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Harlem Hellfighters
"Lewis's poetics are perfectly complemented by Kelley's evocative pastel illustrations, which both inspire and unsettle." –New York Times
They went by many names, but the world came to know them best as the Harlem Hellfighters. Two thousand strong, these black Americans from New York picked up brass instruments—under the leadership of famed bandleader and lieutenant James Reese Europe—to take the musical sound of Harlem into the heart of war. From the creators of the 2012 Boston Globe –Horn Book Award Honor Book, And the Soldiers Sang , this remarkable narrative nonfiction rendering of WWI -- and American -- history uses free-verse poetry and captivating art to tell century-old story of hellish combat, racist times, rare courage, and inspired music.
They went by many names, but the world came to know them best as the Harlem Hellfighters. Two thousand strong, these black Americans from New York picked up brass instruments—under the leadership of famed bandleader and lieutenant James Reese Europe—to take the musical sound of Harlem into the heart of war. From the creators of the 2012 Boston Globe –Horn Book Award Honor Book, And the Soldiers Sang , this remarkable narrative nonfiction rendering of WWI -- and American -- history uses free-verse poetry and captivating art to tell century-old story of hellish combat, racist times, rare courage, and inspired music.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2014
259 people want to read
About the author
J. Patrick Lewis
134 books104 followersJ. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 19, 2025
Looks like I picked the wrong time to pledge to stop being so free-and-easy with five-star reviews on Goodreads. (That sounded like Peter Graves in Airplane saying "Looks like I picked the wrong time to start sniffing glue." Like I'd ever stop sniffing glue.) But anyway, holy crap, this book. The text is truly poetic (Lewis is the former US Children's Poet Laureate) without being pretentious. And the ART. Words fail. It looks more like a graphic novel than a picture book, and it's got a (deliberately) jazzy disjointed feel that may be confusing for kids, but that should NOT deter you. Adults ought to do a little research about the Hellfighters (hi, Wikipedia), an elite fighting unit in WWI, and their music and their era, and either read this book with a kid or sit next to the kid as he or she is reading and be ready to pitch in. Or just buy it for your own damn self, because it is an astonishing work of art. What it is NOT is a book for very little kids. (Older boys may especially like it because it is full of serious wartime badassery.)
A note: A year ago I would have said I wasn't sure that illustrations of lynchings belonged in a picture book. After the events of this year, I know they do. My naivete and innocence were a privilege.
A note: A year ago I would have said I wasn't sure that illustrations of lynchings belonged in a picture book. After the events of this year, I know they do. My naivete and innocence were a privilege.
November 25, 2018
Harlem Hellfighters by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Gary Kelly is a unique non-fiction picture book that discusses the real WWI unit. The information is presented in verse form. The Harlem Hellfighters were an African American army unit (369th Infantry). They became know to the Germans as the Harlem Hellfighters due to their fighting spirit. The unit was also largely responsible for bringing Jazz music to Europe through their band leader Jim Reese Europe. The unit did not fight with the rest of the AEF but served under the French Army. Their unit became one of the most decorated of the war.
J. Patrick Lewis does an excellent job creating a series of short poems to tell the story of the Harlem Hellfighters. This was the first for me in a non-fiction book. It is simple yet effective. The illustrations by Gary Kelly reinforce and enhance the poems. One part that I found powerful was on pages 12 and 13 where there is a Hellfighter looking off his ship into the fog, the fog shifts into a ghostly image of a slave ship and slaves with chains around their necks. I think this did a good job expressing how the Harlem Hellfighters were going to Europe to fight for freedom, while being discriminated against back home. Another illustration I found powerful was on pages 18 and 19 which recrates Eugene Delacroix’s La Liberte guidant le peuple with the Harlem Hellfighters in their WWI French uniforms. Overall and excellent book! I think it would work well in any classroom when discussing WWI, American History, and racism.
J. Patrick Lewis does an excellent job creating a series of short poems to tell the story of the Harlem Hellfighters. This was the first for me in a non-fiction book. It is simple yet effective. The illustrations by Gary Kelly reinforce and enhance the poems. One part that I found powerful was on pages 12 and 13 where there is a Hellfighter looking off his ship into the fog, the fog shifts into a ghostly image of a slave ship and slaves with chains around their necks. I think this did a good job expressing how the Harlem Hellfighters were going to Europe to fight for freedom, while being discriminated against back home. Another illustration I found powerful was on pages 18 and 19 which recrates Eugene Delacroix’s La Liberte guidant le peuple with the Harlem Hellfighters in their WWI French uniforms. Overall and excellent book! I think it would work well in any classroom when discussing WWI, American History, and racism.
November 28, 2018
There seems to exist many historical events, groups, or people who have been lost in time due to a lack of representation. Whether the Harlem Hellfighters were omitted from many history lessons, textbooks, films, etc. on purpose due to racial prejudice, or just because their regiment was but a footnote in a greater disastrous war, I am unsure, but I do know that this book was the first representation that I experienced of the story of the Harlem Hellfighters. They were a New York National Guard unit that was federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment after the United States joined the fighting in the first World War. Yet, despite their warring successes, perhaps their greatest influence was on the music scene, where they brought hope and joy to those in perilous conditions, through the use of an inventive conglomeration of multiple genres/types of music. This book brings honor and recognition to a unit of brave men who fought for the United States and other nations, who receive far too little credit for their valor and sacrifice.
November 9, 2014
As a participant in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy, I have been reading more than I normally would about World War I. I reviewed Stubby The War Dog: The True Story of World War I's Bravest Dog (National Geographic, May 2014) and more recently the beautifully rendered Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (Abrams Books for Young Readers, October 7, 2014) by John Hendrix, a fictionalized account of true events. When I read Harlem Hellfighters (Creative Editions, an imprint of The Creative Company, August 19, 2014) by J. Patrick Lewis with illustrations by Gary Kelley, I knew another significant piece for my picture of this world event was firmly and memorably put in place.
My full recommendation: http://bit.ly/1xfznWV
My full recommendation: http://bit.ly/1xfznWV
February 15, 2015
I always enjoy reading books that bring awareness to subjects not well known to children today. Harlem's Hellfighters shows the bravery and strength of the these men during WWI.
May 25, 2018
I wanted to like it more but the thread of the story was disjointed and didn't always stay clear though the prose itself was enlightening and the artistry was beautiful, I especially liked the squares of portraits at the beginning and several of the other scenes in particular.
Plus, it had an entire two-page spread on Henry Johnson and that has special meaning as a current Albany resident and librarian at Albany High where our JROTC program is the Henry Johnson Battalion.
But it paints a picture of the difficulties (to put it mildly) that black soldiers dealt with during the war.
Plus, it had an entire two-page spread on Henry Johnson and that has special meaning as a current Albany resident and librarian at Albany High where our JROTC program is the Henry Johnson Battalion.
But it paints a picture of the difficulties (to put it mildly) that black soldiers dealt with during the war.
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June 23, 2023Didn’t care for the flow of the book, but the illustrations are beautiful.
April 29, 2017
How have I not been aware of the work of illustrator Gary Kelley before? He knocked my socks off with this book.
It’s also a great story, even without the riveting art work.
The United States did not enter World War I until April, 1917. The Army was segregated, but this did not prevent African-Americans from joining. Between 350,000 and 380,000 black American soldiers played a pivotal role in the conflict.
The 15th New York National Guard Unit, federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment, was called “Harlem Hellfighters” by the Germans for their tenacity as fighters. They were assigned to the French Army by General John Pershing, and served longer than any other American regiment - 191 days on the front lines. The 369th was the first Allied regiment to reach the Rhine after the armistice and received a unit decoration from the French Army for its gallant service.
The 369th also became known for their regimental band, “a mix of primitive jazz, blues, and upbeat ragtime never heard before.” The band’s leader, James “Big Jim” Reese Europe, played on the recruitment buses in New York, and later he led his band cross the ocean.
How to describe the effect of the music on the soldiers? The author writes:
“Europe’s big band ‘jazz spasm,’ riffing to ten pianos, turned listeners’ bones to liquid - cymbal-cornet-clarient clash coursing in the blood.”
Meanwhile, even as the black soldiers were fighting for America’s cause, back home in the States, there was a rash of lynchings in the South. The author reports:
“The Hellfighters were writing their own epigram: At war, men die bravely and escape the rope. At home, cowards lasso trees suspending hope.”
In a text box, the author provides a “tally” at the war’s end:
Mustered in: 2,000 Harlem Hellfighters.
Killed or wounded: 1,500 in 4 French campaigns.
Citations: the Croix de Guerre to 171 Hellfighters; the Medal of Honor to 1 officer (white).
Known as: “The regiment that never lost a man captured, a trench, or a foot of ground.”
Jim Europe’s band: 90 musicians on parade; 30-50 in ballroom orchestra.
Jim Europe was killed in May 9, 1919, by one of his drummers who had gone crazy. On May 13, “the first black man ever to be given a public funeral in the city of New York rolled through the streets of Harlem past a delirium of mourners.” The author observes: “In black armbands, the Hellfighters marched last, their hushed instruments at their sides.”
[Jim Europe is not well known by many, but should be. He was the head of the first black music society in New York, the Clef Club. The Clef Club Orchestra led by Europe - the first all-black orchestra in America, consisted not only of traditional symphony instruments like violins, cellos, brass and wind, but also featured more than twenty strummed instruments - mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and guitars. Europe also became involved with the Music School Settlement for Colored People of Harlem; Europe and a staff of black volunteer Clef Club music teachers provided daily lessons in piano, violin, voice, sight reading and musical theory – at twenty-five cents per lesson. According to an article in "Jazz Times": “It is difficult to overstate the importance of the Clef Club concert in the history of American music.”]
A bibliography and references end the book.
I found Gary Kelley’s pastel illustrations to be jaw-dropping in their simplicity, beauty, and ability to engage the emotions of the viewer. The palette is mostly dark, with accents of red, white, and blue. The pictures are just stunning.
Evaluation: The author served as Children’s Poet Laureate of the United States from 2011 to 2013, and he has won a number of awards, including for his poetry. The verse in this book testifies to his talents. This is an outstanding book with haunting art work.
It’s also a great story, even without the riveting art work.
The United States did not enter World War I until April, 1917. The Army was segregated, but this did not prevent African-Americans from joining. Between 350,000 and 380,000 black American soldiers played a pivotal role in the conflict.
The 15th New York National Guard Unit, federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment, was called “Harlem Hellfighters” by the Germans for their tenacity as fighters. They were assigned to the French Army by General John Pershing, and served longer than any other American regiment - 191 days on the front lines. The 369th was the first Allied regiment to reach the Rhine after the armistice and received a unit decoration from the French Army for its gallant service.
The 369th also became known for their regimental band, “a mix of primitive jazz, blues, and upbeat ragtime never heard before.” The band’s leader, James “Big Jim” Reese Europe, played on the recruitment buses in New York, and later he led his band cross the ocean.
How to describe the effect of the music on the soldiers? The author writes:
“Europe’s big band ‘jazz spasm,’ riffing to ten pianos, turned listeners’ bones to liquid - cymbal-cornet-clarient clash coursing in the blood.”
Meanwhile, even as the black soldiers were fighting for America’s cause, back home in the States, there was a rash of lynchings in the South. The author reports:
“The Hellfighters were writing their own epigram: At war, men die bravely and escape the rope. At home, cowards lasso trees suspending hope.”
In a text box, the author provides a “tally” at the war’s end:
Mustered in: 2,000 Harlem Hellfighters.
Killed or wounded: 1,500 in 4 French campaigns.
Citations: the Croix de Guerre to 171 Hellfighters; the Medal of Honor to 1 officer (white).
Known as: “The regiment that never lost a man captured, a trench, or a foot of ground.”
Jim Europe’s band: 90 musicians on parade; 30-50 in ballroom orchestra.
Jim Europe was killed in May 9, 1919, by one of his drummers who had gone crazy. On May 13, “the first black man ever to be given a public funeral in the city of New York rolled through the streets of Harlem past a delirium of mourners.” The author observes: “In black armbands, the Hellfighters marched last, their hushed instruments at their sides.”
[Jim Europe is not well known by many, but should be. He was the head of the first black music society in New York, the Clef Club. The Clef Club Orchestra led by Europe - the first all-black orchestra in America, consisted not only of traditional symphony instruments like violins, cellos, brass and wind, but also featured more than twenty strummed instruments - mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and guitars. Europe also became involved with the Music School Settlement for Colored People of Harlem; Europe and a staff of black volunteer Clef Club music teachers provided daily lessons in piano, violin, voice, sight reading and musical theory – at twenty-five cents per lesson. According to an article in "Jazz Times": “It is difficult to overstate the importance of the Clef Club concert in the history of American music.”]
A bibliography and references end the book.
I found Gary Kelley’s pastel illustrations to be jaw-dropping in their simplicity, beauty, and ability to engage the emotions of the viewer. The palette is mostly dark, with accents of red, white, and blue. The pictures are just stunning.
Evaluation: The author served as Children’s Poet Laureate of the United States from 2011 to 2013, and he has won a number of awards, including for his poetry. The verse in this book testifies to his talents. This is an outstanding book with haunting art work.
December 22, 2014
Harlem Hellfighters by J. Patrick Lewis and Gary Kelley is truly a gem. It is a timeline of the 15th New York National Guard or the federalized 369th Infantry Regiment and how they came to be with the help of big band composer James Reese Europe. The story follows them from Harlem, to basic training in South Carolina, to their activities in Europe and finally back home to Harlem. Each page is complete with story-line and magnificent artwork by Gary Kelley. One in particular is the striking panels on page 13 accompanied by the statement, “Somewhere in the mid-Atlantic fog of history, two dark ships passed in the night…”. This is in reference to the Pocahontas, a German-built troopship seized in the war that took the Hellfighters to Europe, passing the ghost of a slave ship that brought their ancestors to the Americas.
The stern faces of the men are striking. The illustrations are not caricatures that mock African-American features by being offensive or stereotypical. Dates and events are given in order making it easy to step outside the text to find more information. For example, The death of Europe was at the hands of a drummer by the name of Herbert Wright. A quick search lead to an article in Google that spoke of Wright’s early release from prison. The article is dated Saturday, April 9, 1927. There is also an article about Jim Europe’s band and their activities dated 5 days before his death.
These men signed up to go to war, even though they were fighting a war at home by the name of Jim Crow and its brutal tactic of lynching. (p.22) One thing that I didn't know was that the Croix de Guerre, France’s highest military honor, was given to a Hellfighter by the name of Henry “Black Death” Johnson. The first ever given to an American servicemen. In total, 171 Hellfighters received the Croix de Guerre.
Wonderful book! It won the New York Times Best illustrated Book Award for 2014.
The stern faces of the men are striking. The illustrations are not caricatures that mock African-American features by being offensive or stereotypical. Dates and events are given in order making it easy to step outside the text to find more information. For example, The death of Europe was at the hands of a drummer by the name of Herbert Wright. A quick search lead to an article in Google that spoke of Wright’s early release from prison. The article is dated Saturday, April 9, 1927. There is also an article about Jim Europe’s band and their activities dated 5 days before his death.
These men signed up to go to war, even though they were fighting a war at home by the name of Jim Crow and its brutal tactic of lynching. (p.22) One thing that I didn't know was that the Croix de Guerre, France’s highest military honor, was given to a Hellfighter by the name of Henry “Black Death” Johnson. The first ever given to an American servicemen. In total, 171 Hellfighters received the Croix de Guerre.
Wonderful book! It won the New York Times Best illustrated Book Award for 2014.
January 15, 2015
The art was evocative and the writing was poetic about the tenacious, inspiring African-American World War II soldiers. Occasionally, it felt a bit disjointed--for example, they kept on mentioning music, and I didn't quite get whether the 2000 men all played an instrument and fought in the war, or the exact sequence of events. I just wish there had been a little more writing. It ended up feeling like a cross between a picture book and a short history book with gorgeous illustrations. Other than that, excellent.
July 9, 2015
I was disappointed with this book. I was so looking forward to learning details about the Harlem Hellfighters but all I got was fluff (and a couple interesting tidbits). I found myself rereading almost every page cause I wasn't quite sure what the poetry was trying to say. Great pictures, but not that much information. (I was a fan of the very last page... that one, I liked).
December 12, 2014
The free verse poetic text is fairly minimal for such a big topic and yet it beautifully conveys the magnitude and music of the Harlem Hellfighters. This is an impressive and unusual offering.
January 9, 2015
The pictures are heartbreaking and reflect the beauty of the verse. Perfect to combine with other materials about the war and this group.
November 28, 2018
This children’s picture book showcases the lives and work of the Harlem Hellfighters, also known as the 15th New York National Guard or the 369th Infantry Regiment. This was a group of 2,000 black American soldiers from New York who enlisted in the army and fought in World War I. This unit was especially significant due to the music they brought with them, which was led and inspired by James “Big Jim” Reese Europe. James Europe used music to inspire patriotism and helped to encourage other black Americans to join the military. The story follows the Harlem Hellfighters as they enlisted, travelled overseas to France, and experienced life as a soldier. The men that were apart of the 15th New York National Guard were not just soldiers, they were musicians as well, and they brought their jazz music with them to Europe. This book has so many teaching components to it and topics that can be used as discussion questions in class: World War I, segregation and racism, and American life in the early 1900’s. Additionally, the fact that these African American soldiers introduced their music to European communities and how music impacted the war is another great topic to discuss with students.
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February 20, 2023A novel called Harlem Hellfighter gives us a cultural perspective of American history. The 369th Infantry Regiment fought alongside the French army while their own country forbade them from fighting alongside them. Although its considerations are lacking, they are nonetheless of utmost significance in the battle against the suppression of Black History.I became aware of Henry Johnson, the first African American to get the Criox de Guerre while serving in the American military, which was France's highest military decoration. This would be used in my history lesson during Black History Month to introduce students to important black Americans who may not be aware of their contributions to history. This will be my students' research project.
November 26, 2018
At a time in our history where African Americans still lacked basic rights, there were still over 350,000 black American soldiers who fought for our nation during WWII. This nonfiction book takes an unconventional approach to shed light on an important group of these soldiers, the 369th Infantry Regiment or the ‘Harlem Hellfighters’ as they were named by the Germans for their tenacity in battle.
The author and illustrator tell the story of the Harlem Hellfighters in a more poetic style. Each block of text is accompanied by Gary Kelley’s dark but beautiful illustrations. In this way, the book explores the Harlem Hellfighters in small stories, rather than walking the readers through the entire journey. While this style added creative interest, it made the book slightly more confusing to follow. Therefore, even though it’s a picture book it might not be suitable for younger readers.
The author and illustrator tell the story of the Harlem Hellfighters in a more poetic style. Each block of text is accompanied by Gary Kelley’s dark but beautiful illustrations. In this way, the book explores the Harlem Hellfighters in small stories, rather than walking the readers through the entire journey. While this style added creative interest, it made the book slightly more confusing to follow. Therefore, even though it’s a picture book it might not be suitable for younger readers.
December 8, 2021
CR: 2014
Awards: Notable Books for a Global Society Winner (2015)
Genre: Picturebook, Historical
Motivated by a mix of Jazz, Blues, and Ragtime music, Harlem Hellfighters follows the all-black regimen in WWI as they go from training and persecution, to menial jobs in the military, to fighting alongside the French against the Germans.
Awards: Notable Books for a Global Society Winner (2015)
Genre: Picturebook, Historical
Motivated by a mix of Jazz, Blues, and Ragtime music, Harlem Hellfighters follows the all-black regimen in WWI as they go from training and persecution, to menial jobs in the military, to fighting alongside the French against the Germans.
April 20, 2025
My takeaway from this book was a deep appreciation for how history often reveals stories of overlooked bravery and talent. It also opened my eyes to the intersection of art, music, and culture during this period, where the Harlem Renaissance was not only about artistic expression but also about resilience and defying racial boundaries.
December 11, 2016
Would be a great addition to a unit on WWI. Gives a different perspective than what we usually learn.
May 4, 2019
Art, 5+ stars. Story/flow, 4 stars.
October 19, 2025
This book is a unicorn - factual history, lovely illustrations, and tailored to be read aloud to younger children. Highly recommended.
February 24, 2015
February is Black History Month and this year's theme is A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture. It is a good time to look back and reflect on the changes and contributions of African Americans to the fabric of American life in the last century.
For example, more and more we are learning about the achievements of African American soldiers in World War II. Books like The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin, Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles by Tanya Lee Stone, Double Victory: How African American Women Broke the Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II by Cheryl Mullenbach, and The Double V Campaign: African Americans and World War II by Michael L. Cooper all highlight the contributions these courageous Americans made in the fight for democracy even as they were being denied their basic civil rights.
Now, J. Patrick Lewis and Gary Kelly, the same duo who produced the lovely book And the Soldiers Sang, about the Christmas Truce in 1914 during World War I, have written a book introducing us to the brave and talented unsung heroes of the 15thNew York National Guard, which was later federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment, soldier that the Germans dubbed the Harlem Hellfighters. "because of their tenacity."
In beautifully lyrical prose, Lewis tells how bandleader James "Big Jim" Reese Europe was recruited to organize a new black regiment in New York. Traveling around in an open air double-decker bus, his band played on the upper level, while the new recruits lined up below. Willing to fight like any American, enthusiastic patriotism may have motivated these young men, but racism at home, and in the army resulted in segregation while training and doing the kind of grunt work not given to white soldiers in Europe, even as they entertained tired soldiers with [Jim] Europe's big band jazz sounds.
Each page tells small stories of the 369th: their heroics, homesickness, the bitter cold, the lynchings back home, the fighting on the French front lines. Extending the narrative are Gary Kelly's dark pastel illustrations. Kelly's visual representations of the men of the 369th Infantry are both haunting and beautiful. He has used a palette of earth tones and grays, so appropriate for the battlefields and uniforms of war, but with color in the images of patriotism, such as flags and recruiting posters, and highlighting the reasons we go to war. Some of Kelly's image may take your breath away with their stark depiction of, for example, the hanging figures, victims of a lynching, or the irony of the shadowy faces of people in a slave ship hull, shackles around their necks, on their voyage to America and slavery next to a soldier heading to Europe to fight for freedom and democracy.
Harlem Hellfighters is an exquisitely rendered labor of love, but readers may find it a little disjointed in places. Lewis's fact are right, though, and he also includes a Bibliography for readers who might want to know more or those who just want more straightforward nonfiction books about the 369th Regiment.
As a picture book for older readers, Harlem Hellfighters would pair very nicely with Walter Dean Myer's impeccable researched and detailed book The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage written with Bill Miles. Myer's gives a broader, more historical view of these valiant men. These would extend and compliment each other adding to our understanding and appreciation of what life was like for African American soldiers in World War I.
Both books is recommended for readers age 10+
Harlem Hellfighters was bought for my personal library
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
For example, more and more we are learning about the achievements of African American soldiers in World War II. Books like The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin, Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles by Tanya Lee Stone, Double Victory: How African American Women Broke the Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II by Cheryl Mullenbach, and The Double V Campaign: African Americans and World War II by Michael L. Cooper all highlight the contributions these courageous Americans made in the fight for democracy even as they were being denied their basic civil rights.
Now, J. Patrick Lewis and Gary Kelly, the same duo who produced the lovely book And the Soldiers Sang, about the Christmas Truce in 1914 during World War I, have written a book introducing us to the brave and talented unsung heroes of the 15thNew York National Guard, which was later federalized as the 369th Infantry Regiment, soldier that the Germans dubbed the Harlem Hellfighters. "because of their tenacity."
In beautifully lyrical prose, Lewis tells how bandleader James "Big Jim" Reese Europe was recruited to organize a new black regiment in New York. Traveling around in an open air double-decker bus, his band played on the upper level, while the new recruits lined up below. Willing to fight like any American, enthusiastic patriotism may have motivated these young men, but racism at home, and in the army resulted in segregation while training and doing the kind of grunt work not given to white soldiers in Europe, even as they entertained tired soldiers with [Jim] Europe's big band jazz sounds.
Each page tells small stories of the 369th: their heroics, homesickness, the bitter cold, the lynchings back home, the fighting on the French front lines. Extending the narrative are Gary Kelly's dark pastel illustrations. Kelly's visual representations of the men of the 369th Infantry are both haunting and beautiful. He has used a palette of earth tones and grays, so appropriate for the battlefields and uniforms of war, but with color in the images of patriotism, such as flags and recruiting posters, and highlighting the reasons we go to war. Some of Kelly's image may take your breath away with their stark depiction of, for example, the hanging figures, victims of a lynching, or the irony of the shadowy faces of people in a slave ship hull, shackles around their necks, on their voyage to America and slavery next to a soldier heading to Europe to fight for freedom and democracy.
Harlem Hellfighters is an exquisitely rendered labor of love, but readers may find it a little disjointed in places. Lewis's fact are right, though, and he also includes a Bibliography for readers who might want to know more or those who just want more straightforward nonfiction books about the 369th Regiment.
As a picture book for older readers, Harlem Hellfighters would pair very nicely with Walter Dean Myer's impeccable researched and detailed book The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage written with Bill Miles. Myer's gives a broader, more historical view of these valiant men. These would extend and compliment each other adding to our understanding and appreciation of what life was like for African American soldiers in World War I.
Both books is recommended for readers age 10+
Harlem Hellfighters was bought for my personal library
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
January 12, 2016
(32 p, picture book) / ISBN 9781568462462
This nonfiction book is about the Black National Guard NY 5th unit that became federalized and known as 369th Infantry Regiment during the First World War in France during 1917-1918. The structure occurs in chronological order and follows the main character and leader James “Big Jim” Reese Europe. In the beginning Jim is recruiting men of color into the military by luring them with his ragtime music from the top of a bus. It also lets the reader peer into the other option at this time; black males getting lynched. The fresh recruits choose to board the ship to travel to Europe. While at sea, they eerily peer into a passing ship of black slaves. Once in France, the illustrations portray the men’s courage to maintain the front and rage in the battlefields. The drawings give off a ghostly feeling as men seem to be portrayed with the 1000 Mile Stare. They fight for 191 days and become known under many labels; Black Rattlers, Bronze Battalion, Chocolate Soldiers and Black Death. Near the end they portray a victory, homecoming and Armistice Day, only to once again be turned around by Jim’s death and funeral. With every flip of the page we can see how decisions of war, racism and politics can swiftly change lives. The layout of this book has soulful illustrations that seem done in charcoal and make up about 75% of each page. The text consists of informational context done in free verse poetry and makes up about 25% of each page. The characteristics of this book match the subject matter as the paper’s green text box matches the military color and the font style of the headings resemble a vintage French poster. The front matter consists of a full-page introduction and the back matter contains a bibliography and artists notes. The most intriguing section of this book is the first two pages, which displays like a yearbook showing about 24 black soldiers individually from the neck up. These men’s faces capture determination, courage and pride. It makes the reader look at each as an individual. It is a perfect blend of information and creativity as well as a great tribute to these men. However, the story of The Hellfighters is so much more and this book only scratches the surface of the disturbing history. I would recommend this book for children ages 9-12 or as an introduction to study racial subjects during war. I could book talk this story and compare it with is Fly Girl. Watch more about Hellfighters: http://www.history.com/topics/world-w...
This nonfiction book is about the Black National Guard NY 5th unit that became federalized and known as 369th Infantry Regiment during the First World War in France during 1917-1918. The structure occurs in chronological order and follows the main character and leader James “Big Jim” Reese Europe. In the beginning Jim is recruiting men of color into the military by luring them with his ragtime music from the top of a bus. It also lets the reader peer into the other option at this time; black males getting lynched. The fresh recruits choose to board the ship to travel to Europe. While at sea, they eerily peer into a passing ship of black slaves. Once in France, the illustrations portray the men’s courage to maintain the front and rage in the battlefields. The drawings give off a ghostly feeling as men seem to be portrayed with the 1000 Mile Stare. They fight for 191 days and become known under many labels; Black Rattlers, Bronze Battalion, Chocolate Soldiers and Black Death. Near the end they portray a victory, homecoming and Armistice Day, only to once again be turned around by Jim’s death and funeral. With every flip of the page we can see how decisions of war, racism and politics can swiftly change lives. The layout of this book has soulful illustrations that seem done in charcoal and make up about 75% of each page. The text consists of informational context done in free verse poetry and makes up about 25% of each page. The characteristics of this book match the subject matter as the paper’s green text box matches the military color and the font style of the headings resemble a vintage French poster. The front matter consists of a full-page introduction and the back matter contains a bibliography and artists notes. The most intriguing section of this book is the first two pages, which displays like a yearbook showing about 24 black soldiers individually from the neck up. These men’s faces capture determination, courage and pride. It makes the reader look at each as an individual. It is a perfect blend of information and creativity as well as a great tribute to these men. However, the story of The Hellfighters is so much more and this book only scratches the surface of the disturbing history. I would recommend this book for children ages 9-12 or as an introduction to study racial subjects during war. I could book talk this story and compare it with is Fly Girl. Watch more about Hellfighters: http://www.history.com/topics/world-w...
April 18, 2016
The nonfiction book Harlem Hellfighters by Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Gary Kelley is about World War I and how a group of over two thousand black Americans from New York joined the fight with instruments in tow. These men were accompanied by their band leader, James Reese Europe, who wanted to play the music of Harlem to the people out fighting the war. The book goes through the struggles the soldiers had to go through and what they did to finally be recognized as contributing soldiers in the war. The way Patrick Lewis writes his story is almost songlike itself because he uses a poetic approach. The poetic flow of Patrick Lewis’ writing style for this book compliments Gary Kelley’s dark but amazing illustrations for the book. The illustrations tell the story just as much as the actual words do and without the illustrations the book would not be as good as it is. Towards the end of the book when the Harlem Hellfighters come home from the war they marched the streets of New York and sang songs for the people welcoming them home. After they returned a fight between the band leader of the Harlem Hellfighters and another man broke out and the band leader (James Reese Europe) was killed after getting his neck nicked by the man’s knife. After his death, Governor Calvin Coolidge spoke about the Harlem Hellfighters and then three days later there was a parade down Harlem Street in New York to honor James Reese Europe and it was the first time New York had a public funeral for a black man. As the funeral came to an end, the last to march down the street were the remaining Harlem Hellfighters with their quiet instruments at their sides in respect for their fallen band leader.
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September 23, 2015Told with incredible illustrations and spare chunks of text, Harlem Hellfighters is not just a story of WWI, but a story of race relations during that era. The small pieces of the story help pack an emotional punch but also shield young readers from the true horrors of WWI.
The 369th, an all black unit, was assembled and sent to France. The men hoped they would be fighting on the front lines, but that evaded them for a long time because of their race. Instead they found themselves doing grunt work far behind the fighting. Under the direction of James Reese Europe, ninety of the men played a fusion jazz that inspired and excited many soldiers and civilians.
Eventually they were sent to the front where they fought admirably and tenaciously. They earned the German nickname Harlem Hellfighters. Many of the men were killed and wounded, but many earned medals of honor, including Henry Johnson who earned a Croix de Guerre, the first American to do so.
The color palette of the illustrations is wonderful. Dark grays, black, blues, browns and purples give them a cold and gritty atmosphere. The text is lyrical and poetic which also contributes to the atmosphere of the book.
This is definitely a worthwhile picture book. A picture book that shows they aren’t just for preschoolers. The language is complex, beautiful and evocative. Although it’s not packed with facts, it will definitely spark interest in race relation, WWI, and jazz. And would be an excellent book to read together, either as a class or family, to process the events. There’s a lot to think about here.
The 369th, an all black unit, was assembled and sent to France. The men hoped they would be fighting on the front lines, but that evaded them for a long time because of their race. Instead they found themselves doing grunt work far behind the fighting. Under the direction of James Reese Europe, ninety of the men played a fusion jazz that inspired and excited many soldiers and civilians.
Eventually they were sent to the front where they fought admirably and tenaciously. They earned the German nickname Harlem Hellfighters. Many of the men were killed and wounded, but many earned medals of honor, including Henry Johnson who earned a Croix de Guerre, the first American to do so.
The color palette of the illustrations is wonderful. Dark grays, black, blues, browns and purples give them a cold and gritty atmosphere. The text is lyrical and poetic which also contributes to the atmosphere of the book.
This is definitely a worthwhile picture book. A picture book that shows they aren’t just for preschoolers. The language is complex, beautiful and evocative. Although it’s not packed with facts, it will definitely spark interest in race relation, WWI, and jazz. And would be an excellent book to read together, either as a class or family, to process the events. There’s a lot to think about here.
December 9, 2015
This book was not one of my favorites. It is a book that is written in verse and for some reason I had a hard time getting through it. It was hard for me to understand what was going on most of the time.
Harlem Hellfighters is about African American men that enlisted to fight in World War I. The United States didn’t join the battle of World War I until 1917, two years after it had begun. In 1916 James Europe was chosen to assemble a black regiment in Harlem. The men were sent to the South to train. Soon after, these men were sent on ships to France. This regiment was faced with third-rate jobs, the same kind of jobs that the African American men would face at home such as shoveling dams and building hospitals in the mud. In March 1918 they finally went to war. Two thousand men known as the 15th New York National Guard and the 369th Infantry Regiment .While they were at war, at home African Americans still faced segregation, there was still lynching going on in the South. During the war many of these men played instruments as they were being led by lieutenant James Reese Europe. These men took their music to the war.
The book was filled with amazing pictures that complemented the text amazingly. Most of the time I knew what was going on because of the pictures.
I would incorporate this book in my classroom library and make it available to my students. Although it was hard for me to get through it not everyone is the same and maybe other people will have an easier time with it.
Harlem Hellfighters is about African American men that enlisted to fight in World War I. The United States didn’t join the battle of World War I until 1917, two years after it had begun. In 1916 James Europe was chosen to assemble a black regiment in Harlem. The men were sent to the South to train. Soon after, these men were sent on ships to France. This regiment was faced with third-rate jobs, the same kind of jobs that the African American men would face at home such as shoveling dams and building hospitals in the mud. In March 1918 they finally went to war. Two thousand men known as the 15th New York National Guard and the 369th Infantry Regiment .While they were at war, at home African Americans still faced segregation, there was still lynching going on in the South. During the war many of these men played instruments as they were being led by lieutenant James Reese Europe. These men took their music to the war.
The book was filled with amazing pictures that complemented the text amazingly. Most of the time I knew what was going on because of the pictures.
I would incorporate this book in my classroom library and make it available to my students. Although it was hard for me to get through it not everyone is the same and maybe other people will have an easier time with it.
February 19, 2016
Poetic vignettes describing the courageous efforts of the 369th Infantry Regiment or so-called Harlem Hellfighters who served their country in whatever ways they could during WWI. The opening pages feature some of the images of the 2,000 African-American men from Harlem who served in the military during that time period. The vignettes begin with recruitment efforts before moving to training and their assignment to grunt labor as they dug trenches for soldiers. The illustrations and text capture the flavor of the times, making it clear that while war was being waged on one front in Europe, things at home were far from peaceful. Eventually, the men proved their meddle with 1,500 of them being killed or wounded and 171 receiving citations. Through all the violence the story of jazz musician Jim Europe's story is threaded. This is an interesting approach to a fascinating part of the nation's history. I would have enjoyed it even more if there had been a list of all the men who served in this regiment.
November 3, 2014
*Gary Kelley's artwork is incredible.
*A great resource for African American History.
African American soldiers from Harlem fought in World War I, inspiring a continent with jazz music.
Harlem Hellfighters, named by the Germans for their tenacity. They also called themselves The Men of Bronze or The Black Rattlers--2,000 strong. They made history not on only on the battlefield but also for their original music creation. A mix of jazz, blues, and ragtime never heard before. Inspired by James "Big Jim" Reese Europe, the Hellfighters' music cam from their souls.
The Jazz King of Broadway
May 13, 1919
New York City
Three days later,
the first black man ever to be given
a public funeral in the city of New York
rolled through he streets of Harlem
past a delirium of mourners.
In black armbands, the Hellfighters
marched last, their hushed instruments
at their sides.
*A great resource for African American History.
African American soldiers from Harlem fought in World War I, inspiring a continent with jazz music.
Harlem Hellfighters, named by the Germans for their tenacity. They also called themselves The Men of Bronze or The Black Rattlers--2,000 strong. They made history not on only on the battlefield but also for their original music creation. A mix of jazz, blues, and ragtime never heard before. Inspired by James "Big Jim" Reese Europe, the Hellfighters' music cam from their souls.
The Jazz King of Broadway
May 13, 1919
New York City
Three days later,
the first black man ever to be given
a public funeral in the city of New York
rolled through he streets of Harlem
past a delirium of mourners.
In black armbands, the Hellfighters
marched last, their hushed instruments
at their sides.
December 13, 2014
Germany called them the Harlem Hellfighters for their tenacity in the First World War. These eager black soldiers hail from Harlem New York, bringing their original big band jazz for morale along with their fearless bravery to the trenches. Bigots at home will call them “darkies playing soldiers,” but despite the shameful racism, the Harlem Hellfighters do not lose hope or pride. They fight like hell and give birth to legends, such as James “Big Jim” Reese, and red cap Albany porter Henry Johnson.
I had to read this book a few times to really grasp what it was conveying. Its valuable historical information is written in a lyrical way. It is not a history lesson; so much as it is an artistic tribute to this lesser known part of World War I history. I think this book may be better suited to readers with a good idea of World War I history, because this book will enhance their knowledge.
I had to read this book a few times to really grasp what it was conveying. Its valuable historical information is written in a lyrical way. It is not a history lesson; so much as it is an artistic tribute to this lesser known part of World War I history. I think this book may be better suited to readers with a good idea of World War I history, because this book will enhance their knowledge.
November 8, 2014
The Men of Bronze, the Black Rattlers, the Harlem Hellfighters - J. Patrick Lewis tells us about the first all-black U.S. combat unit to be shipped overseas during WWI. Not only were they touted as tenacious by the Germans because in 191 days of duty at the front they never had any men captured nor ground taken, but the 369th Infantry's regimental band, conducted by James Reese Europe, was credited with introducing American jazz to France and the rest of Europe. I love Patrick's description of their music: "Europe's big band 'jazz spasm,' riffing to ten pianos, turned listeners' bones to liquid - cymbal-cornet-clarinet clash coursing in the blood." Gary Kelley's illustrations are emotionally raw, with dark tones accented with patriotic red, white, and blue. This book packs a powerful punch.
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