WWII Pacific Theater Books for the Next Generation

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wades ashore during initial landings at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. Public Domain

Knowing history, both the good and the bad, is necessary to understand the sacrifices and the hardships our country went through to remain free and independent. Dec. 7 marks the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor—an opportune time to read about the effects of America’s and several Asian countries’ entry into the war.

Start With an Overview

Joe Giorello, a former history teacher, wrote a history series called “Great Battles for Boys” specifically for his “reluctant reader” of a son. Its easy reading style, with the more technical words explained within the text, helps readers grasp the flow of the stories and lessens the readers’ frustration. The text is accompanied by photographs and maps, and each chapter ends with references as well as online resources.

In “Great Battle for Boys: WW2 in the Pacific,” the author starts off explaining that even before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Americans had been shooting down Japanese planes in their involvement in other Asian-Pacific conflicts from 1941 to 1942. As allies of China and Burma (now Myanmar), American volunteer pilots, under Col. Claire Lee Chennault, stepped in and were able to put a dent on the Japanese air fleets. On Dec. 20, 1941, just 13 days after the Pearl Harbor bombing, The Flying Tigers went into combat to defend their southwestern Chinese base in Kunming from Japanese attack. This became the first American “victory in World War II,” said Nell Chennault Calloway, granddaughter of the aforementioned colonel.

From here, the story segues into the Pearl Harbor bombing and into the Philippine battles, the Battle of Midway, the Battle of Saipan, Iwo Jima, and finally, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This book, written specifically for 8 to 12 year olds will provide an informative overview of the Pacific Theater during World War II.

This book in the "Great Battles for Boys" series gives a bird's eye view of the Pacific Theater of World War II. Wheelhouse Publishing

‘Great Battles for Boys: WW2 in the Pacific’ By Joe Giorello with Sibella Giorello Wheelhouse Publishing, May 19, 2023 Paperback: 178 pages

A Graphic Novel for Middle Grade Readers

Set in Canada, “Stealing Home” by J. Torres is a story of a young boy whose life is upended with America’s entry into World War II. As part of the British Commonwealth, Canada was already involved in the war efforts since 1939, but its actions against Japanese Canadians ramped up after the focus of the war switched to Asia.

By early 1942, nearly 90 percent of Japanese Canadians had been swept into camps, uprooting them from their homes, with many losing their livelihood amid suspicions about their loyalty. The majority of these ethnic Japanese were from British Columbia, Canada’s province on the west coast; here is where Sandy Saito’s story takes place.

Sandy is a typical boy who loves comic books and especially loves baseball. His summers are spent cheering on the Vancouver Asahi, his favorite team. His father is a respected doctor and, although they share the same love for baseball, he is too busy to play catch with him. When the family is herded into a remote camp, his father continues to help those within the camp, which pulls him away from his family. Sandy’s disappointment is not just about missing out on a “normal” life, but also about missing his father, who always has to go “where he [is] needed the most.” Sandy learns to cope with camp life and his love for baseball helps him deal with changes and losses. It is a reminder of how wars affect families, especially children.

This graphic novel is colored in a sepia tone evoking images of the past. It’s a story that is based on research and the underlying issue of racism is present but not heavy-handed. Although it is set in Canada, it is a similar upheaval that Japanese Americans experienced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This book is recommended for children ages 8 to12 years old.

Set in Canada, a young boy copes with the brutal realities of war with his love for baseball. Kids Can Press

‘Stealing Home’ By J. Torres Kids Can Press, Oct. 5, 2021 Hardcover: 112 pages

‘True Stories in Focus’ on World War II

In the abovementioned series from Scholastic Books, Deborah Hopkinson presents a well-written, well-researched secondary source for readers 12 years and older called “Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II.”

When bombs met their targets on the USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma in Hawaii, the events set the stage for the Philippines, under American occupation, to become a hotspot for fighting. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was in charge of the U.S. Army forces of the Far East, had moved his troops from the capital, Manila, had taken a stand on the Bataan peninsula, and had set up his headquarters on the island of Corregidor. Soon, events took place that led to MacArthur’s evacuation from the island fortress. The Americans eventually raised the white flag after Bataan fell to the Japanese on April 9, 1942, which resulted in the single largest American surrender since the Battle of Harpers Ferry in 1862.

POWs were forced to make a deadly nearly-70-mile march to their prison camp in the city of Cabanatuan with many who fell by the wayside, too weak to continue; beaten and starved to death. Because MacArthur could not immediately fulfill his “I shall return” promise, the prisoners endured years of hardship and humiliation. They, languishing in their prison camp, waited for death or hoped for the slim chance of rescue. When MacArthur finally did return, the Japanese quickly moved some of the prisoners out of the country to Japan. News leaked out that POWs had been massacred on the island of Palawan which hastened the need to rescue the prisoners in Cabanatuan. A plan was hatched. 

Led by American and Filipino guerilla leaders, members of the Filipino resistance, sympathetic local civilians—and with the material support provided by the U.S. Army who finally reached the main island of Luzon, where Cabanatuan is located—the rescuers executed what was considered the “greatest POW rescue of World War II.”

Based on oral narratives, personal accounts, documents, and never-before-seen photos shared by the kinsmen of the survivors of this deadly Bataan march, Ms. Hopkinson is able to bring a very human voice to the sufferings of these beleaguered soldiers. With a 13-page bibliography, the information contained in this book backs up the narrative accounts of the survivors. 

For teenagers or World War II history buffs who want to delve into the timelines, places, and, most importantly, the people who were a part of this deadly event in history, “Race Against Death” is highly recommended.

Deborah Hopkinson's "Race Against Death" focuses on the "greatest POW rescue of World war II." (Scholastic Focus}

‘Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II’ By Deborah Hopkinson Scholastic Focus, April 18, 2023 Hardcover: 320 pages

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