Lost in Shangri-La
By Mitchell Zuckoff
HarperCollins, 2011. 384 pgs. Adult Nonfiction
In May of 1945, a popular activity at the U.S. Army base in Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, was taking flights to see "Shangri-La," a remote part of the island, completely isolated, surround by mountains and rain forests, with thousands of native inhabitants. Although others had completed this trip, for one group, it didn't turn out so well. When their plane crashed, twenty-one soldiers and WACs died--but three survived. Margaret Hastings and Kenneth Decker, both badly wounded in the crash, and John McCollum (whose twin died in the crash) lived but they were in a remote area of the world, wondering if the natives were cannibalistic, if the Army would be able to evacuate them, and if gangrene would lead to emergency amputation. The Army was able to parachute medics and other soldiers in to help the survivors, but they still didn't know how to get them out.
This is an engaging true story, which, although published for adults, would likely appeal to teen readers interested in WWII and survival stories. (I will say, though, there are pictures of the native men, who traditionally wore penis gourds and little else; some readers might not want to skip the photos.) The details about the survivors as well as the natives are interesting; the rescue was a little less dramatic than what I thought it would be, based on both the dust jacket and the chapters leading up to it, but still, it moves well and is an engaging piece of nonfiction.
4 stars.
Showing posts with label Narrative Nonfiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Narrative Nonfiction. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Unbroken
Unbroken
By Laura Hillenbrand
Random House, 2010. 473 pgs. Adult Nonfiction
Louie Zamperini was a hellion as a child--stealing, fighting, failing his classes. His older brother Pete forced him to start running, which Louie initially resented but soon came to love; his natural talent and his training were such that he competed in the 1936 Olympics in an event he'd only run a handful of times. Before the 1940 Olympics, though, WWII broke out and Louie joined the Army and was trained to be a bombardier with the Army Air Corps. Louie and his crew completed several successful missions but one day, their plane crashed on the ocean. Only Louie and two others survived and floated for weeks in rafts in shark-infested waters. By the time they were picked up by the enemy Japanese, only Louie and his friend Phil remained, and the worst part of their experience--being POWs with sadistic guards, little food, hard labor, and constant illness--was still to come.
This is nonfiction at its finest; it's gripping both in the story--Zamperini's story is moving and inspirational--and in the writing, which is engaging and does its subject justice. From the first page, I was hooked and couldn't wait to see how things would play out for Louie. I can't say enough good things about it. It's one of those books that provides the reader with tons of information and, at the same time, sparks the desire to learn lots more. For example, I HAVE to read more about Japanese POW camps after this. Although it was published for the adult market, many teens would be hooked as well.
5 stars.
By Laura Hillenbrand
Random House, 2010. 473 pgs. Adult Nonfiction
Louie Zamperini was a hellion as a child--stealing, fighting, failing his classes. His older brother Pete forced him to start running, which Louie initially resented but soon came to love; his natural talent and his training were such that he competed in the 1936 Olympics in an event he'd only run a handful of times. Before the 1940 Olympics, though, WWII broke out and Louie joined the Army and was trained to be a bombardier with the Army Air Corps. Louie and his crew completed several successful missions but one day, their plane crashed on the ocean. Only Louie and two others survived and floated for weeks in rafts in shark-infested waters. By the time they were picked up by the enemy Japanese, only Louie and his friend Phil remained, and the worst part of their experience--being POWs with sadistic guards, little food, hard labor, and constant illness--was still to come.
This is nonfiction at its finest; it's gripping both in the story--Zamperini's story is moving and inspirational--and in the writing, which is engaging and does its subject justice. From the first page, I was hooked and couldn't wait to see how things would play out for Louie. I can't say enough good things about it. It's one of those books that provides the reader with tons of information and, at the same time, sparks the desire to learn lots more. For example, I HAVE to read more about Japanese POW camps after this. Although it was published for the adult market, many teens would be hooked as well.
5 stars.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Little Princes
Little Princes
By Conor Grennan
William Morrow, 2010. 294 pgs. Adult Nonfiction
When Conor Grennan originally went to Nepal, it was to spend a few weeks there volunteering before continuing on a trip around the world. However, as he went to work the Little Princes orphanage, he found himself touched by the orphans and their situation, and happy to help; he even found seven additional children and made arrangements for shelter for them. However, back in the U.S., he found out that those seven children had been taken by a child trafficker. Torn up by guilt, he started a non-profit organization, Next Generation Nepal, and went back to find those seven children. His mission expanded when he realized that many of the "orphans" were not actually orphans; their parents had paid men to take them to safety in the midst of Nepal's civil war. These men were actually child traffickers who had threatened and harmed the children if they spoke about their families. Soon, Conor began traveling to the remote villages of Nepal to find these families and bring them news of their children.
This was a fascinating story, and one that makes you want to go to Nepal and save the children. It's told in a simple, conversational style, with Conor relating his experiences with the children, which isn't the most sophisticated style but which is effective for this type of book. It's sad and sweet and has a bit of adventure and even some romance thrown in. Although it was published for the general adult market, it is appropriate for and would be interesting to teen readers as well.
3.5 stars.
By Conor Grennan
William Morrow, 2010. 294 pgs. Adult Nonfiction
When Conor Grennan originally went to Nepal, it was to spend a few weeks there volunteering before continuing on a trip around the world. However, as he went to work the Little Princes orphanage, he found himself touched by the orphans and their situation, and happy to help; he even found seven additional children and made arrangements for shelter for them. However, back in the U.S., he found out that those seven children had been taken by a child trafficker. Torn up by guilt, he started a non-profit organization, Next Generation Nepal, and went back to find those seven children. His mission expanded when he realized that many of the "orphans" were not actually orphans; their parents had paid men to take them to safety in the midst of Nepal's civil war. These men were actually child traffickers who had threatened and harmed the children if they spoke about their families. Soon, Conor began traveling to the remote villages of Nepal to find these families and bring them news of their children.
This was a fascinating story, and one that makes you want to go to Nepal and save the children. It's told in a simple, conversational style, with Conor relating his experiences with the children, which isn't the most sophisticated style but which is effective for this type of book. It's sad and sweet and has a bit of adventure and even some romance thrown in. Although it was published for the general adult market, it is appropriate for and would be interesting to teen readers as well.
3.5 stars.
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