Women’s Experience in World War II
By Joel Ochoa and Elizabeth Reardon
Introduction
You’ve heard of Saving Private Ryan and Inglorious Bastards, now it’s time to give the gals their due! With some recent publications dealing with the female perspective and World War II, this list takes a look at new works and some classics, combing historical fiction and nonfiction, movies, television, video games, and graphic novels. Most of the works presented here fall under the genre historical fiction, in which the author realistically imagines something about the past, explores notable historic figures or events, or creates an historical backdrop for a fictionalized story. Not your mother’s Sound of Music, you won’t want to miss reading/hearing/seeing about the triumphs and tragedies of the female experience during World War II.
All links below are to entries in the Nassau County Library System catalogue.
Novels
Burkinshaw, K., (2016). The Last Cherry Blossom. New York: Sky Pony Press
Appeal factors: Historical Fiction, family drama, hopeful, plot driven
Offering a glimpse at World War II Japan, this work shows a side of the war not often seen. The story follows Yuriko, a young girl whose world has been turned upside down by the changing culture in Japan. The story is inspired by the experiences of the author’s mother, who survived Hiroshima.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12387685
Hesse, M. (2016). Girl in the Blue Coat. New York: Little, Brown
Appeal factors: Historical Fiction/Mystery, Fast-paced, Suspenseful; Thought-provoking
An award-winning mystery book, Girl in the Blue Coat imagines the lives of ordinary Dutch citizens in Amsterdam during WWII. Hanneke works for an undertaker, but really spends her days fencing on the black market for her boss. When a client asks her to find a missing Jewish girl, Hanneke searches for answers as she comes face to face with the atrocities of the war
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12331403
Smith, L. S., (2008). Flygirl. New York: Putnam’s Sons
Appeal Factors: Strong female, character-driven, culturally diverse, well-developed, issue-oriented, hopeful.
Light-skinned African American girl, Ida Mae Jones’ dreams of flying were nearly impossible. When the US enters WWII and the Army creates the “WASP” (Women Airforce Service Pilots), Ida Mae is forced to make the difficult decision to pretend to be white to get accepted into the program. How long can she hide her racial identity and keep on denying herself?
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb11513656
Wein, E. (2012) Code Verity. New York: Hyperion Books
Wein, E. (2012) Code Verity. [Sound recording (CD)]
Appeal factors: Historical Fiction; unreliable narrator, character-driven, haunting and suspenseful
The thrilling story of two friends, Maddie and Verity, who get caught up in the English war-effort. The young women crash land in France on a mission and Verity (who also goes by other aliases) is captured by the Nazis. Her only chance for survival is to collaborate with her captors. The books contains depictions of violence and torture. Also available as an award-winning audio book.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb11899802 (Book)
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb11899803 (CD)
Graphic Novels
Jacobson, S. and Colon, E. (2010). Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography. New York: Hill and Wang
Appeal factors: Excellent source for those who read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, biographies, comics and graphic novels, emotionally intense, authentic, strong female
How well do you know Anne Frank? Decades later, Ann Frank’s graphic biography is still compelling and though-provoking. By drawing quotes from Anne’s diary and eye-catching graphic images with simple language, the authors make this graphic novel a must read.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb11616408
Heuvel, Eric, (2009). A Family Secret. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Appeal factors: Character-driven, issue-oriented, compelling, emotionally-intense, strong female.
While searching through his grandmother Helena’s attic, Jeroen stumbles across an old photo album. The album brings back hard and painful memories for his grandmother. As Helena tells Jereon her story, she makes an important discovery and realizes her father kept a secret from her.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb11617610
Video Game
Call of Duty: WWII [Video Games Series], (2003-2017). United States: Activision
Appeal factors: Video game, Fast-paced, action-packed, character-driven, sweeping, plot-driven, strong female, emotionally intense, patriotic.
Ladies don’t be shy give it a try! The video game series bring to life many historical events during WWII such as Operation Cobra and the Battle of the Bulge as well as Nazi zombies. Players have the ability to play in either side of the war—whether the Axis or the Allied—and can select female characters, who see combat during the war.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12508433 Xbox
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12508412 Playstation 4
Television
Burt, G. (Writer), & Emmony, A., Payne, J. and Harding, S. (Directors). (2012, September). The Bletchley Circle [Television series]. In Lushington, J. (Producer). United Kingdom: World Prodctions
Appeal factors: For someone who likes Downton Abbey, Mystery/Historical Fiction, suspenseful, and character-driven
Season one of The Bletchley Circle, filled with period details, portrays a group of women, former codebreakers for British intelligence during WWII, who track down a serial killer by analyzing patterns and examining train schedules. The series also depicts the difficulty of readjusting to civilian life and returning to traditional roles
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12001854
Movies
Abberly, J. (Producer) & Caro, N. (Director). (2017). The Zookeeper’s Wife. United States: Focus Features.
Appeal factors: Historical fiction, character-driven, emotionally intense, dramatic
Jessica Chastain stars as Antonina Zabinski, who, with her husband, Jan (Johan Heldenbergh), turned their zoo into an unexpected sanctuary during the Nazis’ occupation of their city. Based on the adult novel of the same name, by Diane Ackerman, the film’s story is inspired by true events. The movie is rated PG 13 and is sometimes graphically violent.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12467608
Rosenfelt, K. and Blancato, K. (Producers) & Percival, B. (Director). (2013). The Book Thief [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox
Appeal factors: Historical fiction, atmospheric, heart wrenching, emotionally intense, character driven
Death tells the story of a young girl Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nelisse) living outside of Munich with foster parents during Nazi Germany. When she learns to read and discovers the power of words, she begins to steal books. Based on the young adult novel by Markus Zusak. Rated PG 13.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12150127
Nonfiction
Cornioley, P. W. with Hervé Larroque. (2013). Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.
(Call number: YA B Cornioley C)
Appeal factors: Adventure nonfiction, richly detailed, well documented
The memoir of one of the most celebrated female World War II resistance fighters, Pearl Witherington Cornioley shares her firsthand experience as one of the few women to command a group of 3,500 Resistance Fighters. The work includes a list of key figures, an appendix of original unedited interview extracts, and photographs and documents from Cornioley’s personal collection.
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb12074963
Payment, S. (2004). American Women Spies of World War II. Rosen. (Call number: YA 940.5486 P)
Appeal factors: Biographies, authentic, culturally diverse, strong female, leisurely-paced, impassioned, reflective
Part of the American Women at War series, this book on women spies in World War II includes Aline Griffith, a fashion model, who was a spy during and after the war, and entertainer Josephine Baker, whose residency in France helped her form an underground network. The book includes photos, a timeline, glossaries, and bibliographie
http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb11051762
Resources
For the Last Cherry Blossom:
Catalogue search “Japan—World War II—Juvenile Fiction” – Review in trade publications were available for the book in the electronic catalogue entry.
For The Girl in the Blue Coat:
Alter, A. (21016, June 13). Novels bring World War II to life for a new generation. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/06/13/books/14novels-bring-world-war-ii-to-life-for-new-generation.html
Winner of the Mystery Writer’s Associations 2017 Edgar Award for best young adult mystery found at http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html
For Flygirl:
NoveList Plus provides an extensive list of read-alike for females’ roles and engagement during WWII. Retrieved http://web.a.ebscohost.com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu/novp/detail?vid=7&sid=6d599665-2cb0-41ff-81e6-ccdfcad69cd0%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=298955&db=neh
For Code Name Verity:
YALSA’s Teen Book Finder Database. Searched theme: “Conflicted: Life during Wartime.” This database provides access to all of YALSA‘s annual selected book and media lists, awards, and honorees.
For Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography:
Rod Library, (2011). Teaching about the Holocaust: A selected Bibliography. Retrieved December 2, 2017 from https://www.library.uni.edu/sites/default/files/youth/microsoft_word_-_holocaust_workshop_bibliography.pdf. The resource brings a reflective list of materials in various formats for grades 6-12 that cover the holocaust.
For A Family Secret:
Wildsmith, S., (2009). Review: A family secret and the search. Retrieved December 3, 2017 from http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2009/09/29/review-a-family-secret-and-the-search/.
For Call of Duty WWII:
Forbes magazine explains the addition of female characters in the Call of Duty: WWII series. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2017/05/01/call-of-duty-world-war-ii-multiplayer-will-have-female-soldiers/#7273587748c2. Now women can enjoy their representation in Call of Duty WWII as well as being more inclined to explore the detailed game experience.
For Bletchley Circle:
Rotten Tomatoes with a 100% critic approval rating and 95% audience score (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bletchley_circle/s01/?) and PBS http://www.pbs.org/program/bletchley-circle/season-1/.
For the Zookeepers Wife:
Resource: Juris, C. (2017, April 3). Page to screen. Publishers Weekly, 264(14), 13. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A489813654/AONE?u=cuny_queens&sid=AONE&xid=ea1e121c
For The Book Thief:
Holden, S. (2013, November 8). A Refuge Found In Pages. New York Times, p. C15 (L). Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A348487723/AONE?u=cuny_queens&sid=AONE&xid=721418eb
For Codename Pauline:
Isaacs, K. (2013). Code Name Pauline: Memoirs of a World War II Special Agent. School Library Journal, 59(7), 114.
For American Women Spies of World War II:
Charles, J. V. (2005). Get real! book talking nonfiction for teen read week 2005. Young Adult Library Services, 4(1), 12-16. Retrieved from http://queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu/docview/217704323?accountid=13379
Libraryelly 