The Forgotten War - 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 forces and the ensuing battle to reclaim it.

Charlie Groth was just eighteen years old when he was drafted into the US Army's 7th Infantry as a medic. And in October 1942, he found himself aboard a transport ship headed for Alaska. He and his fellow soldiers were assured of one thing: although they would be facing the Japanese forces, it was bound to be an easy fight. The boys would be home within weeks.

It would be three years.

Paul Nobuo Tatsuguchi was a medic in the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces with a penchant for journaling and documenting his daily life. As Charlie and his fellow American troops made their way to Attu Island, Paul was constructing fox holes, caves, and trenches in preparation for the vicious battle to come.

The Battle of Attu would become the second bloodiest battle in the Pacific after Iwo Jima.

In the spring of 1942, four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese commander Admiral Yamamoto, in his quest for dominance in the Pacific, recognized the truth: Japan could not win a long war against the United States unless they destroyed the United States's four remaining aircraft carriers. But Yamamoto needed a surprise, something to distract the American forces in the Pacific.

He plotted a sneak attack on Attu Island, a forbidding outpost in the far western Aleutian Islands of Alaska -- on American soil.

In June 1942, Japanese soldiers attacked and occupied Attu. America, desperate to cover up news of the Japanese invasion of US territory, had to get the island back, and so more than 100,000 young, untested American soldiers were enlisted in an Alaskan military campaign.

Following two parallel stories from opposite sides of the conflict, acclaimed author Candace Fleming brings history alive with this thrilling, fast-paced examination of a little-known military campaign on American soil during World War II, which would culminate in a ferocious, bloody battle and play a key 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 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 revelas 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 clasroom 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; the Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner and Sibert Honor Book The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire; and the critically acclaimed Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Visit Candace Fleming online at candacefleming.com. She lives outside of Chicago.