Pilots in Peril!: The Untold Story of U.S. Pilots Who Braved "the Hump" in World War II

by Steven Otfinoski

Overview

Historian Theodore White called it "the most dangerous, terrifying, barbarous aerial transport run in the world…the skyway to Hell." The Hump was a perilous 500-mile flight path across the eastern Himalayan Mountains many U.S. pilots flew during World War II in order to keep the Allies well-supplied in China. Using personal accounts from pilots, rescuers, and U.S. Air Force staff, this fast-paced narrative puts young readers in the cockpit alongside some of the war’s bravest pilots.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491451663
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	07/01/2016
Series:	Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	851,442
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	990L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Steven Otfinoski has written more than 150 books for young readers. Three of his nonfiction books have been chosen Books for the Teen Age by the New York Public Library. Steve is also a playwright and has his own theater company that brings one-person plays about American history to schools. Steve lives in Connecticut with his wife, who is a teacher. They have two children, two dogs, and a cat.

Table of Contents

Lost in the storm — Birth of the hump — Strangers in a strange land — To Tibet and back — Daredevil pilots, problematic planes — Hung up in the jungle — Politicians, Chinese colonels, and a war correspondent — Flying the hump — "Wishing you the best of luck" — Dangers galore — A never-ending nightmare — Big changes on the hump — Alone in the jungle — Diebold to the rescue — Saving Sergeant big foot — The granddaddy of all storms — Last days on the hump — The hump's legacy — The rest of the story.

Interviews

• Fast-paced narrative nonfiction brings the little-known, harrowing, and thrilling story of the Hump airmen to a new audience of young readers • Includes many personal accounts from pilots, rescuers, and U.S. Air Force staff involved with the high-risk World War II flights through the Himalayas • A sophisticated, clean design includes historical photos, maps, and a timeline to supplement the narrative

Editorial Reviews

I liked that it had airplanes and a bit about aerial combat. I also liked that it had a collection of stories instead of just one. I liked that it talked about different ways that the airmen survived in the wild because I like survival books.

Kids' Book Buzz/San Francisco Book Review