"What is courage? What is strength? Perhaps it is being ready to fight for your nation even when your nation isn't ready to fight for you." This is the complete story of the Triple Nickles, America's first black paratroopers during World War II. I just finished Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Deadliest Weapon, and I liked reading an entirely different aspect of that war in this book. It's amazing how many endeavors are going on during a single war. Stone chronicles the difficulties of integrating the military. The formation of the squadron of black paratroopers was a step in the right direction, but even they did not fully gain acceptance at the time. Many accounts of the war do not include these soldiers at all. I found it interesting to read about the leaders of the time and their attitudes toward integration. Eleanor Roosevelt was quite progressive. One of my favorite photos in the book is her flight with C. Alfred Anderson she took to prove her trust in the skills of black pilots. It reminds me of her flight with Amelia Earhart. I am so amazed with the integrity and self-control of the men in the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion while facing discrimintation on the homefront, even when they were treated worse than POWs at times. When asked why a black man would risk his life to help his country, First Sergeant William Morris answered, "This is my country, my children's country, and their children's. It is up to me and many, many people of all races and cultures to fight the haters and racists to make this a better place to live." Stone did an amazing job researching this book, and I especially enjoyed all the photographs.
Wow. Wow. Wow. This book read like a best selling thriller (only better) and felt like a History Channel mini series. Sheinkin used to be a text book writer, and oh, how happy I am he quit that job and started writing books like this. I would have been a happy history student if this was on the syllabus. No wonder it won the 2013 Newbery Honor, the 2013 Sibert Medal, and the 2013 YALSA Award! This is the story of how some brilliant physicists created the atomic bomb and how the Soviets tried to...moreWow. Wow. Wow. This book read like a best selling thriller (only better) and felt like a History Channel mini series. Sheinkin used to be a text book writer, and oh, how happy I am he quit that job and started writing books like this. I would have been a happy history student if this was on the syllabus. No wonder it won the 2013 Newbery Honor, the 2013 Sibert Medal, and the 2013 YALSA Award! This is the story of how some brilliant physicists created the atomic bomb and how the Soviets tried to steal it. I learned a ton about what went on during that time of espionage and technological growth in war. It's unnerving, though, to think about what goes on in the government without our knowledge. Facts about Eisenhower and Truman were interesting, too. Here is a chilling quote after the successful nuclear bomb test in New Mexico: The scientists were pouring whisky into paper cups, passing them around. Rabi said of the aftermath, "'Naturally, we were very jubilant over the outcome of the experiment. We turned to one another and offered congratulations - for the first few minutes. Then, there was a chill, which was not the morning cold.' It was the chill of knowing they had used something they loved - the study of physics - to build the deadliest weapon in human history." I have a list of at least 10 boys in my classes who want to read this (not that girls won't want to - it just appealed to the boys first). I think it's best for 6th grade and up, but higher readers in 4th and 5th grades will love it too! What nonfiction book are YOU reading this week?
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