Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion

by Samantha Seiple

Overview

Few know the story of the Japanese invasion of Alaska during World War II--until now.

GHOSTS IN THE FOG is the first narrative nonfiction book for young adults to tell the riveting story of how the Japanese invaded and occupied the Aleutian Islands in Alaska during World War II. This fascinating little-known piece of American history is told from the point of view of the American civilians who were captured and taken prisoner, along with the American and Japanese soldiers who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of hand-to-hand combat during the war. Complete with more than 80 photographs throughout and first person accounts of this extraordinary event, GHOSTS IN THE FOG is sure to become a must-read for anyone interested in World War II and a perfect tie-in for the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545457477
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	11/25/2014
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	879,242
Lexile:	1110L (what's this?)
File size:	64 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Samantha Seiple is the author of Lincoln's Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, America's First Private Eye, a 2015 Junior Library Guild Selection; Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion; and Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure. She has worked as a competitive intelligence specialist for a Fortune 500 company, as a librarian, and as a production editor and copy editor. Her education includes degrees in English, journalism, and library and information science. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 6–8—Though a plethora of World War II titles exists, very little has been written about the invasion and occupation of Alaska by Japanese forces in June 1942. At first denied by the U.S. Navy, and then kept in a cloud of secrecy to avoid embarrassment and panic, details of "one of the bloodiest and deadliest hand-to-hand combat battles" between the U.S. and Japan in sealed documents for decades to come. This title shows how the country was unprepared for an invasion, how the "Ghost Warriors" of Japan gained territory, and how American soldiers fought to reclaim the westernmost section of Alaska. The well-written text reads easily, focusing on various individuals and military units and the feats they performed. The cooperation of the native Aleuts is well documented. Sadly, so is their callous treatment at the hands of the U.S. government (e.g., removal from their lands under the pretext of evacuation, substandard living conditions, and many years of waiting for reparation). The text is liberally illustrated with black-and-white images. The quality is not exceptional, as most were likely taken with a vintage personal box camera. They are, however, unique.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

School Library Journal

A little-known story from World War II shows the unique role played by a small group of military personal and native civilians in a remote region of the county.

The role of Alaska in World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor is not often told. "Decades after World War II, the U. S. government kept the documents about the Japanese invasion of Alaska classified, and the Americans who were there when it happened didn't want to talk about it." The Pearl Harbor attack left the western coast vulnerable, and the decision-making concerning defense of the Alaska's Aleutian Islands revealed many military, geographic and social issues. Problems included unpredictable foggy weather at a time of limited satellite technology and what to do about the Aleutian islanders, who had never been away from their isolated homes. The story illuminates the cultural differences between the American and Japanese cultures at that time as well as the reluctance of the U.S. government to treat the native Alaskans as full citizens. The narrative is full of details, and there are times when it is difficult to follow all the threads. Fortunately, the text is supported by many photographs of those involved. Maps, including a strategic military map, increase the level of specificity.

An enlightening account full of compelling stories of survival and perseverance. Pair this with Karen Hesse's fictional account, Aleutian Sparrow (2003).(sources, index) (Nonfiction. 11-14)

Kirkus Reviews