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Invasion
Walter Dean Myers brilliantly renders the realities of World War II.
Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are on their way to an uncertain future. Their whole lives are ahead of them, yet at the same time, death's whisper is everywhere. One white, one black, these young men have nothing in common and everything in common as they approach an experience that will change them forever. It's May 1944. World War II is ramping up, and so are these young recruits, ready and eager. In small towns and big cities all over the globe, people are filled with fear. When Josiah and Marcus come together in what will be the greatest test of their lives, they learn hard lessons about race, friendship, and what it really means to fight. Set on the front lines of the Normandy invasion, this novel, rendered with heart-in-the-throat precision, is a cinematic masterpiece. Here we see the bold terror of war, and also the nuanced havoc that affects a young person's psyche while living in a barrack, not knowing if today he will end up dead or alive.
Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are on their way to an uncertain future. Their whole lives are ahead of them, yet at the same time, death's whisper is everywhere. One white, one black, these young men have nothing in common and everything in common as they approach an experience that will change them forever. It's May 1944. World War II is ramping up, and so are these young recruits, ready and eager. In small towns and big cities all over the globe, people are filled with fear. When Josiah and Marcus come together in what will be the greatest test of their lives, they learn hard lessons about race, friendship, and what it really means to fight. Set on the front lines of the Normandy invasion, this novel, rendered with heart-in-the-throat precision, is a cinematic masterpiece. Here we see the bold terror of war, and also the nuanced havoc that affects a young person's psyche while living in a barrack, not knowing if today he will end up dead or alive.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
54 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
232 books1,184 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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September 30, 2013
Invasion is Walter Dean Myers latest war novel. It begins on May 14, 1944 as American troops are preparing for the D-Day invasion of France, which they know will happen but they don't know when. It is narrated by the main character, Josiah "Woody" Wedgewood, who is with the 29th Infantry Division. During practice, Woody runs into an old friend from home, Marcus Perry, an African American soldier in the all black Transportation Corps.
The story follows Woody before, during and after the invasion. Throughout, Woody describes his feelings, his fearsand his loneliness. These feelings finally prompt him to write home to a girl, Vernelle Ring, that he likes but who doesn't know it.
But the main part of the story is really about fighting to win back Europe from the Nazis and Woody provides some pretty graphic descriptions of what happens on a battlefield. Walter Dean Myers does not romanticize the war nor does he spare the reader. Invasion is rough, raw and detailed, as is some of the language used by the men. According to his Author's Note, Myers wanted his readers to understand that the "...basic truth about war is that it is unbelievably brutal..." He has certainly succeeded in that purpose.
I did have one problem with Invasion. I found there was the real lack of camaraderie among the soldiers who formed the 29th Infantry Division. It almost felt like they were each other's enemy. Woody felt more like a distanced observer of his comrades, recording their behavior as an onlooker, not a participant. Granted when men he knew were killed, he felt really felt the loss, but it was related more to his own fate than the fate of the dead soldier.
Marcus Perry, Woody's friend from back home in Virginia, appears briefly three times in this novel. Naturally, because the Armed Forces were segregated in WWII, they couldn't serve together and probably wouldn't see each other very often, and, in reality, most likely never. But Invasion is also a prequel to two of WDM's previous books about war. Fallen Angels is about the Vietnam war, and focuses on Richard Perry, son of Marcus Perry. Sunrise over Fallujah follows Robin Perry, nephew of Richard Perry, as he goes to war in Iraq following the September 11th attack on the US.
Invasion is a fast-paced novel, though some of Woody's detailed descriptions of unimportant things could have been edited down somewhat. I never really connected with any of the characters, and really didn't feel there was much to Woody, and his comrades felt like shadowy figures. I was sorry about this because I think WDM's message is important. I suspect, however, readers will find this a much more exciting book than I did. And I certainly think it is a worthwhile novel to read.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an ARC received at BEA
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
The story follows Woody before, during and after the invasion. Throughout, Woody describes his feelings, his fearsand his loneliness. These feelings finally prompt him to write home to a girl, Vernelle Ring, that he likes but who doesn't know it.
But the main part of the story is really about fighting to win back Europe from the Nazis and Woody provides some pretty graphic descriptions of what happens on a battlefield. Walter Dean Myers does not romanticize the war nor does he spare the reader. Invasion is rough, raw and detailed, as is some of the language used by the men. According to his Author's Note, Myers wanted his readers to understand that the "...basic truth about war is that it is unbelievably brutal..." He has certainly succeeded in that purpose.
I did have one problem with Invasion. I found there was the real lack of camaraderie among the soldiers who formed the 29th Infantry Division. It almost felt like they were each other's enemy. Woody felt more like a distanced observer of his comrades, recording their behavior as an onlooker, not a participant. Granted when men he knew were killed, he felt really felt the loss, but it was related more to his own fate than the fate of the dead soldier.
Marcus Perry, Woody's friend from back home in Virginia, appears briefly three times in this novel. Naturally, because the Armed Forces were segregated in WWII, they couldn't serve together and probably wouldn't see each other very often, and, in reality, most likely never. But Invasion is also a prequel to two of WDM's previous books about war. Fallen Angels is about the Vietnam war, and focuses on Richard Perry, son of Marcus Perry. Sunrise over Fallujah follows Robin Perry, nephew of Richard Perry, as he goes to war in Iraq following the September 11th attack on the US.
Invasion is a fast-paced novel, though some of Woody's detailed descriptions of unimportant things could have been edited down somewhat. I never really connected with any of the characters, and really didn't feel there was much to Woody, and his comrades felt like shadowy figures. I was sorry about this because I think WDM's message is important. I suspect, however, readers will find this a much more exciting book than I did. And I certainly think it is a worthwhile novel to read.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an ARC received at BEA
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
July 26, 2013
I appreciated the afterword by Myers and the book. I guess I didn't realize that both Fallen Angels and Sunrise over Fallujah were both born from Myers' connection to the wars (his brother died in Vietnam and his son went over to Iraq). So it was inevitable that he would want to write about another war, in which black infantrymen fought separately for the same war where-- to connect the stories-- the main character is part of the generation of characters from the other books.
Myers does these books so well. Readers are in the action and I felt all of the emotion of watching the first few minutes of Saving Private Ryan but in book format. What could these soldiers possibly be thinking as they stormed the beaches in order to win a war but dying by the thousands just to get in and begin.
Wonderfully complicated and emotionally relevant that brings WWII to a generation that can understand war but in a different era with different weapons and thoughts (about everything from integration and African Americans to "the enemy").
Myers does these books so well. Readers are in the action and I felt all of the emotion of watching the first few minutes of Saving Private Ryan but in book format. What could these soldiers possibly be thinking as they stormed the beaches in order to win a war but dying by the thousands just to get in and begin.
Wonderfully complicated and emotionally relevant that brings WWII to a generation that can understand war but in a different era with different weapons and thoughts (about everything from integration and African Americans to "the enemy").
September 20, 2013
Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers returns to historical fiction in this riveting new war novel about the D-Day invasion. The novel opens in May, 1944, and Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are waiting in England for the invasion they know will come, but no one knows when. Both are from the small town of Bedford Virginia, and both are putting their life on the line. Josiah serves in the infantry and Marcus is in an all-black transportation unit. They're practicing over and over for the invasion, but when they leave for real, none of them could imagine the horrors awaiting them on the beach. Told in the first person by Josiah, this novel does not spare the reader in its descriptions of the horrors of war. And it's not only the terrors of the beach landing that we learn about, but what happens after--the terror doesn't end for those few who survive the landing. They still are fighting the Germans tooth and nail for every French village, and more and more of Josiah's comrades become casualties of the war. Will Josiah and Marcus ever make it back to their loved ones in Virginia?
In an author's note, Myers writes that he conducted extensive interviews with WWII veterans for this novel. Some of them wept when they described the 1944 invasion of Europe. War is not an abstraction for this author--his own brother was killed in Vietnam, inspiring his novel Fallen Angels, and his son served as a military chaplain in Iraq during the Gulf War, which serves as the setting for his novel Sunrise over Fallujah. Myers has woven the novels together by creating the character of Marcus Perry, father and uncle to characters in the other books in this trilogy. All are freestanding novels, and can be read independently.
I highly recommend this novel for young people interested in history, World War II, and the realities of war. The novel does contain swearing (consistent with soldiers' language) and violence fitting the theme. Its brief length (212 pages) and powerful story and writing also make it a good choice for reluctant readers.
In an author's note, Myers writes that he conducted extensive interviews with WWII veterans for this novel. Some of them wept when they described the 1944 invasion of Europe. War is not an abstraction for this author--his own brother was killed in Vietnam, inspiring his novel Fallen Angels, and his son served as a military chaplain in Iraq during the Gulf War, which serves as the setting for his novel Sunrise over Fallujah. Myers has woven the novels together by creating the character of Marcus Perry, father and uncle to characters in the other books in this trilogy. All are freestanding novels, and can be read independently.
I highly recommend this novel for young people interested in history, World War II, and the realities of war. The novel does contain swearing (consistent with soldiers' language) and violence fitting the theme. Its brief length (212 pages) and powerful story and writing also make it a good choice for reluctant readers.
March 27, 2017
it was tolking about a man that was going to war a geanst the other sighd of the army and they was not going to stop until one man is stand. and then go have a selibration
I liked the book and I liked it wen it sayed one last man standing
I liked the book and I liked it wen it sayed one last man standing
October 24, 2021
This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I really like his books. This one may be the best of the four. He perfectly captures the life of a common soldier during war. His writing is vivid, the characters real. This book gives voice to the soldiers who stormed Normandy and fought through the hedgerows of France; a tough grueling, frightening experience.
March 15, 2018
I enjoyed the book, I wish it did not end with him getting a bullet in his leg, and his friend getting one in the chest.
March 2, 2015
Growing up in a small town in Virginia doesn’t prepare Josiah Wedgewood for the life altering events of World War II. Could you handle seeing friends being killed each and everyday; then waking up the next day and having to experience it all over again? This book challenges you with that question and also allows you to understand the tragedies and the victories of war.
The main character of this book is Josiah Wedgewood, a solider in the United States Army. This story begins in 1944, the exact year that the United States entered into World War II, and covers the first few months of the war, which took place in France. After serving for some time, Josiah Wedgewood, also known as Woody, didn’t quite understand why it mattered to keep pushing forward when there were so many of his fellow soldiers dying all around him. After so long serving in the war, Woody became numb to the pain of all of the death. Will becoming numb to all of this death come back to bite Woody? How will it affect him when the reality of death looms over him? He learns that sometimes in life he needs to appreciate the little things, and to take risks every once and a while. An example is when Woody gets those rare hot meals during the misery of war. Also, it is shown when he realizes that he might be in love with a woman back home in the United States.
I wanted to read this book because it was recommended to me by a friend who thought it was a book that I would really enjoy. I was so glad that I got recommended to read this book because this book truly reminds me of why we should thank every last man or woman that has served our country just to better peoples lives that they didn't even know. I am a very big fan of historical fiction, so having said that, this book lived up to being an outstanding historical fiction book and one that I really enjoyed reading.
If you are a fan of a book where you get attached to a main character, this is a book for you. Woody is a main character that anyone could appreciate. This is a book that you get so caught up in that you lose track of time. This book is aimed at people who enjoy reading about the past wars that the United States were involved in. I think that high school aged boys who are interested in historical fiction would more than enjoy this book, they would love this book.
The main character of this book is Josiah Wedgewood, a solider in the United States Army. This story begins in 1944, the exact year that the United States entered into World War II, and covers the first few months of the war, which took place in France. After serving for some time, Josiah Wedgewood, also known as Woody, didn’t quite understand why it mattered to keep pushing forward when there were so many of his fellow soldiers dying all around him. After so long serving in the war, Woody became numb to the pain of all of the death. Will becoming numb to all of this death come back to bite Woody? How will it affect him when the reality of death looms over him? He learns that sometimes in life he needs to appreciate the little things, and to take risks every once and a while. An example is when Woody gets those rare hot meals during the misery of war. Also, it is shown when he realizes that he might be in love with a woman back home in the United States.
I wanted to read this book because it was recommended to me by a friend who thought it was a book that I would really enjoy. I was so glad that I got recommended to read this book because this book truly reminds me of why we should thank every last man or woman that has served our country just to better peoples lives that they didn't even know. I am a very big fan of historical fiction, so having said that, this book lived up to being an outstanding historical fiction book and one that I really enjoyed reading.
If you are a fan of a book where you get attached to a main character, this is a book for you. Woody is a main character that anyone could appreciate. This is a book that you get so caught up in that you lose track of time. This book is aimed at people who enjoy reading about the past wars that the United States were involved in. I think that high school aged boys who are interested in historical fiction would more than enjoy this book, they would love this book.
October 5, 2013
When I come across books by Walter Dean Myers, I make an effort to get my hands on and read them, as Myers is such a prolific author and someone whom I think has contributed so much to the oeuvre of multicultural young adult literature. I think I was one of the few people incredibly excited about obtaining a copy of Invasion, Myers’ World War II D-Day book at BEA. Whatever though, I will keep beating my drum in praise and in hopes that more people will pick up these books and stock their classrooms with them – not to go all educational theory on you, but I really think that it’s encouraging to kids to see themselves reflected in books and that’s something Myers books do – with both their stories AND their covers.
Read the rest of my review here
Review will be posted November 4, 2013.
Read the rest of my review here
Review will be posted November 4, 2013.
March 5, 2015
There are certain occasions in life where fear is acceptable. Invasion is based on the experiences of a teenager who fought in World War 2. "Woody", as he was called, had no clue what he was getting himself into when he enlisted in the Army. This book turned out to be exactly what the publisher said it would be. It included multiple “edge-of-your-seat” moments that kept me from putting the book down. Walter Dean Myers clearly wrote this book for anyone who wants a non-censored, first hand account of what went on in France during World War 2. Anyone who is easily offended or doesn't like gore should avoid reading this book.
July 27, 2013
Woody is part of the 29th Infantry Division which invaded France against the Germans on D-Day suffering heavy casualties. This is the story of the Invasion and the weeks following D-Day. Walter Dean Myers gives as another war story. Billed as a prequel to Fallen Angels and Sunrise over Fallujah, Myers shows the horrors of war without being too graphic and sends the message that war is not the answer to the world’s problems. Although the swear count is high, I would certainly recommend this on a Middle School level.
Crossposted to kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
Crossposted to kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
April 28, 2015
This book was a change from the other books as the main character was white which gave the story a different perspective. It allowed the reader to see the racism in the eyes of a white soldier. This story was a more serious and straightforward type of story as it told the story and devastation of war from the frontlines in the heat of battle. I believe because of this factor is the reason I enjoyed this book more than the previous ones.
November 24, 2014
I read Meyers' book Fallen Angels back in high school, so that is why I chose to read this one. Both books really portray war as the horror it truly is. This particular book was quite good but a bit choppy in some parts. The afterword by Meyers was an excellent follow up concerning his intentions.
April 12, 2017
This book is about a man named Woody and Marcus who fight in World War 2. I liked this book because I like history. I would recommend this book to someone who likes history.
December 5, 2014
I am reading INVASION by Walter Dean Myers. In INVASION you meet Marcus Perry. Marcus Perry is working with the allied forces in World- War-II they are preparing for D-Day. They have many training drills to prepare for the invasion. When the invasion starts Marcus watches the united states army get destroyed. After the invasion they are defending their newly taken base. This book is good I recommend it to anybody that like’s WWII books that are about war. :D
February 15, 2022
The book Invasion is by Walter Dean Myers and is a fiction book based on war that takes place during the later part of World War II. This book was originally published on September 13, 2013 with Scholastic as the publisher. I think that this book is very well written, and I think that it is an interesting read. Reading this book was exciting as the author did a great job making the reader feel like they were right there with the main character, and I think that others should read this book as well.
The story starts out on May 14, 1944. The book is written from the point of view of an American soldier Josiah Wedgewood (Woody), who is in the 29th Infantry division. His friend, Marcus Perry, and him are going to help fight in World War II, and they don't know what their future will hold. As the story follows Woody, you see his point of view while he is in Europe. The graphics scenes of the war, and the brutality are seen through his eyes as the story unfolds. This is shown as Woody’s feeling of loneliness is described to the reader throughout the war. Marcus is not seen very often during the book but meets with Woody unexpectedly throughout the book. Other characters that follow along the journey with Woody are other fellow Americans from around the country that are also fighting in the war. These characters are Stagg, Gomez, Minkowitz, and Freihofer. The book allows you to see how they act during the war, and how each person's point of view is different. The way that Walter Dean Myers writes the story shows how in the beginning they are nothing alike but find common ground with each other and their beliefs.
The setting of the book starts out in an army base where the troops are ready for D-Day at any moment. The setting then switches to the beach of Normandy and throughout the book follows their journey around France.
The theme of the book is about the differences between people, how they can become friends with one another, and what it is like to fight for your country. The way that Walter Dean Myers wrote the story is fascinating to read as he gives explicit details of what can go on in a soldier’s mind. Being able to read about how they think the opposing side of the war are monstrous people until they see them face to face and realize they are scared young soldiers just like themselves is amazing. By constantly mentioning how Woody is scared during the war shows what the war was like and how it affected the soldiers.
Overall this book was very interesting to read about the horrors that go on during the war. The graphic scenes being described are perfectly written by the author, and allows for the reader to paint a picture in the mind of what is going on. If somebody is a fan of history or learning about World War II, or wars in general then this is the book for them. In conclusion I really liked this book and would read more books from this author.
The story starts out on May 14, 1944. The book is written from the point of view of an American soldier Josiah Wedgewood (Woody), who is in the 29th Infantry division. His friend, Marcus Perry, and him are going to help fight in World War II, and they don't know what their future will hold. As the story follows Woody, you see his point of view while he is in Europe. The graphics scenes of the war, and the brutality are seen through his eyes as the story unfolds. This is shown as Woody’s feeling of loneliness is described to the reader throughout the war. Marcus is not seen very often during the book but meets with Woody unexpectedly throughout the book. Other characters that follow along the journey with Woody are other fellow Americans from around the country that are also fighting in the war. These characters are Stagg, Gomez, Minkowitz, and Freihofer. The book allows you to see how they act during the war, and how each person's point of view is different. The way that Walter Dean Myers writes the story shows how in the beginning they are nothing alike but find common ground with each other and their beliefs.
The setting of the book starts out in an army base where the troops are ready for D-Day at any moment. The setting then switches to the beach of Normandy and throughout the book follows their journey around France.
The theme of the book is about the differences between people, how they can become friends with one another, and what it is like to fight for your country. The way that Walter Dean Myers wrote the story is fascinating to read as he gives explicit details of what can go on in a soldier’s mind. Being able to read about how they think the opposing side of the war are monstrous people until they see them face to face and realize they are scared young soldiers just like themselves is amazing. By constantly mentioning how Woody is scared during the war shows what the war was like and how it affected the soldiers.
Overall this book was very interesting to read about the horrors that go on during the war. The graphic scenes being described are perfectly written by the author, and allows for the reader to paint a picture in the mind of what is going on. If somebody is a fan of history or learning about World War II, or wars in general then this is the book for them. In conclusion I really liked this book and would read more books from this author.
April 2, 2024
As a sophomore in high school, certain aspects make a book special and this book truly has it. A book with a lot of action allows me to read it over and over again. I have read books all my life but rarely liked them. This book offers a point of view that most authors don’t give. Which is the number of emotions the characters go through. In his final novel, Invasion which was published 10 years ago to this date, famed American author, Walter Dean Myers, takes his readers inside the mind of a teenage boy—his name: Josiah Wedgewood or Woody. Formatted into many long and short chapters varying between 7 to 20 minutes. Walter captures the emotions and feelings associated with a teenage brain in WWII. An element in the book that made it stand out was how the author expressed the emotions of all the characters. It reminds me a lot of how I felt before a big tournament or final exam. The novel starts by establishing Woody’s fear of fighting. He has always gone back and forth between whether or not fighting the Germans is a good thing. Ever since he joined he made friends that have either felt the same way or the complete opposite. His fear begins on D-Day where constantly thinks about what's going to happen and how he's going to die. Throughout the book, he doesn’t overcome his fear of dying which is something that he struggles with throughout the story. Although this book was able to connect with me, I struggled to want to continue this book. It seemed that the novel moved kind of slowly and didn’t receive much action. Due to the low amount of action and the constant reminder of how scared the characters are, I was unable to understand the storyline. It ended up with an unclear climactic moment which led to some confusion throughout the novel. While I did enjoy some of the chapters, there were a few that repeated over and over again. I would follow a specific sequence during the whole book like action, sleep, talk about emotions, and repeat. This whole book was written in this specific sequence around 4 times. The various types of chapters in length, allowed Myers to cover a lot of different topics, but it did repeat the sequence constantly. Overall, this book has opened my eyes to a different type of writing and how an author can connect with the reader through personal connections, so I give it 2.5 stars out of 5. Although having some love for historical fiction, Myer’s Invasion is a nominated book that truly connects the voice of the main characters to the reader, but it just isn’t for me. As a sophomore in high school, I don’t know much about literature, but this book is something that I wouldn’t want to read over and over again, but overall it's worth a read.
November 7, 2024
Invasion By Walter Dean Myers takes place at war on Omaha beach in 1944. The main
character named Woody Wedgewood, 19 year old boy from Virginia at war to make his father proud. I found this book by going to down my school library in my first hour class and looked through most of the fiction books they had. The cover and the opening lines of Invasion really caught my eyes and made me want to read this book.
In the book I read, Invasion By Walter Dean Myers, the book starts off with the main character Woody Wedgewood getting yelled at by Sergent Duncan. During the start, Woody and the American troops preparing for battle on Omaha beach agiasnt the German forces. Woody is always mentioning the food they have to eat on the camp and it is awful. Then it was time for battle and the American troops were ready and on the ship they went toward Omaha. On the way to Omaha on the boat, Woody stays in a room with some guys he has met over the time being at war. As they arrived on the beach coast line Woody started to feel a little scared but knew he had to step up for his country and was ready for battle. After a traumatic battle on the beach, Woody ended up helping out the troops by hitting on eof the last shots on a German to allow the Americans to advance. They got to a town near buy and helped out the people indeed and then got straight back to it heading toward Bayeux. The troops took on more German forces when they reach the Hedgerows of the woods. After they took down those German forces they had to continue on and kept on moving forward and taking down more forces. After was wad complete Woody Wedgewood got to go back to his home to a proud father and got to see all his family.
This book was a very eventful book and interesting topic to read about. Going into this book i never thought of myself as reading a book like this and in the end I did like reading this book and would recommend it to a lot of different types of people. My favorite part that really related to me in the book was how Woody is with his dad. It seemed like his dad was pretty rough on him and he always wants to make his dad proud. And that is all I ever want to do is see my dad proud of me.
I think that this was a great book that I read and would definitely try and get other people to read it or even read it again in the future. Some types of people that might like this book would be people who find war interesting or maybe even someone that wants to look for a new topic or genre to read.
character named Woody Wedgewood, 19 year old boy from Virginia at war to make his father proud. I found this book by going to down my school library in my first hour class and looked through most of the fiction books they had. The cover and the opening lines of Invasion really caught my eyes and made me want to read this book.
In the book I read, Invasion By Walter Dean Myers, the book starts off with the main character Woody Wedgewood getting yelled at by Sergent Duncan. During the start, Woody and the American troops preparing for battle on Omaha beach agiasnt the German forces. Woody is always mentioning the food they have to eat on the camp and it is awful. Then it was time for battle and the American troops were ready and on the ship they went toward Omaha. On the way to Omaha on the boat, Woody stays in a room with some guys he has met over the time being at war. As they arrived on the beach coast line Woody started to feel a little scared but knew he had to step up for his country and was ready for battle. After a traumatic battle on the beach, Woody ended up helping out the troops by hitting on eof the last shots on a German to allow the Americans to advance. They got to a town near buy and helped out the people indeed and then got straight back to it heading toward Bayeux. The troops took on more German forces when they reach the Hedgerows of the woods. After they took down those German forces they had to continue on and kept on moving forward and taking down more forces. After was wad complete Woody Wedgewood got to go back to his home to a proud father and got to see all his family.
This book was a very eventful book and interesting topic to read about. Going into this book i never thought of myself as reading a book like this and in the end I did like reading this book and would recommend it to a lot of different types of people. My favorite part that really related to me in the book was how Woody is with his dad. It seemed like his dad was pretty rough on him and he always wants to make his dad proud. And that is all I ever want to do is see my dad proud of me.
I think that this was a great book that I read and would definitely try and get other people to read it or even read it again in the future. Some types of people that might like this book would be people who find war interesting or maybe even someone that wants to look for a new topic or genre to read.
March 16, 2018
Invasion by Walter Dean Myers is a WWII book that highlights many aspects of WWII. It is 1944, and the war is heating up. The soldiers all around the world are eager to jump into the battlefield, but at the same time are afraid of the future. Josiah Wedgewood, (or Woody) a white man, and Marcus Perry, a black man from the same town in Virginia are yet to learn important lessons of life such as race, friendship, and what it really means to fight in a war. Men of all backgrounds, like Woody and Marcus, are sent on the frontlines of the invasion of Normandy Beach. This novel contains action and experiences that affect a young person's mind and thoughts while living in a barrack, not knowing if today he will end up dead or alive. A thought that is always in a WWII soldier's mind is what do the Germans think about us and the Allies. Going through the horrors of the war, Woody and his friends think that the German soldiers were a bunch of inhumane people who just want to kill. "I thought the Germans were a bunch of superhuman freaks who knew our every movement and a hundred ways of killing us." These soldiers don't know the other German Soldiers who never wanted to fight in the war, and who never wanted to harm anyone. This shows that the soldiers fighting Germany are clearly racist towards them just because of how they see a few soldiers who actually act brutally. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction novels, war novels, and people who are fascinated by history. This is also for people who have read the books Fallen Angels and Sunrise Over Fallujah, both written by Walter Dean Myers. A way that this book connects to the real world is the issue of stereotypes and race. Many people start characterizing people with stereotypes that generate from actions from a small group of people. Instead, they should characterize them by traits and decisions. Walter Dean Myers also highlights the aspect of race problems. Though Invasion and Marcus Perry, is telling the reader that there are racial problems that exist everywhere and every time. Suspense, race, friendship, and bravery I displayed in this novel and is why Invasion by Walter Dean Myers is a book you should consider.
June 26, 2023
This book was a letdown for me. It was labeled as a Young Adult book, and it is written simply enough for that audience, but the content is more in the adult category. My biggest complaint is that the plot felt rushed, and I wasn't able to connect with any of the many supporting characters. Characters are brought in and killed off without much time to bond with any of them. Even the deaths that are intended to be more poignant fall flat because of a lack of development. I think because this book is focused primarily on conveying war action and history to young readers, the narrative is diminished. The book focuses largely on the lead-up and the action of D-Day, but the story continues from there. Considering the title of the book, I think it would have been improved to end the story after the events of D-day (or change the title to something more fitting). I think the story could have been more fleshed out in describing the invasion of Europe and the initial losses and trauma. After D-day, the story feels like it trudges on for no reason, especially when it comes to such an abrupt end. I don't see a greater purpose in the way the story was organized. I also thought the discussion of race and segregation in the armed forces wasn't done justice. It feels like these elements were pasted in later. The story should have given more attention to the character of Marcus and his relationship to Josiah, or his role should have been reduced or removed altogether (the cover image is misleading in this regard since Marcus is largely absent from the plot). This story just doesn't hit the spot when it comes to WWII historical fiction. Perhaps I want something more profound as an adult reader than this type of book is intended to provide, but I wanted something deeper.
May 3, 2018
“I am so scared! I am so scared! There are explosions on the beach to my right.” “Invasion,” by Walter Dean Myers page 44. This book is about Josiah “Woody” Wedgewood and his journey to survive the Invasion of Normandy. This invasion happens during World War Two. Woody has to balance staying brave and keeping save so that he and his friends can return home. I thought this book was extremely good. I would recommend it to people who like war and exciting books. It also can be very deep if you look at it carefully.
One of the best parts of this book is the non-stop excitement. On page 106 it says, “My heart was pounding, and I was gripping my rifle with both hands. As I got near, I held my hand up for Gomez to stop. I took a breath and looked closely. Two guys crouched under a branch.” Since it is a war book it would only make sense to have many exciting fights including tanks and airplanes. This helps show you the horrors and hardships the characters have to live with.
One other thing that the book does really well is relationships. On page 4 it says, “‘Marcus!’ I started toward him and saw a frown at first, then watched the frown turn into a big smile.” Woody has many relationships throughout the book. Whether it be with Marcus his childhood friend or Vernelle his soon to be wife, the relationships are clearly extremely thought out and intricate.
I recommend this book. The action scenes and relationships make it extremely fun to read. I would give this book a five out of five. It can be a little mature at times but the overall thoughtfulness makes the book great.
One of the best parts of this book is the non-stop excitement. On page 106 it says, “My heart was pounding, and I was gripping my rifle with both hands. As I got near, I held my hand up for Gomez to stop. I took a breath and looked closely. Two guys crouched under a branch.” Since it is a war book it would only make sense to have many exciting fights including tanks and airplanes. This helps show you the horrors and hardships the characters have to live with.
One other thing that the book does really well is relationships. On page 4 it says, “‘Marcus!’ I started toward him and saw a frown at first, then watched the frown turn into a big smile.” Woody has many relationships throughout the book. Whether it be with Marcus his childhood friend or Vernelle his soon to be wife, the relationships are clearly extremely thought out and intricate.
I recommend this book. The action scenes and relationships make it extremely fun to read. I would give this book a five out of five. It can be a little mature at times but the overall thoughtfulness makes the book great.
June 10, 2019
I started reading this last week on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. I was looking for something in my collection which described the day and found I had very little. This title was the only fiction I had.
Myers writes a mean war story. It's gritty, brutal and raw. I saw this in arguably his best book, FALLEN ANGELS, and he does the same here with INVASION. He doesn't hold back in describing the horrible things Woody saw and did in battle. But this isn't FALLEN ANGELS. It doesn't beat you down and rip out your heart. It tried. It really did, but it just didn't make it there.
This was a borderline C+/B- book for me. It seemed like we were just dropped in to the story right at the start of D-Day. We didn't really know the characters yet, even Woody the main character. I wish the story would have begun with letting the reader get to know Woody first--before he joined the army, maybe? It would have been easier to appreciate him and what he experiences on D-Day if we really knew him first.
I get the feeling that Myers was really trying to keep the word count down, because the ending is just abrupt. The epilogue was telling us what happened afterwards, but I really would have preferred to experience it. Of course, that would have made this a much longer book.
FYI ... Yes, there's salty language and brutality that's described with no excuses. It's not used frivolously. It's used in a realistic fashion and helps to define some of the characters.
I'd recommend this to those who enjoy gritty war stories, especially fans of Myers' FALLEN ANGELS and SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH.
Myers writes a mean war story. It's gritty, brutal and raw. I saw this in arguably his best book, FALLEN ANGELS, and he does the same here with INVASION. He doesn't hold back in describing the horrible things Woody saw and did in battle. But this isn't FALLEN ANGELS. It doesn't beat you down and rip out your heart. It tried. It really did, but it just didn't make it there.
This was a borderline C+/B- book for me. It seemed like we were just dropped in to the story right at the start of D-Day. We didn't really know the characters yet, even Woody the main character. I wish the story would have begun with letting the reader get to know Woody first--before he joined the army, maybe? It would have been easier to appreciate him and what he experiences on D-Day if we really knew him first.
I get the feeling that Myers was really trying to keep the word count down, because the ending is just abrupt. The epilogue was telling us what happened afterwards, but I really would have preferred to experience it. Of course, that would have made this a much longer book.
FYI ... Yes, there's salty language and brutality that's described with no excuses. It's not used frivolously. It's used in a realistic fashion and helps to define some of the characters.
I'd recommend this to those who enjoy gritty war stories, especially fans of Myers' FALLEN ANGELS and SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH.
May 21, 2020
This book is about the D-day invasion. The main character is Woody and he is 19. Woody had a bullet come close to hitting him, it hit his gun and destroyed it. Woody starts to see the German soldiers as more than just an enemy and as real people. He realized this after interrogating German soldier. The book is meant to show how bad war can get. In the book it talks about how Woody saw people laying dead on the beach, and these people are people that he was talking with only hours ago. The book talks about how bad war affects the veterans minds. One veteran just walked off into the woods and never came back.
I thought the book was interesting because it gave me a different perspective of what war was like. I still have no idea how much those soldiers went through. But it gives an idea of what it was like. I can't imagine getting off those boats and running straight into the shots. It makes me super thankful for the men and women that are serving or have served our country. I think certain wars could be avoided and others are not avoidable but not everyone is going to get along so I think war will happen on and off forever.
I would recommend this book to people who are interested in war and people who want to learn history. Most movies and books show war differently than what it is probably like. But this book shows some of the parts of war that not everyone talks about.
I thought the book was interesting because it gave me a different perspective of what war was like. I still have no idea how much those soldiers went through. But it gives an idea of what it was like. I can't imagine getting off those boats and running straight into the shots. It makes me super thankful for the men and women that are serving or have served our country. I think certain wars could be avoided and others are not avoidable but not everyone is going to get along so I think war will happen on and off forever.
I would recommend this book to people who are interested in war and people who want to learn history. Most movies and books show war differently than what it is probably like. But this book shows some of the parts of war that not everyone talks about.
May 1, 2018
Invasion by walter Dean Myers is a book based on WW2 the narrator is Josiah from the 29th infantry division. In the beginning of the book they are training and then the narrator is part of the invasion of normandy and it explains what terrible things he sees. The author wrote two other books of war one was Fallen angels the other was sunrise over fallujah. The author wrote these books because he had a brother in vietnam and a son in fallujah so making the book invasion made sense since he grew up during WWII. This book did not personally affect me but Walter Dean Myers did make it a gruesome book.
During the book it explains what the African American regiments did during WWII and also talks about how the loved ones of the soldiers were affected and how they felt. The Author show this by having the narrator mailing to his worried mother and a girl he likes. His best friend was a member of the African American group. It explains people dying at omaha in great detail and is almost something you don’t want to read. But it is a really hard book to put down.
This book was really good and if anyone wants to learn about the invasion of normandy they should pick this book up. It was not a hard book to read . The book is based on real events and made up characters but if you want a quick read I would get this book.
During the book it explains what the African American regiments did during WWII and also talks about how the loved ones of the soldiers were affected and how they felt. The Author show this by having the narrator mailing to his worried mother and a girl he likes. His best friend was a member of the African American group. It explains people dying at omaha in great detail and is almost something you don’t want to read. But it is a really hard book to put down.
This book was really good and if anyone wants to learn about the invasion of normandy they should pick this book up. It was not a hard book to read . The book is based on real events and made up characters but if you want a quick read I would get this book.
December 20, 2023
Top 5 reason you should read invasions
1. Cool characters: You meet a lot of characters that are just trying to carry out their mission as navy's seal. This book is mostly between world war 1 and world war.
2. Important themes: This book takes you into a battlefield of all types of different military bases and this book is not always about war. Sometimes even some charters express themselves by wishing they can go back home and see their family.
3.setting: When you start reading book you mostly hear the navy’s on the ship it sounds like they are getting developed to their first ever mission this when they get off the ship and finally got to their mission everybody had to split up but some of the charters that they mention was really scary but overall the setting it is like a very story place to be in.
4.surprising story twist: The book invasion has a lot of twists and turns. When the charters get back from their first mission people start to cry because a lot of people die during the mission and everybody wants to leave and some people want to stay.
5.Amazing descriptions: you mostly feel like you're a navy’s seal because thighs that you are reading are actually happening in real life as we speak so you feel like you're actually in the battlefield but you're not.
1. Cool characters: You meet a lot of characters that are just trying to carry out their mission as navy's seal. This book is mostly between world war 1 and world war.
2. Important themes: This book takes you into a battlefield of all types of different military bases and this book is not always about war. Sometimes even some charters express themselves by wishing they can go back home and see their family.
3.setting: When you start reading book you mostly hear the navy’s on the ship it sounds like they are getting developed to their first ever mission this when they get off the ship and finally got to their mission everybody had to split up but some of the charters that they mention was really scary but overall the setting it is like a very story place to be in.
4.surprising story twist: The book invasion has a lot of twists and turns. When the charters get back from their first mission people start to cry because a lot of people die during the mission and everybody wants to leave and some people want to stay.
5.Amazing descriptions: you mostly feel like you're a navy’s seal because thighs that you are reading are actually happening in real life as we speak so you feel like you're actually in the battlefield but you're not.
December 19, 2019
This book is a really intense book. It's about the story of Josiah Wedgewood during World War II. He was training and didn't expect the terrors of war. Once he finally got into the battles he was feeling really regretful and nervous because of the beach. He had saw all those bodies lying around the beach he saw all the blood too and he got extremely nervous and just wanted to leave. As time passes on he had saw a lot of his buds die. On page 204-5 those were the pages that Mink died. It states, "I could still run, but stupidly, and I hit the ditch and fell heavily onto my chest. I thought I might have been hit. I saw Mink just in front of me. 'Mink! Mink! Check out my leg. I think I'm hit!' The leg was jerking badly . . . Mink's head was down, and I pulled at his shoulder. Mink's head was down, and I pulled. Mink's head was down. I turned him around, but I already knew. There was a huge hole in his chest. 'Oh, Mink. Oh, Mink.'" There was a few helicopters circling around them and then there was loud shots. A bullet had bounced off his femur and had shattered it. He wasn't able to return back to his unit because of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2023
“Invasion” by Walter Dean Myers takes place in Normandy. The main character is Josiah Wedgewood, also known as Woody. I was looking in the library for a fiction book and I came across this. It looked interesting so I decided to check it out.
The main character, Josiah Wedgewood is fighting in the 29th infantry against Germany in Normandy. They have many practice runs to make sure they are prepared. They finally leave for the real invasion but they have to wait because of the weather. When they arrive, the enemy is prepared. They drop and kill many of their soldiers but they keep pushing. Woody’s general is killed right in front of them which horrified him. They arrived at their destination and Germany finally surrendered.
My favorite part of the book was when Germany surrendered. Josiah and the soldiers were in very rough shape but managed to fight and make them surrender. Once they surrendered, it meant Josiah was finally able to go back to his family back home.
Invasion wasn’t the best book I have ever read, but I would still say it was a good book. I think people that are into history and war would really like this book.
The main character, Josiah Wedgewood is fighting in the 29th infantry against Germany in Normandy. They have many practice runs to make sure they are prepared. They finally leave for the real invasion but they have to wait because of the weather. When they arrive, the enemy is prepared. They drop and kill many of their soldiers but they keep pushing. Woody’s general is killed right in front of them which horrified him. They arrived at their destination and Germany finally surrendered.
My favorite part of the book was when Germany surrendered. Josiah and the soldiers were in very rough shape but managed to fight and make them surrender. Once they surrendered, it meant Josiah was finally able to go back to his family back home.
Invasion wasn’t the best book I have ever read, but I would still say it was a good book. I think people that are into history and war would really like this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2018
The book Invasion by Walter Dean Myers is a publishers weekly best book of the year. The book is a war-story about a soldier that approaches a remarkable experience of World War ll that will change his life forever. The soldiers name was Josiah Wedgewood and was Marcus Perry are the main characters. Invasion was a great book to read because of the friendship between two people, the lessons about race, and what dedication to keep your life and fight for your country reveals the characteristics of the characters. The author displays on how war can change someones character on how they feel and act and how hard they are determined to work. Fear, terror and death shows up in the book. I really liked this book because the author did a great job in displaying the friendship, race and the meaning of fighting for your country. Also the author used a lot of imagery throughout the book on the setting, and the actions of the characters. A person who loves a war-story will love to reads this book.
May 13, 2020
“Invasion” by Walter Dean Myers is the prequel to “Fallen Angels” and “Sunrise Over Fallujah.” I read them out of order, which didn’t matter whatsoever. “Fallen Angels” was the first book I read in this makeshift series - and it’s the best one. I read “Sunrise Over Fallujah” next and it didn’t rank as high as “Fallen Angels.” I finished “Invasion” last night and was sorely disappointed.
“Invasion” is based during WWII, mainly the invasion of Normandy. I’m well versed in WWII history and this seemed like very typical plot and storyline. Very formulaic. Typically Walter Dean Myers has a strong male main character that goes through an emotional journey and/or one that isn’t afraid to show his emotions. I didn’t feel connected to this main character at all. There were snippets of backstory and emotions here and there; but again, formulaic.
If you are are a history buff - this will be too mild for you. If you are a Walter Dean Myers fan, there are better options for you from the plethora of novels he has written.
3/5
“Invasion” is based during WWII, mainly the invasion of Normandy. I’m well versed in WWII history and this seemed like very typical plot and storyline. Very formulaic. Typically Walter Dean Myers has a strong male main character that goes through an emotional journey and/or one that isn’t afraid to show his emotions. I didn’t feel connected to this main character at all. There were snippets of backstory and emotions here and there; but again, formulaic.
If you are are a history buff - this will be too mild for you. If you are a Walter Dean Myers fan, there are better options for you from the plethora of novels he has written.
3/5
November 29, 2017
Josiah Wedgewood faces an external conflict when he is fighting the Germans in the hedgerows. He and his fellow troops are caught off guard but eventually push them off. In the text it states ““Go toward the fields! Go toward the fields!” It made no sense. The fields could have been full of Germans waiting for us. Everybody was up and moving away from the houses. The booming of the panzers went on, and I heard a loud explosion just to my left".(p117) This proves that Josiah is having a external conflict, a battle. He has no idea what he is exactly up against at that moment, but he is forced to push on. Also, he constantly fighting for his life.
May 13, 2018
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about war and people who went through it. The book Invasion is about a nineteen year old boy named Josiah Wedgewood and how he goes through World War 2. It shows how he handles going through death everyday and the tragedies of war. He didn't really understand why he had to keep going because people were dying all around. He learned to live with the pain and that he has to take risks in life. At first he had thoughts of fear going through his mind but he had to learn to be brave to make it through the war. Even though he witnessed so many deaths he had to grow up and be brave.
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