D-Day

Starred review from July 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-Hopkinson has compiled a comprehensive and absorbing overview of the largest military operation in history: the Allied invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944. The author describes the thoughts and feelings of individual soldiers and paratroopers, the extensive planning by the leaders, the horrific battles on various beaches, the work of reporters and photographers (Ernie Pyle and Robert Capa, respectively), as well as segregation and the effect it had on the military. Lengthy quotations by those who experienced the invasion add depth to the content. The text is accompanied by an abundance of half- and full-page black-and-white photos and sidebars, called briefings or dispatches here, that are one to four pages long. However, the captions are probably the weakest part of this title; many don't provide enough information. For example, one image of smiling soldiers lacks context ("Troops headed across the English Channel."). Still, frequent "Look, Listen, Remember" boxes lead readers to various websites for additional information. The back matter is extremely thorough and contains a list of the key figures and more online resources. VERDICT Even with some minor faults, this insightful title, chock-full of primary sources, is a strong purchase.-Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
Hopkinson relates events of the World War II invasion now known as D-Day, arguably the largest and most complex military operation in history.Although thousands of British and Canadian troops participated in the invasion--and German soldiers greeted it--Hopkinson focuses primarily on the experiences of Americans at Utah and Omaha beaches. Such major figures as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley get plenty of attention, but more is given to the experiences of the soldiers who waded ashore under fire or parachuted behind enemy lines. Hopkinson weaves their personal accounts with those of observations by Ernie Pyle and others to bring the invasion vividly to life. One remarkable story is that of Pvt. Hal Baumgartner, wounded four times in 24 hours on Omaha Beach and wounded a fifth time at the aid station he was taken to when German snipers opened fire. As in Hopkinson's Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines (2016), the fast-paced narrative is supplemented with three types of interspersed text: "briefings," which home in on special topics, including the roles of women and African-American soldiers in the invasion; "dispatches," or first-person accounts; and "reader's invasion briefings," which cover strategy. Numerous archival, black-and-white photographs offer a parallel visual story, and interspersed pointers to additional, often online resources encourage further research.An attractively packaged, engrossing history that will appeal to readers fascinated with military strategy. (maps, timeline, glossary, websites, bibliography, source notes) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.