books unless otherwise noted.

Despite being picture books, many are not appropriate for younger (7 and under) readers due to subject and length. (a lot of these are a bit long, but all under 40 pages)

Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubin
Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan
Irena Sendler was a young Catholic social worker when WWII broke out. Heartbroken at the way her Jewish friends were being treated, Irena knows she has to do something. In the course of 18 months, Irena rescues 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto.
Both books provide a wealth of information about Irena. None of the pictures are graphic, and both have beautiful illustrations. The ending has more information (aimed at adult readers) about Irena.


The Flag With Fifty-Six Stars by Susan Goldman Rubin
A true story about the prisoners of Mauthausen concentration camp, this story is aimed at older students. As the end of the war was nearing, Germany knew it would lose. At the same time, the concentration camp inmates knew their liberators would be there soon. To show their gratitude, the inmates wanted to offer their liberators a gift. They decided on a flag. At the time, the US had only 48 states, therefore 48 stars. The inmates guessed, and made the flag with 56 stars. (You can see the flag here.) Despite being a picture book, this is definitely aimed at older grades.

The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk by Louise Borden

Told in a free verse-poetry format from the view of a nameless little girl, The Little Ships is a fictional story about Operation Dynamo, better known as the Evacuation at Dunkirk. In May 1940, little ships took part in the rescue of over 300,000 Allied soldiers.
I read this book twice - the second time I read it after researching Dunkirk and it made this story even better. Since the book didn't really portray go in-depth to the surroundings, it would be best to do a little bit of research before you read this.

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki

This fictional story is told from the view of a little boy growing up in a Japanese Internment Camp and how he grows to love baseball, despite not being very good at first. Seeing the Home Front from the eyes of a Japanese child is very interesting. Since it's main subject is baseball, this would be best for boys.

Welcome to Molly's World 1944 (American Girl)

This is a book all about the American life during WWII for any Molly McIntire fan or any introduction to WWII! This book explores every aspect of life a 10 year-old would have had during the second world war.
If you've ever read an American Girl book, you know at the end of each book, they have a "Peek into the past". This large picture book is written in that fashion, with lots of great historical photos and artifacts. It covers everything from the clothing style, toys, sports, to the red cross nurses.

Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen by Michelle McCaan

One night in 1944, Miss Luba found 54 Dutch children at the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. These children - mostly orphans - were all cold and hungry. Despite great risks, Luba and a few other women cared for these children until the British arrived in April 1945. In reality, 53 of these children survived the war. Even after the war, Luba cared for these children. I haven't read this book yet, but it is based for older elementary students.


Voices of Pearl Harbor by Sherry Garland
Each page of this picture book begins with "I am" and is told by a different person effected by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The various people include US and Japanese army men, a Japanese mother, a Red Cross nurse, a Japanese-American who loves America, and a Hawaiian native. Pearl Harbor from the view of different people is very interesting. Normally you only hear of the American side, but we often forget Japanese women also lost their sons, brothers, and husbands. No corpses are shown, but some explosions are realistically portrayed. The ending has more information on Pearl Harbor, and extended reading.


Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki
This incredible true story tells the story of Chiune Sugihara, from the first-person point of view of his son, Hiroki. (His son co-wrote this book.) During WWII, this amazing Japanese diplomat lived in Lithuania, and rescued the lives of around 10,000 Polish Jews by giving them transit visas to Japan. The last few pages have more information on this amazing story.

The Yellow Star by Carmen Deedy

Denmark is truly an amazing country - the people worked together to save 99% of its Jews during WWII. This story is purely fictional, based off a legend. But, it could have happened. And, I believe Denmark's King Christian X would have done it.

~

King Christian X of Denmark was known for riding around on his horse - unarmed and unguarded. Legend says after the Nazis made all the Jews wear yellow stars, King Christian X had his daily morning ride - with a yellow star on. This is that story.

Great illustrations, short, simple, I LOVED it.

Star of Fear, Star of Hope by Jo Hoestlandt
It's been a while since I've last cried while reading a picture book, but this fiction story had my eyes wet. It's July 1942, and Helen is having her birthday sleep over with her Jewish friend Lydia. Helen's parents won't be home from work until later, and the two friends decide to tell ghost stories until then. Suddenly, two frantic strangers with yellow stars on their coat come to their door. Lydia's life will never be the same again.




A few notes:
1. I did not include "The Cat With The Yellow Star" on here because it is WAY too long.
2. There is a book called "My Secret Camera" I really enjoyed. It is told with little writing and mostly through real photos of the Warsaw Ghetto. It is VERY sad, but the pictures are not graphic. The pictures were taken from a hidden camera, so the pictures are not posed.

For more Holocaust picture books, see here.

What are your favorite WWII picture books?

11 American Civil War Books

This is part of a series called 11 Lists of 11 Books. I have read all books unless otherwise noted.

Civil War on Sunday (Magic Tree House Series) by Mary Pope Osborne - fiction 

In this well-known series, Jack and Annie travel back in time - this time to the American Civil War! There, they meet famed nurse Clara Barton and help wounded stories!

Who was Harriet Tubman? - biography 

About the level of the Magic Tree House, "Who was" is a series of biographies of notable people in history. This one profiles Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave who travels back into the Southern states helping many slaves reach freedom.

Meet Addy (American Girl Series) - fiction

This six-book series follows young Addy Walker and her family from their journey from slavery to freedom. Each book explores a new aspect of life as a newly freed slave. Addy also has a mystery, called Shadows on Society Hill: An Addy Mystery and a large picture book called Welcome to Addy's World: 1864.

Escape to Freedom by Barbara Brook Simon - fiction
I haven't read this yet, but it seems to be very popular. This National Geographic book is about the Underground Railroad.

Watcher in the Piney Woods - fiction 

The American Girl History Mysteries is for girls who have slightly grown out of American Girl series, but still love the adventure and female protagonists.
It's nearly the end of the Civil War, and Cassie and her family are struggling on their Virginia farm. After news of her brothers death, Cassie soon discovers odd things missing around the house. Who is stealing from them, and why?

The Riverboat Adventures Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson - Christian fiction 

Libby Norstad is a spoiled 12 year-old girl growing up with her wealthy aunt. However, her father, who is captain of the boat Christina, wants to spend more time with her. Libby soon runs into the mysterious cabin boy Caleb, and the two do not begin well. She longs to get the better of him, but her search leads her tangled in the Underground Railroad and helping a young fugitive and his family escape.

The Boy's War by Jim Murphy - biography 

The Boys War is a large coffee-table style picture book that explores the soldiers - 16 and under - who fought during the American Civil War. Both Union and Confederate stories are present, and no story is presented as "on the right side" or "on the wrong side". It's simply about a bunch of kids who grew up way to fast. Told through diaries, letters, journals, and photos, this book provides a wealth of information while being interesting at the same time.

North Star to Freedom - Information

As of currently, you can get this hardcover book on Amazon for a cent. I read this book in third or fourth grade and I loved it. It is a great book about American Civil War slavery in America.



Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green - Christian Fiction
I have not read this novel by Jocelyn Green. Twenty-eight year old Charlotte leaves her luxurious life behind to become one of the first female nurses on the Union side of the war. Another book be Green on the American Civil War is Widow of Gettysburg.


Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly - biography
This bestselling biography of Bill O'Reilly tells the story of Lincoln. I haven't read the book, but I watched the National Geographic docudrama. I loved it, but it replayed a stabbing scene about five times. (which was really unnecessary)
NOTE: A reader informed me there was a children's adaption, called "Lincoln's Last Days" from this, aimed at readers 8-12 years old.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - Classic fiction

I recently read this for school, and loved it! It is the classic story of young Huckleberry Finn. The story is hard to read at times (it were riten liyke this sumtimes) but overall a great book! Another great Civil War classic is Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Stowe.

What are your favorite American Civil War Books?

Creating a biography or book trailer with iMovie

Getting Your iMovie Started

1. Open up iMovie. Up top, you will see "File", and underneath that "New Project". Click that.
2. Choose your theme. This is optional. I sometimes click "no theme".

Putting Pictures On

1. Find pictures on Google, or take pictures outside. (www.freerangestock.com, www.morguefile.com and www.sxc.hu are great free places to look). Right click and click "Add image to iPhoto library".
2. On the right side of iMovie, you will see a camera beside a music note and T. Click the camera. Find your picture, and drag it to the left side of the screen. 

Adding Text

1. To add text, click T and have fun from there!
2. You can either drag the text to a picture from iPhoto or you can use one of the preset iMovie backgrounds.

Adding Music

1. To make your iMovie better, add some music from your iTunes library! Click the music note, and drag the song you want.
2. You can start and stop the music wherever you want (if the chorus is the part you want, use that) Click the settings button and then "Clip Trimmer"

Upload on YouTube

1. Click "share" up top.
2. Click "YouTube".

YOU CAN SEE MY BOOK TRAILER HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX0yXqR16V0

Rules: HAVE FUN!!! Just play with it - iMovie gives you SO many options! Create a book trailer, a movie trailer, or a biography. Whatever you do, have fun with it!

Did you do a book review or biography?

Have you ever done one?

Be sure to comment below! I would love to check it out!

Ten World War II Heroes

In this series, you will meet:

• A teenager and her young sister who had 13 Jews in their attic for 2.5 years.
• An Olympian who survived 47 days on a raft without food or water and a Japanese prison camp, and came to Christ afterwards.
• Three Geman teenagers who spread illegal pamphlets with the truth about Nazi Germany.
• A group who saved 700 children - in a concentration camp.
• A Catholic who attempted to assassinate Hitler - and nearly succeeded.

You can see why I wrote this series and the table of contents here. The heroes I featured were:

1. Miracles Still Happen: Diet Eman
2. All In His Hands: Louie Zamperini 
3. The Jar of Life: Irena Sendler 
4. Words, Not Guns: Helmuth Hübener 
5. For God and Country: Claus von Stauffenberg
6. We Will Not Be Silent: Sophie Scholl 
7. The Power of Forgiveness: Eva Kor 
8. A Company of Heroes: Richard Winters
9. The Mystery Behind the Attic Wall: Stefania Podgorska 
10. Resilience and Rescue: Jack Werber

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BIG thank you to everyone who read this series and/or pinned it! Thank you so much!

I hope you all enjoyed this series! Some nights, I was editing WAY past midnight and worn but, but I had lots of fun writing each story, and I also learned a lot from it. I hope you found each post inspiring and informative! :) Continue to check back on my blog or follow my blog board on Pinterest! Thanks!

These are my top ten World War II heroes.

Who are yours?

10 WWII Heroes: Jack Werber 10/10

Historical photos are not mine. They are used for educational purposes. I own all other photographs. You may use all of my photographs, as long as proper credit is given.

This is the tenth in a ten part series about the heroes of World War II. You can view the introduction and table of contents to this series here.

At the beginning of each story I will give a maturity rating from 1-5. 1 means the story is appropriate for younger ages, and 5 means it is appropriate for teens and up. This story is rated 4.5.

Well, this is the last post! I hope you all enjoyed this series! I had lots of fun writing it! And, I learned quite a bit through my in-depth research.

Jack Werber is by far the least-known person I have featured so far. However, his story, and that of the Buchenwald Resistance is so amazing I had to include it in here.

Born in 1914, Jack Werber grew up in Radom, Poland. Out of a hundred thousand residents in pre-WWII Radom, only about a third were Jewish. His mother died when he was five, and being the youngest of eight siblings he was often spoiled.

Before the war began, Jack was active in Zionist movements, planning to get to Palestine (now Israel). To get to Palestine, each person needed a certificate from the British. (The British owned Palestine at the time) Married couples were preferred because they could share a certificate. Because of this, some people faked a marriage to share a certificate. It was in this time of his life Jack met Rachel Weintraub. She was a devoted Zionist and the two had a lot in common. They married in 1937, and planned to go to Palestine. However, Jack's father did not want his youngest child to leave so far away. So instead, the two stayed in Poland and in 1938, they had a baby girl they named Emma.

In September 1939, the Germans invaded Poland, starting World War II. Jack, among other Jews, was promptly arrested at random was was taken to the concentration camp Buchenwald. At first, Jack's only concern was working and surviving. However, in 1942, Jack was asked if he wanted to join the Buchenwald International Underground. He accepted, and his first job was to find out if inmates in charge were abusing their position. If they were, Jack would report them, and then the person would be replaced.

Liberation. Werber is on the far right. 

The Buchenwald Resistance

Originally run by German communists and social democrats in the early 1940s, by the end of the war the Buchenwald Resistance ran the majority of the camp and eventually liberated it as the Americans drew near.
Since the Nazis were lazy and couldn't run the whole camp, Buchenwald was run by "prisoner functionaries", which were basically prisoners in charge of other prisoners. Many of these prisoners were criminals, mostly convicted murderers. They of course were hated by the other inmates. The Buchenwald Resistance began catching these murderers in crimes (such as stealing), get them sent to the quarry (certain death), and then the resistance would replace these inmates with political prisoners - more humane people.

Saving 700 children

The Nazis began sending masses of Jewish people to concentration camps in mid 1944 to 1945. Until then, Jack had no knowledge of his wife, Rachel or his daughter, Emma. In 1944, a friend had told him that both his wife and daughter were murdered at Auschwitz concentration camp. Jack was heart broken.

Buchenwald children at liberation

But something happened in August of that same year. A train full of about seven hundred young boys, ages six to sixteen, arrived at the camp. One of these boys was the Novel-Peace Prize winning author Elie Wiesel. Seeing these young children brought back memories of Emma, and with the resistance, Jack became fanatical about saving them. The non-Jewish underground did not oppose to this, but children were not as great a priority as politicals and other adults. Jack, however, made it his mission to save as many children as possible.
The children were hidden all over the camp, with very few actually working. For the undocumented children, food came from the medical building and the prisoners who had German wives that sent them food. Jack was a barrack secretary and cared for about 150 children in Block 23. Gustav Schiller, who many recall with kindness, was the block leader of Block 66, where Elie Wiesel was.
Starting in September 1944, there was even a makeshift school that was set up for some of the children. The children learned Yiddish, Hebrew, poetry and history. Jack remembers one eight year-old refuse to go to classes, saying, "Why should I go to school? I won't come out alive anyway."
The children were always kept in the barracks, and great measures were taken to prevent the Nazis from entering the barracks. The main excuse was with all the diseases, the Nazis were sure to catch something if they entered the barrack.

As the Americans cornered the camp, the Nazis fled. The heavily armed resistance took over the camp. At last, on April 11, 1945, they were liberated - and 700 children were saved. Jack had survived 5.5 years in Buchenwald. The Americans were met joyously and gave them food and medical relief. Photos of Buchenwald child survivors can be found here. (no graphic images)

While searching for relatives, Jack met camp survivor Millie Drezner, and married her in January 1946 and the two moved to the United States in May of that year. Jack made a huge profit from the Davy Crockett fad in the 1950s and later invested that money in real estate. He and Millie lived very happily for sixty years. Jack and Millie were interviewed by USHMM (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) in 1989. This interview can be found here.

In late November 2006, Jack died of a heart attack in New York. He was 92 years old. He has told his story in his brutal, unflinching memoir Saving Children. Millie recently wrote a memoir called Two Rings, and although I didn't like it as much as Saving Children, it includes more post-war stories than Jack's memoir. There is a documentary called The Boys of Buchenwald about the rescue, but I have not seen it. For some reason, the rescue and resistance seems to be little-known and few books or documentaries have been dedicated to the subject. Since I have and will continue to find amazing little-known stories like this, I suppose my research of World War II will never be over.

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In memory of all the inmates in Buchenwald, the resistance, and those who lived to bear witness.

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Thank you so much!