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World War Two: Against The Rising Sun
Campfire's World War Against The Rising Sun focuses on the war in the East, through the eyes of the servicemen and civilians on both sides of the conflict. From the invasion of Manchuria by Japan in 1937, right through to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we witness the end of the British Empire, the rise and fall of Japan and destruction the likes of which the world must never know again.
While authoritative texts on World War Two often tend to focus disproportionately on the European theater of war, the Pacific theater was no less dramatic, with its roots stretching back to the early 1930s. This book tells the history of World War Two in the Pacific theater, told from many perspectives.
While authoritative texts on World War Two often tend to focus disproportionately on the European theater of war, the Pacific theater was no less dramatic, with its roots stretching back to the early 1930s. This book tells the history of World War Two in the Pacific theater, told from many perspectives.
168 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
40 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jason Quinn
42 books8 followersJason Quinn is the award winning author of Campfire's Steve Jobs: Genius by Design. He learned to read with Marvel Comics and was devastated when his teacher told him Spider-Man did not exist. He has worked in publishing for the last twenty years as an editor and writer, working on everything from Spider-Man toBarbie. He moved to India in 2012 and currently works as Campfire's Creative Content Head
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 25, 2016
I'll be brutally honest; this is not a page-turner nor is it exciting or entertaining. However, it is the best book for teens I've read on the Pacific War & the Asian Holocaust. It is informative, interesting and intense. Compellingly unbiased this graphic novel tells the soldier's story of the Pacific War from every angle: the Japanese, the British the Burmese, the Thai, the Chinese, the Russians, the Indians (those fighting for each side), Malaysians, Australians and the Americans. While not being terribly graphic in either pictures or words, the author & illustrator pull no punches in showing the atrocities of the Japanese and their cultural mindset at this time. It also explores the plight of many countries trying to choose between their British Empirical oppressors or the tyrant Japanese who falsely promise an "Asia for Asians". Fantastic piece of work on this subject that every library with teen readers should have on the shelves.
June 21, 2020
This is one of the best books I have read on WWII on the Eastern front.Two things stand out-the graphics and the narration.The story has been narrated by soldiers,pilots,servants,PoWs etc.The brutalities committed by Japanese and the retaliation of the Americans comes alive through the amazing graphics.
Coming to the historical point of view, when we think of World War II,one of the biggest scars on humanity,we generally think about Germany and Europe.The Pacific theater of WWII often means Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.This book contains a lot of minute details,not only about, about the battles and the way they were fought,but also the mindset of the soldiers and even Kamikaze pilots.
Its not a classic but its a book which should be read.I think this can be used as a reference book in schools as graphic novels are the future of history books.
Coming to the historical point of view, when we think of World War II,one of the biggest scars on humanity,we generally think about Germany and Europe.The Pacific theater of WWII often means Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.This book contains a lot of minute details,not only about, about the battles and the way they were fought,but also the mindset of the soldiers and even Kamikaze pilots.
Its not a classic but its a book which should be read.I think this can be used as a reference book in schools as graphic novels are the future of history books.
March 7, 2022
While it is next to impossible to ignore the most prominent monster of WWII, this book concentrates on the theater played out between Japan and the Allies as the former went on a destructive rampage to dominate Asia and the Pacific.
Already at war with the Republic of China in 1937, things came to a shocking head with the attack on the U.S. fleet of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Inviting the justifiable ire of the U.S., Asia and the Pacific soon became bloody playgrounds as millions of people, both servicemen and civilians lost their lives in never-ending military coups. The Asia-Pacific war was marked by intense naval battles, fierce fighting and deplorable war crimes. Incorporating fictional characters, the book gives us an insight into the minds of the Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Burmese, American, Australians and others as they plunged into bloody combat, either forcibly or out of a sense of patriotism. While Hitler will always be held accountable for the untold devastation that he wrecked, the Pacific theater drew to an equally horrifying end with the dropping of the first atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
Every war time read reiterates the fact that war is futile and the ones who lost their everything are rarely the ones who waged war in the first place. And yet, we never seem to learn from history. This is a long and informative read which can get a bit confusing as you try to keep track of everything. But it is also a solid introduction to those who would like to know what actually transpired during what is marked as the deadliest conflict in human history.
Already at war with the Republic of China in 1937, things came to a shocking head with the attack on the U.S. fleet of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Inviting the justifiable ire of the U.S., Asia and the Pacific soon became bloody playgrounds as millions of people, both servicemen and civilians lost their lives in never-ending military coups. The Asia-Pacific war was marked by intense naval battles, fierce fighting and deplorable war crimes. Incorporating fictional characters, the book gives us an insight into the minds of the Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Burmese, American, Australians and others as they plunged into bloody combat, either forcibly or out of a sense of patriotism. While Hitler will always be held accountable for the untold devastation that he wrecked, the Pacific theater drew to an equally horrifying end with the dropping of the first atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
Every war time read reiterates the fact that war is futile and the ones who lost their everything are rarely the ones who waged war in the first place. And yet, we never seem to learn from history. This is a long and informative read which can get a bit confusing as you try to keep track of everything. But it is also a solid introduction to those who would like to know what actually transpired during what is marked as the deadliest conflict in human history.
December 1, 2021
I had no idea the war in the Pacific was so brutal.
Aside from that the text is excellent and give good solid factual account of the battles from both sides of the fight which I thought was very well done- and the graphics are terrific.
The text addresses the effects of war on soldiers and civilians. Hiroshima and the suicides at Okinawa are covered as was the treatment of POWs on the Burma Road so please be prepared for questions!
Aside from that the text is excellent and give good solid factual account of the battles from both sides of the fight which I thought was very well done- and the graphics are terrific.
The text addresses the effects of war on soldiers and civilians. Hiroshima and the suicides at Okinawa are covered as was the treatment of POWs on the Burma Road so please be prepared for questions!
July 7, 2019
This graphic novel tells the story of WWII that my students hear very little of as we focus on Europe. Here we hear 1st person accts from those fighting for & against the Japanese; many just wanted Asia for Asians. Some of the pics are of actors from movies like Pearl Harbor. I wonder what little Goldie/Churchill/Tojo would tell us if he’d had a voice. 3.5
July 31, 2021
An intriguing read- various soldiers from both sides give their accounts of key moments in the Pacific Theater. This would be a great ext for providing context to the historical events of WWII in the Pacific.
August 3, 2017
Great book... Nice to know regarding Japs war on Allies in WW2.. Allied forces outsmarted Japs.. Good chapter on Indian National Army lead by Shubhash Chandra Bose..
October 4, 2015
One of the problems one faces when trying to get American students to understand the enormity of the Second World War is that so much of the materials to which they are exposed is so focused on the war only when the United States entered the war; materials on the European Front and especially the Pacific Front give the slightest of glosses of the history before then. Accordingly, a book that gives equal coverage to all situations is most welcome. And World War Two: Against the Rising Sun is that book. Starting with events in the 1930s with various Japanese aggressions in China, this 164 page graphic history moves succinctly though the Japanese spread down eastern Asia, the invasion of Burma, the rise and fall of Bose's Indian collaborators with the Japanese, and the naval and amphibious fighting through the Pacific. People profiled come from Japanese, Chinese, Malayan, English, Burmese, Indian, and, yes, American backgrounds. For a student truly interested in the totality of the War against Japan, this book can not be recommended enough. (Note: This book would be nicely paired with Wayne Vansant's Days of Darkness, which covers Pearl Harbor to Midway from the perspective of an American family.)
Of the graphic portion of World War Two: Against the Rising Sun, the art is a bit muddy but does the job.
Well worth the read!
Of the graphic portion of World War Two: Against the Rising Sun, the art is a bit muddy but does the job.
Well worth the read!
November 24, 2016
As another reviewer here has stated, this book can hardly be called exciting. It is however rather engaging even so. A quick read, it has a strange narrative style that hops from one character to another every few pages, a myriad perspectives on the war - Allied and Japanese and everything in between. All perspectives are those of soldiers, out on the battlefield and not the decision-makers, so they are singularly biased... As a whole then, the book picks no sides and all the ironies of war lay exposed to us like fresh wounds. Very informative, in a much less dry manner than perhaps a history textbook would (and again, far less side-picky). Kids should read.
I don't generally read graphic novels (have tried a few) and only read this because it was both recommended and loaned to me by a student (kid). I also borrowed a "prequel" on the First War, but this proved to be a more impactful read.
I don't generally read graphic novels (have tried a few) and only read this because it was both recommended and loaned to me by a student (kid). I also borrowed a "prequel" on the First War, but this proved to be a more impactful read.
March 18, 2016
Fantastic book....beautifully illustrated....very well crafted script...got to learn so much about what the Japs got upto in WW2
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews