The Forgotten War: A World War II Battle on American Soil - by Candace Fleming (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From highly acclaimed, award-winning author Candace Fleming comes a thrilling, evocative, and shockingly personal examination of a forgotten corner of World War II history: the invasion and occupation of Alaska's Attu Island by Imperial Japanese Armed Forces and the ensuing battle to reclaim it.

Charlie Groth has just been drafted into the US Army's 7th Infantry as a litter bearer in October 1942 when he boards a ship bound for remote parts of Alaska. Japanese forces have invaded mere months after their deadly attack on Pearl Harbor and are occupying two of the Aleutian islands. Yet Charlie and his fellow soldiers have been assured it's bound to be an easy fight and a quick victory. The boys will be home with their families for the holidays.

It will be three years before Charlie sees his family again.

Paul Nobuo Tatsuguchi is a physician in the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces with a penchant for journaling, a way to distract himself from how much he misses his wife and young daughters. As Charlie and his troops make their way to Attu Island, Paul and his troops construct foxholes, field hospitals, and trenches in preparation for the vicious battle to come.

When the two armies meet amid the fog and freezing rain, neither side is ready for the desperate fight that will become the second bloodiest battle in the Pacific after Iwo Jima. And neither is prepared for the price that patriotism and loyalty will demand.

Following two parallel stories from opposite sides of the conflict and capturing the war through first-person accounts and archival photographs, acclaimed author Candace Fleming brings this history to life with a thrilling, movingly personal, and fast-paced examination of the little-known World War II campaign that unfolded on American soil and wound up playing an essential role in the ultimate defeat of the Japanese Admiralty in the Pacific.

Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills, so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Forgotten War:

* "A visceral, meticulously researched passion project... This is a vital and uniquely empathetic account that captures the human cost of war with profound detail. [A]n essential addition to any library collection..." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "Fleming's stirring writing immerses readers in the soldiers' struggle with hostile weather conditions, illness, inadequate clothing, inaccurate maps, and friendly fire... [T]his thoroughly researched, compelling story of Groth and others who fought on Attu Island deserves to be widely known." -- Booklist, starred review

"[Fleming] tell[s] an engrossing battle yarn while doing a good job of filling in the broader strategic background from Pearl Harbor on... Absorbing and enlightening fare." -- Kirkus Reviews

"[A] gripping and impressively researched portrait." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster:

* "This is a rare title that should excite young science enthusiasts and paranormal fans alike." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review

* "[T]his account of the history of Loch Ness monster sightings and theories is entertaining, informative, and useful for practical applications as well." -- Booklist, starred review

"[A] clever, attention-grabbing read that fosters critical thinking skills and scientific methodology." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II:

A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

* "This compulsively readable, compellingly written book will appeal to a broad audience, from readers already interested in World War II to those who are new to the subject... A gripping narrative celebrating teen girls' underrecognized contributions to Allied war efforts." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "A thrilling account... Fleming does it again! Purchase this compelling blend of WWII, cryptography, and women's history that will mesmerize middle schoolers and inspire them to make an indelible impact on history, too." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "Fleming delivers a fascinating and cohesive overview of Bletchley Park's necessarily siloed, collaborative inner workings that reveals how the figures' ardent efforts affected the outcome of WWII." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "In this absorbing book, Fleming approaches the subject by telling the individual stories of 10 young women... who left their homes to work secretly on projects related to the German military's Enigma cipher machine. Even readers with little interest in codes and ciphers will find the women's experiences intriguing." -- Booklist, starred review

* "[This] is a fascinating and emotionally moving perspective on the well-trod ground of WWII, carefully balanced and rich with details of technology, history, and humanity. This book is not just about deciphering the Enigma messages, however, as it peels back the mythological layers of history to depict the people, technology, mind-numbing mundanity, and heartbreaking tragedy of the war machine." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

Praise for Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell:

* "An exhilarating read, a useful classroom resource, and ultimately an illuminating look at human nature and the modern fascination with UFOs." -- Booklist, starred review

Praise for The Curse of the Mummy:

* "In Fleming's capable hands, the story of the boy king and Howard Carter's discovery of his tomb brims with enthusiasm, wonder, and mystique." -- Booklist, starred review

"The Curse of the Mummy... will draw children's interest with a sense of lurid promise and keep them reading..." -- Wall Street Journal

Praise for The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia:

Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature

Winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction

A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award finalist

Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction

* "A remarkable human story, told with clarity and confidence." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "A wonderful introduction to this era in Russian history and a great read for those already familiar with it." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "For readers who regard history as dull, Fleming's extraordinary book is proof positive that, on the contrary, it is endlessly fascinating, absorbing as any novel, and the stuff of an altogether memorable reading experience." -- Booklist, starred review

* "Fleming has outdone herself with this riveting work of narrative nonfiction that appeals to the imagination as much as the intellect." -- The Horn Book, starred review

* "This is both a sobering work, and the account of the discovery of their bones and the aftermath is at once fascinating and distressing. A solid resource and good recreational reading for high school students." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "With comprehensive source notes and bibliographies of print and online materials, this will be a boon to student researchers, but it's also a heartbreaking page-turner for YAs who prefer their nonfiction to read like a novel." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

About the Author

Candace Fleming is the award-winning and highly acclaimed author of more than twenty books for children and young adults, including Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster; Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell; The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb; Sibert Honor Book The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II; The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh, winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award; the Sibert Award winner Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner and Sibert Honor Book The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire, among many others. Candace received the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards and Children's Literature Legacy Awards in 2026. She lives outside of Chicago, and you can visit her online at candacefleming.com.