After World War II, the United States and Britain airlifted food and supplies into Russian-blockaded West Berlin. US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen knew the children of the city were suffering, but what could one man do? Lt. Halvorsen began dropping candy that floated down to the kids by parachute. Michael O. Tunnell tells an inspiring tale of candy and courage, illustrated with Lt Halvorsens personal photographs, as well as letters and drawings from the children of Berlin to their beloved Uncle Wiggly Wings.
Last Mission, The
In 1944, as World War II is raging across Europe, fifteen-year-old Jack Raab dreams of being a hero. Leaving New York City, his family, and his boyhood behind, Jack uses a false I.D. and lies his way into the U.S. Air Force.
From their base in England, he and his crew fly twenty-four treacherous bombing missions over occupied Europe. The war is almost over and Hitler near defeat when they fly their last mission — a mission destined for disaster. Shot down far behind enemy lines, Jack is taken prisoner and sent to a German POW camp, where his experiences are more terrifying than anything he’d ever imagined.
Manhattan Project (Cornerstones of Freedom: Second)
Hiroshima
Hiroshima, A Novella by Laurence Yep is a colorful and compelling story about the terrible and twisted story of the bombing of the Japanese City, Hiroshima. This powerful book follows two Japanese girls, Sachi and Riko, who are forced to work for the Japanese military in the city. Their lives are changed forever when the Enola Gay, a US bomber, drops one bomb on the city, the Atom Bomb. Now Hiroshima and the girls have to overcome the terrible bombing. In the midst of all the bombing and killing, Sachi and Riko are forced to flee the city.Later Sachi travels to America for plastic surgery to help with her scars.
Blitzed Brits (Horrible Histories)
Horrible Histories – The Blitzed Brits is an excellent summation of day to day life in London and elsewhere doing the aerial bombardment of the early years of the war, and the experiences of London during the days and nights of the V1 doodlebugs. The book’s style is light hearted but thoroughly engaging and gives the reader an understanding of life from the perspective of ordinary civilians, rather than the fighting soldier on the front line. Illustrator Kate Sheppard’s art perfectly matches Terry Deary’s text making the book both enlightening and easy to follow.
The book contains a wide variety of facts and figures to aid a child’s understanding of daily life, but also a range of stories of real life experiences, including the lives of the young evacuees, the effect of rationing, the blackouts and a rather interesting section on rhymes and poetry of the time. The book includes short quizzes, memory prompts and small ‘knowledge tests’ throughout the book. All in all an excellent read.