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My Name Is America
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins
Each harrowing day of battle in France convinces seventeen-year-old Scott Pendleton Collins that he may not survive. In desperation, he records his thoughts, fears, and hopes in a journal he has carried since his first days as a soldier in Basic Training at Fort Dix.
140 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
95 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
232 books1,183 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
April 27, 2020
This is the book that introduced me to historical fiction way back in fourth grade. My great-grandfather served in WWII, and after decades of keeping entirely quiet about it, when I was in fourth grade was when he started to tell his stories. The interest I had for his stories made this book pop out at me as I explored the school library.
My young brain was shocked to discover after I'd finished reading the book that it was not a true account! It wasn't like my great-grandfather who told of things he actually did and that actually happened to him - it was a man who hadn't been in WWII trying to tell similar stories, but all "pretend." My mind was blown. I couldn't recall having read anything like that before. In my childhood inquisitiveness, I had to ask my mom if the things that happen in the book - like a machine gun fire ripping a man in half, or artillery projectiles making people vaporize - were true, even if the soldier writing wasn't. She said yes. I was shocked: up to that point in my life, the only war films I'd seen had seen were old, family friendly classics in which bullets pretty much just make people fall down. Looks like humans are capable of doing pretty awful things to each other, I realized.
This book led me to search out more and more historical fiction, so I could learn more truths about the world that were previously hidden from me by my cautious parents. Soon this led to my discovery of this same author's work Fallen Angels, a novel which greatly matured me.
So my quest for life's truths I embarked upon in the world of fiction. To this day, I still believe fiction is our best tool for understanding real life.
My young brain was shocked to discover after I'd finished reading the book that it was not a true account! It wasn't like my great-grandfather who told of things he actually did and that actually happened to him - it was a man who hadn't been in WWII trying to tell similar stories, but all "pretend." My mind was blown. I couldn't recall having read anything like that before. In my childhood inquisitiveness, I had to ask my mom if the things that happen in the book - like a machine gun fire ripping a man in half, or artillery projectiles making people vaporize - were true, even if the soldier writing wasn't. She said yes. I was shocked: up to that point in my life, the only war films I'd seen had seen were old, family friendly classics in which bullets pretty much just make people fall down. Looks like humans are capable of doing pretty awful things to each other, I realized.
This book led me to search out more and more historical fiction, so I could learn more truths about the world that were previously hidden from me by my cautious parents. Soon this led to my discovery of this same author's work Fallen Angels, a novel which greatly matured me.
So my quest for life's truths I embarked upon in the world of fiction. To this day, I still believe fiction is our best tool for understanding real life.
June 9, 2012
On June 6th of this past week, we marked the 68th anniversary of D-Day, the day the British, Canadian and American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France and turned the tide of World War II for the Allied forces.
This week on June 6th, I was sitting in the Children's Book and Author Breakfast at the BEA and listening to a short speech by Walter Dean Myers. Myers is at the moment serving as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and not surprisingly, he is also the author of more than a few children's and YA books. Myers work cover a wide variety of topical themes, tough topics such as war, murder, drugs, juvy jail. But Myers has also written some wonderful historical fiction for teens, like The Glory Field, the 250 year history of an African American family from the first ancestor forcibly brought to this country in 1753 to their lives in the 1990s.
Among Myers's other historical fiction is a short novel about the D-Day landings told through the eyes of a 17 year old boy, Scott Pendleton Collins, who enlists in the army, hoping to emulate the bravery of his great grandfather and father.who fought in the Civil War and World War I respectively. Their pictures hang in the Collins living room because they are considered war heroes by the family. And it is Scott's hope that someday his picture will hang with theirs.
No one was supposed to write anything about what was going on in a war in case they were captured and had written some vital information down that could be of use to the enemy. And Scott knows this, but he begins to write about his experiences anyway. And so we get a privileged look at his life at this pivotal moment in time, beginning in England and the monotony of training day after day while waiting for weather conditions to be perfect for a successful landing at Normandy Beach. The idea is to first take the beach back from the German army and that to quickly push the enemy further back until France is liberated. But finally the weather is good and the trip across the English Channel begins. It sounds so easy in theory, but when the chaplain prays for the souls of those who won't make it, war becomes a sobering reality. Scott begins to realize this and just before they reach France, he writes in his diary: "We know we're going to be fighting and some guys are going to get wounded or even killed. This is what war is all about. I am a little scared myself."
And scared for good reason - the invasion is not anything like Scott could have imagined. Knowing people would get killed was nothing compared to the reality of what happes in the water and on the beach. Yet, Scott manages to survive and keep going. As he moves forward, he gets separated from his outfit and has a few close calls trying to make his way back to them. But heavy loses keep forcing the army to reform the men into different outfits and companies and he finds himself in different units until he finally finds what is left of outfit his again.
More and more, Scott experiences the loss of old friends he grew up with in Virginia and new friends he made since joining up. This is perhaps the hardest part of the D-Day battle for him, prompting him to poignantly write in his diary "we had come over here as an outfit of neighbors. Now there were spaces in our minds where friends used to be."
Of all the books I could have chosen for D-Day, I thought this was the best one. I had two reasons for choosing it: 1- it shows, without the glorifying graphic detailed gore depicting the horrible realities of war which are always good to remember in the hope that we can avoid future wars, and 2- it reminds us that when we do remember battles like D-Day, it is the soldiers we honor and not the war.
I think Scott is a good example of a brave boy who didn't fully understand war and his diary was his way of trying to come to terms with it, as much as that is possible. Myers has created an excellent work of coming of age historical fiction, so real feeling there is even an epilogue telling the reader about the lives of certain characters after the war. In fact, Scott's diary is so realistic that once I even went to the copyright page to double check that it was indeed fiction. In the short span of three months, we can watch Scott's coming of age process, from being the kid they called Smoothie because he didn't even shave yet to becoming a seasoned war hero who definitely deserves to have his picture hanging next to his great grandfather and father.
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is the kind of book that ends up on summer reading lists and I hope that some kids actually do read it this summer, as well as perhps some of the other fine books by Walter Dean Myers.
This book is recommended for readers age 9-12.
This book was purchased for my personal library.
The edition shown is the same one I read, but Goodreads makes it very difficult to add a photo once someone adds a different editon without one, for reasons only known to Goodreads.
This week on June 6th, I was sitting in the Children's Book and Author Breakfast at the BEA and listening to a short speech by Walter Dean Myers. Myers is at the moment serving as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and not surprisingly, he is also the author of more than a few children's and YA books. Myers work cover a wide variety of topical themes, tough topics such as war, murder, drugs, juvy jail. But Myers has also written some wonderful historical fiction for teens, like The Glory Field, the 250 year history of an African American family from the first ancestor forcibly brought to this country in 1753 to their lives in the 1990s.
Among Myers's other historical fiction is a short novel about the D-Day landings told through the eyes of a 17 year old boy, Scott Pendleton Collins, who enlists in the army, hoping to emulate the bravery of his great grandfather and father.who fought in the Civil War and World War I respectively. Their pictures hang in the Collins living room because they are considered war heroes by the family. And it is Scott's hope that someday his picture will hang with theirs.
No one was supposed to write anything about what was going on in a war in case they were captured and had written some vital information down that could be of use to the enemy. And Scott knows this, but he begins to write about his experiences anyway. And so we get a privileged look at his life at this pivotal moment in time, beginning in England and the monotony of training day after day while waiting for weather conditions to be perfect for a successful landing at Normandy Beach. The idea is to first take the beach back from the German army and that to quickly push the enemy further back until France is liberated. But finally the weather is good and the trip across the English Channel begins. It sounds so easy in theory, but when the chaplain prays for the souls of those who won't make it, war becomes a sobering reality. Scott begins to realize this and just before they reach France, he writes in his diary: "We know we're going to be fighting and some guys are going to get wounded or even killed. This is what war is all about. I am a little scared myself."
And scared for good reason - the invasion is not anything like Scott could have imagined. Knowing people would get killed was nothing compared to the reality of what happes in the water and on the beach. Yet, Scott manages to survive and keep going. As he moves forward, he gets separated from his outfit and has a few close calls trying to make his way back to them. But heavy loses keep forcing the army to reform the men into different outfits and companies and he finds himself in different units until he finally finds what is left of outfit his again.
More and more, Scott experiences the loss of old friends he grew up with in Virginia and new friends he made since joining up. This is perhaps the hardest part of the D-Day battle for him, prompting him to poignantly write in his diary "we had come over here as an outfit of neighbors. Now there were spaces in our minds where friends used to be."
Of all the books I could have chosen for D-Day, I thought this was the best one. I had two reasons for choosing it: 1- it shows, without the glorifying graphic detailed gore depicting the horrible realities of war which are always good to remember in the hope that we can avoid future wars, and 2- it reminds us that when we do remember battles like D-Day, it is the soldiers we honor and not the war.
I think Scott is a good example of a brave boy who didn't fully understand war and his diary was his way of trying to come to terms with it, as much as that is possible. Myers has created an excellent work of coming of age historical fiction, so real feeling there is even an epilogue telling the reader about the lives of certain characters after the war. In fact, Scott's diary is so realistic that once I even went to the copyright page to double check that it was indeed fiction. In the short span of three months, we can watch Scott's coming of age process, from being the kid they called Smoothie because he didn't even shave yet to becoming a seasoned war hero who definitely deserves to have his picture hanging next to his great grandfather and father.
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is the kind of book that ends up on summer reading lists and I hope that some kids actually do read it this summer, as well as perhps some of the other fine books by Walter Dean Myers.
This book is recommended for readers age 9-12.
This book was purchased for my personal library.
The edition shown is the same one I read, but Goodreads makes it very difficult to add a photo once someone adds a different editon without one, for reasons only known to Goodreads.
June 12, 2008
This was a good book.
It is sad to hear what those guys went through over there.
It is sad to hear what those guys went through over there.
October 8, 2023
First Read:
I rate this book 4 stars. This book was very interesting. I enjoyed reading about WWII from a soldier's point of view. It was like I was really there. I was pulled into this story of survival and wits. In this book, Scott Collins, a soldier in Normandy, France, is fighting for the Allies in World War II. The gripping story of death, love, and hunger will leave you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how it ends. I recommend this book to people who enjoy history and WWII.
Second Read:
This book was okay. I rate this book 3 and a half stars. I'm not going to lie, I found it just a little boring in some places. But, it was interesting to see how WWII would have been from a young soldier on the front lines. So, maybe not a "gripping" story, but good.
I rate this book 4 stars. This book was very interesting. I enjoyed reading about WWII from a soldier's point of view. It was like I was really there. I was pulled into this story of survival and wits. In this book, Scott Collins, a soldier in Normandy, France, is fighting for the Allies in World War II. The gripping story of death, love, and hunger will leave you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how it ends. I recommend this book to people who enjoy history and WWII.
Second Read:
This book was okay. I rate this book 3 and a half stars. I'm not going to lie, I found it just a little boring in some places. But, it was interesting to see how WWII would have been from a young soldier on the front lines. So, maybe not a "gripping" story, but good.
March 7, 2019
This book is non fiction about a war hero. he is following his great grand fathers foot steps. so a life lesson you could learn is do not follow other peoples footsteps if you are not sure if its a good or bad idea. because in the book he goes into war and could die.
January 30, 2015
I was a great war book. I like to learn about WW2 so if you do too you should check it out. Even if you don't like it you should still check it out because it has a great plot.
March 13, 2019
The theme of this book is that in the face of tyranny, never give up. This is shown by the hundreds of thousands of Americans that died fighting the tyranny that was the Nazis and their army.
August 15, 2024
I was uncertain at first about reading this - I'm a bit suspicious of Scholastic books, especially any having to do with American history - but I figured for the sake of my WIP I should. After all, Scott and my MC are both 17-year-old boys, and as I saw it, it would be a good idea to see how another author portrays a fictional young soldier. So I read it.
Having never read the Dear America books, I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I liked it well enough. While not what I'd call a stunning read, it really brings to life all the sacrifices made by the soldiers in WWII, including young men like Scott. I appreciate that the author portrayed America in a positive light, instead of muckraking like most authors nowadays would do. I mean come on, this is the Greatest Generation we're writing about - you HAVE to respect them. One cool thing was that there were actual historical figures that made brief appearances, like Major Howie - I remember reading about him in other research I've done.
Also cool that I have been to Roanoke VA, where Scott is from! I lived in an apartment there for three weeks.
Bobby Joe is a great buddy. 😊
Something I thought annoying but also a bit amusing was that I noticed some anachronistic language. Stuff like "a good dude", "everyone freaked out", etc. Things most people wouldn't care about, but that gets my goat. Also some politically correct opinions that I'm not sure most people, let alone teenagers, would have held in the 40s. I'm sure some would've, but I doubt it was widespread. 🤷♀️
Another concern I'd had was violence, but I think the author handles is pretty well. He doesn't whitewash the realities of war, but neither is anything overly descriptive or gory. However there is some content that, while not super graphic, I'd consider a bit much for what is supposed to be a kid's book 😬 Idk, maybe I'm a wimp when it comes to missing body parts and stuff like that, but I'll take the old movies like Combat! where the most you get is some blood.
Of course there was language, which I expected. Not excessive, but I kept a pen handy while reading to mark things out.
Christianity is mentioned in a positive light - score!!
In the historical notes section, there were two brief LGBT references that I felt were out of place and unnecessary. Almost like the author/publisher was trying to push an agenda on unsuspecting kids - oh wait, this is a Scholastic book, so of COURSE there's an agenda! 🙄
One quote that I thought was very profound:
"You think we'll ever get used to the killing?" I asked Bobby Joe.
"I don't know," he answered. "I hope it's over before we do. I don't want to get used to it."
(Amen, Bobby Joe.)
Overall it was a decent book. Not gonna rank it in my top favorites, but it gave me some insights into how my young MC might think. Also gave me some examples of what NOT to write. 🤭
Having never read the Dear America books, I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I liked it well enough. While not what I'd call a stunning read, it really brings to life all the sacrifices made by the soldiers in WWII, including young men like Scott. I appreciate that the author portrayed America in a positive light, instead of muckraking like most authors nowadays would do. I mean come on, this is the Greatest Generation we're writing about - you HAVE to respect them. One cool thing was that there were actual historical figures that made brief appearances, like Major Howie - I remember reading about him in other research I've done.
Also cool that I have been to Roanoke VA, where Scott is from! I lived in an apartment there for three weeks.
Bobby Joe is a great buddy. 😊
Something I thought annoying but also a bit amusing was that I noticed some anachronistic language. Stuff like "a good dude", "everyone freaked out", etc. Things most people wouldn't care about, but that gets my goat. Also some politically correct opinions that I'm not sure most people, let alone teenagers, would have held in the 40s. I'm sure some would've, but I doubt it was widespread. 🤷♀️
Another concern I'd had was violence, but I think the author handles is pretty well. He doesn't whitewash the realities of war, but neither is anything overly descriptive or gory. However there is some content that, while not super graphic, I'd consider a bit much for what is supposed to be a kid's book 😬 Idk, maybe I'm a wimp when it comes to missing body parts and stuff like that, but I'll take the old movies like Combat! where the most you get is some blood.
Of course there was language, which I expected. Not excessive, but I kept a pen handy while reading to mark things out.
Christianity is mentioned in a positive light - score!!
In the historical notes section, there were two brief LGBT references that I felt were out of place and unnecessary. Almost like the author/publisher was trying to push an agenda on unsuspecting kids - oh wait, this is a Scholastic book, so of COURSE there's an agenda! 🙄
One quote that I thought was very profound:
"You think we'll ever get used to the killing?" I asked Bobby Joe.
"I don't know," he answered. "I hope it's over before we do. I don't want to get used to it."
(Amen, Bobby Joe.)
Overall it was a decent book. Not gonna rank it in my top favorites, but it gave me some insights into how my young MC might think. Also gave me some examples of what NOT to write. 🤭
October 15, 2017
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My Name Is America: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins by Walter Dean Myers is awesome. I read this book because I would like to learn more about WWII. The author, Walter Dean Myers, was born just before WWII started in 1937 and joined the army when he was 17. The book contains a lot of information about the war and how the Americans fought their way through the second world war. Scott Pendleton was one of a million of soldiers who fought in the war. Scott fought his way through gunfire to bombing runs in this journal. Scott saw so much during the war and most of it was death. Scott Pendleton put his life on the line so that the Allied Forces could defeat the Axis powers of Germany. What I liked most was how descriptive each battle was, the details made it very realistic. There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. Before reading this book, I never realized how many people died in World War II. If I could ask the author any question, I would ask him if he had any regrets about serving in the army. I think because he wrote this book about WWII, he wouldn’t have regrets about serving in the military. I truly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what it was like in WWII in 1939.
My Name Is America: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins by Walter Dean Myers is awesome. I read this book because I would like to learn more about WWII. The author, Walter Dean Myers, was born just before WWII started in 1937 and joined the army when he was 17. The book contains a lot of information about the war and how the Americans fought their way through the second world war. Scott Pendleton was one of a million of soldiers who fought in the war. Scott fought his way through gunfire to bombing runs in this journal. Scott saw so much during the war and most of it was death. Scott Pendleton put his life on the line so that the Allied Forces could defeat the Axis powers of Germany. What I liked most was how descriptive each battle was, the details made it very realistic. There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. Before reading this book, I never realized how many people died in World War II. If I could ask the author any question, I would ask him if he had any regrets about serving in the army. I think because he wrote this book about WWII, he wouldn’t have regrets about serving in the military. I truly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what it was like in WWII in 1939.
September 11, 2017
The more I read about Scott, the more I love him. He and Bobby Joe warm my heart and make me giggle.
September 5, 2017
This is a fast read but an amazing story. Tate, my 13 year old, read it after I did and wouldn't put it down. The author truly brought it all to life as if you were there with the soldiers. We visited Normandy 4 years ago, and we are so appreciative of all the sacrifices of so many! I am a big fan of the Dear America series. They are especially good for the tweeners and teens.
January 20, 2018
This was a really well written entry in the series. So far, the war time ones I have felt are the best, specifically this one and the Vietnam one. The civil war ones were good too, but not quite the same caliber.
Myers made me feel the fear of Scotty and his friends, as well the over all horror of war. He did all this without going into gruesome detail, but there are some parts I would hesitate to let a younger reader go alone. I would say 13+ should be fine alone, any younger read together or hold off.
Never forget our veterans.
Myers made me feel the fear of Scotty and his friends, as well the over all horror of war. He did all this without going into gruesome detail, but there are some parts I would hesitate to let a younger reader go alone. I would say 13+ should be fine alone, any younger read together or hold off.
Never forget our veterans.
Read
July 16, 2024Some typos in this one, but overall an okay book. I would say it's my least favorite so far of the 'My Name is America' books, but it's certainly not bad.
May 25, 2018
rhis book is a good book for everyone. I like how you get to learn about world war 2 as the more you read
February 1, 2012
Do you really want to hear what happen at the beaches of Normandy? Have you ever heard about those who were mentally scared and was put in mental hospital?
This is the journal from corporal Scott Pendleton Collins. Corporal Collins wrote his journals to express his feeling, since he was far away from his home comfort and has never seen war close up front, he always wrote how he fear overruled him and how death always made him suffer. As he goes through out the war with his buddies, he gains and loses friends. Further more, he learns to make his own decision, become stronger, and face his own fear.
Scott Pendleton Collins followed his family generation footstep with joining the US Army before WW2. He died back in '92 and was a WW2 veteran that described descriptively on how the outlook of war came from his point of view. He mentions in his journal how he suffered with losing friends, almost losing his own life, sacrifices that he had to make that would affect him and other around him.
The "Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins" was written by the author Walter Dean Myers. Myers himself was also in the army but not during WW2. Myers served in the army for a couple of years, during those years, he served in Vietnam writing news and stories. He later got out and became an Author writing to those about the outlook of war. 2 year after Collins death, he received an MAE award for best books.
To my opinion, I enjoyed reading this fascinating journal. I am just amazed how war can change these people especially Collins. I am such a huge fan of war-action based stories and reading these stories from true heroes made me realize that these people are very lucky to live.
This is the journal from corporal Scott Pendleton Collins. Corporal Collins wrote his journals to express his feeling, since he was far away from his home comfort and has never seen war close up front, he always wrote how he fear overruled him and how death always made him suffer. As he goes through out the war with his buddies, he gains and loses friends. Further more, he learns to make his own decision, become stronger, and face his own fear.
Scott Pendleton Collins followed his family generation footstep with joining the US Army before WW2. He died back in '92 and was a WW2 veteran that described descriptively on how the outlook of war came from his point of view. He mentions in his journal how he suffered with losing friends, almost losing his own life, sacrifices that he had to make that would affect him and other around him.
The "Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins" was written by the author Walter Dean Myers. Myers himself was also in the army but not during WW2. Myers served in the army for a couple of years, during those years, he served in Vietnam writing news and stories. He later got out and became an Author writing to those about the outlook of war. 2 year after Collins death, he received an MAE award for best books.
To my opinion, I enjoyed reading this fascinating journal. I am just amazed how war can change these people especially Collins. I am such a huge fan of war-action based stories and reading these stories from true heroes made me realize that these people are very lucky to live.
April 5, 2015
I think this was one of the more "realistic" fictional diaries I've read. To explain, it very much read like a 17 year old kid's diary, especially a 17 year old kid who became a man overnight due to the horrific things he witnessed and had to do. Often times fictional diaries have conversations written out and each event explained down to the smallest of details. Essentially, they're regular fiction maybe with a few more thoughts written down. While a WWII soldier probably wouldn't have been allowed to keep a diary (not that Scotty had permission), especially around D-Day, I still very much enjoyed this book.
Anyway, getting past that point, reading this book was a startling look at the Invasion of Normandy from the point of view of a kid who had no idea what he was getting into. It was very honest, from what I could tell, about what happened (and it was even a bit more gory than I expected). I found myself frantically reading, wanting to get to the end to read the epilogue to see if Scotty survived the war or not. It didn't have as much an overarching plot as other books in the America Diaries series (this is the only one I've read from My Name is America), as often times books in the Royal Diaries or Dear America books involve friendships and relationships and Scotty tries to avoid getting too close to his comrades (not that it works all the time) because he knows how easily a man can die in war.
Instead, it's more about the Invasion and what the American troops did during that time in France. In the end, I really enjoyed it.
Anyway, getting past that point, reading this book was a startling look at the Invasion of Normandy from the point of view of a kid who had no idea what he was getting into. It was very honest, from what I could tell, about what happened (and it was even a bit more gory than I expected). I found myself frantically reading, wanting to get to the end to read the epilogue to see if Scotty survived the war or not. It didn't have as much an overarching plot as other books in the America Diaries series (this is the only one I've read from My Name is America), as often times books in the Royal Diaries or Dear America books involve friendships and relationships and Scotty tries to avoid getting too close to his comrades (not that it works all the time) because he knows how easily a man can die in war.
Instead, it's more about the Invasion and what the American troops did during that time in France. In the end, I really enjoyed it.
November 15, 2012
I Thought that this was an amazing book. It gave me so much insight on what and average G.I. had to got through during the European campaign in world war 2. The diary is very detailed and I could understand everything. The book also makes you feel like you are there.
The Book Begins as Scoot is in England, and there are rumors swirling about what is about to happen. Some rumors say that there is going to be a big invasion coming. And some say that the war is almost over. But Eventually he gets shipped out and his unit is assigned to omahma beach. Disaster strikes. Most of his unit is killed or missing and he is separated from everyone else. He finally gets assigned to another unit and then the campaign begins. He tells about what they encounter during the campaign and what they have to go through. The sight of dead bodes, the smell of gunpowder and dead animals. It makes you feel like you are right there. Eventually when the war is almost over he is shot in the leg by a sniper and is shipped home. Never to return again. He stays in a hospital recovering till the war is over.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book about war that will keep you occupied for a long time to come. It is very accurate and when you start reading it you cant put the book down ever again.
The Book Begins as Scoot is in England, and there are rumors swirling about what is about to happen. Some rumors say that there is going to be a big invasion coming. And some say that the war is almost over. But Eventually he gets shipped out and his unit is assigned to omahma beach. Disaster strikes. Most of his unit is killed or missing and he is separated from everyone else. He finally gets assigned to another unit and then the campaign begins. He tells about what they encounter during the campaign and what they have to go through. The sight of dead bodes, the smell of gunpowder and dead animals. It makes you feel like you are right there. Eventually when the war is almost over he is shot in the leg by a sniper and is shipped home. Never to return again. He stays in a hospital recovering till the war is over.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book about war that will keep you occupied for a long time to come. It is very accurate and when you start reading it you cant put the book down ever again.
April 28, 2008
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is a historical fiction book about soldier about to enter World War II. His name is Scott Pendleton Collins and he is waiting in England until he gets his chance to enter the World War.
Scott is very eager to enter the war. He does not know what he is getting himself into. On the night of June 5th, 1944 Scott is on a boat headed towards the beach in Normandy, France. Once he and his unit arrive on the beach he sees that the task ahead of him is terrifying and not at all what he pictured it as. Men are getting killed and wounded all around him. Scott later is separated from his unit and can do nothing else but follow orders if he wishes to survive. He has to travel through France and has to live with the terrible feeling that he may run into a German soldier any second.
This book really changed the way I thought about war. The author, Walter Dean Myers, used great descriptions and made me feel as if I was following Scott throughout the novel. The book kept me on the edge the entire time. It was exciting and I would recommend it to anyone in the Junior High.
214 words
Scott is very eager to enter the war. He does not know what he is getting himself into. On the night of June 5th, 1944 Scott is on a boat headed towards the beach in Normandy, France. Once he and his unit arrive on the beach he sees that the task ahead of him is terrifying and not at all what he pictured it as. Men are getting killed and wounded all around him. Scott later is separated from his unit and can do nothing else but follow orders if he wishes to survive. He has to travel through France and has to live with the terrible feeling that he may run into a German soldier any second.
This book really changed the way I thought about war. The author, Walter Dean Myers, used great descriptions and made me feel as if I was following Scott throughout the novel. The book kept me on the edge the entire time. It was exciting and I would recommend it to anyone in the Junior High.
214 words
June 3, 2010
Even though I've found myself delving into the YA genre recently and do own a few Myers books this isn't a book I'd typically pick up. I forget where I acquired it at and even why I picked it up when I did. I think I just needed a quick one. This ended up taking less than one day with me reading another book at times also.
The first few pages didn't seem to flow for me and I was afraid it would be like this throughout. After finishing I think maybe it was just because it wasn't a book I normally read. The entries really started to mesh with each other and I could almost forget this is fiction. This surprised me to be honest.
The historical note at the end was surprising informative - not for most adults and surely not for anyone who has any extensive knowledge about WWII but for the target audience it's perfect. It explained the start of the war, why the war in fact started, and how Hitler came to power well.
The authentic pictures in the back of the book only helped. They will definitely prove to show anyone reading this that even though this is fiction, it could be non-fiction many times over.
The first few pages didn't seem to flow for me and I was afraid it would be like this throughout. After finishing I think maybe it was just because it wasn't a book I normally read. The entries really started to mesh with each other and I could almost forget this is fiction. This surprised me to be honest.
The historical note at the end was surprising informative - not for most adults and surely not for anyone who has any extensive knowledge about WWII but for the target audience it's perfect. It explained the start of the war, why the war in fact started, and how Hitler came to power well.
The authentic pictures in the back of the book only helped. They will definitely prove to show anyone reading this that even though this is fiction, it could be non-fiction many times over.
February 26, 2020
In researching for a WIP I have going on, I found this book. I'm needing emotion, stories from the war. This gave me plenty of both.
I did find this book on the children's side of my local library . . . but I feel that there was just too much in this book to hand it to a younger child. I would maybe say this book was appropriate for 15+, as it does contain a lot of details about (obviously!) war, death, blood, injuries, etc. I mean, this is a book about the war. There were several choice words in the book, that, although they would have been used, I just wouldn't feel comfortable handing it to some of my younger siblings.
I wasn't expecting so much about girls . . . considering it is a book about a young soldier, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. I didn't feel as if the way he spoke about the girl he was infatuated with, or any girl the soldiers spoke of, really, were spoken of in a way that was chaste and pure, although I also cannot say that there was anything really wrong with it -- it was mainly an attitude thing if that makes any sense whatsoever.
In all, I was able to get a feel for what soldiers would have felt under fire, which was the whole goal, anyways.
I did find this book on the children's side of my local library . . . but I feel that there was just too much in this book to hand it to a younger child. I would maybe say this book was appropriate for 15+, as it does contain a lot of details about (obviously!) war, death, blood, injuries, etc. I mean, this is a book about the war. There were several choice words in the book, that, although they would have been used, I just wouldn't feel comfortable handing it to some of my younger siblings.
I wasn't expecting so much about girls . . . considering it is a book about a young soldier, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. I didn't feel as if the way he spoke about the girl he was infatuated with, or any girl the soldiers spoke of, really, were spoken of in a way that was chaste and pure, although I also cannot say that there was anything really wrong with it -- it was mainly an attitude thing if that makes any sense whatsoever.
In all, I was able to get a feel for what soldiers would have felt under fire, which was the whole goal, anyways.
July 5, 2018
There were too many degrading comments about girls, and I found it ironic that one minute the soldiers were telling each other how 'easy' foreign girls were and how they were all looking forward to seeing if that were true, and the next minute they were praying, and hoping they'd make it home to their girlfriends so they could marry them. No doubt this was common; I just don't find it appropriate and feel it was unnecessary for the story and the history. There was also crude language and misuse of God's name.
While the historical parts were interesting, sad, and informative, there was too much junk throughout the narrative for me to hand this to my kid. Maybe, MAYBE it would work as a read-aloud if the sections that need skipping are marked ahead of time... but I don't really feel like bothering. I'm sure there must be better books out there on this subject that do promote honor, purity, and courage. THOSE are the ideas I want my son to be taking in and mulling over.
While the historical parts were interesting, sad, and informative, there was too much junk throughout the narrative for me to hand this to my kid. Maybe, MAYBE it would work as a read-aloud if the sections that need skipping are marked ahead of time... but I don't really feel like bothering. I'm sure there must be better books out there on this subject that do promote honor, purity, and courage. THOSE are the ideas I want my son to be taking in and mulling over.
September 27, 2019
My 9 year old was given this book as a gift. He read it first and loved it. He kept talking about it and asking me to read it, so I know it affected him. It is written in journal format from the perspective of a young soldier landing in Normandy on D day. He was 17 at the time. I was surprised and disappointed to read some content that was of a sexual nature although I don't think my son picked up on it. Specifically talking about girls as objects of desire and lust, even so far as to mention 'going to first base.' Obviously not appropriate for my nine year old.
Once the soldiers were more engaged in battle, the book became pretty graphic in its description of people being blown up and all that entails.
My son is an advance reader which makes it hard to find content that is in line with his maturity level. I wish I had read this first, I would have had him wait a few years.
Once the soldiers were more engaged in battle, the book became pretty graphic in its description of people being blown up and all that entails.
My son is an advance reader which makes it hard to find content that is in line with his maturity level. I wish I had read this first, I would have had him wait a few years.
February 5, 2012
My Name is America:The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is a journal kept by a WW2 solider who survived the battle of omoha beach and many more battles. This does a great job of describing how hard it was for soliders in WW2. It is a very sad book, But i can tell that he tried to keep a good attidude during the war. I cannot imagine what it must of been like to see such destruction and death. I would recomend this book to everyone. We need to know what it was like to fight for our country and make thoose kind of sacrifices. Scott Pendleton Collins is a true American hero.
February 11, 2016
I thought The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins was a very good book. It did talk about some blood and gore though. It took place during World War 2 when American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in Germany and how the little battles they fought while there helped them free the Jewish people from concentration camps. The American soldiers had to overcome many things like not seeing their families and their friends dying around them. I recommend this book if you are into wars and blood. Overall I rated this book a 5 because there was always another action packed scene waiting ahead.
July 3, 2008
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, a fiction book wrote by Walter D. Myers, takes place along Normandy though the deadliest beaches of Omaha Beach though the bloodiest war of St. Lo. This book is full of invasions,battle plans,campaigns, and tragec deafs.
"The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944" I strongly recomend this World War II book nd you will too.
"The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944" I strongly recomend this World War II book nd you will too.
January 19, 2017
This sounds like true record of a 11B's (combat infantry man) thoughts in a combat
situation. They are not thinking of mom, Apple pie, and the like. They are afraid that
They are going to die, or that they will cause one of their buddies to get killed by doing something stupid.
situation. They are not thinking of mom, Apple pie, and the like. They are afraid that
They are going to die, or that they will cause one of their buddies to get killed by doing something stupid.
March 17, 2016
Very good book, would highly recommend it. The story is about a guy named Scott who is in world war 2, and goes to a battle and gets separated from the squad. Now he has to make it back. Full of historical accounts, and historical fact.
July 11, 2016
These books are kinda boring but it's nice because you basicly get a little history lesson along with the story and even though Scott wasn't a real person, all of this stuff happened and I think it's important to remember and read about it.
February 15, 2011
So far i'm off to a goo start in this book. I'm learnig more about world war two
May 22, 2015
I thought this was a very interesting book. It really helps you imagine what the life of a soldier might have been like in WWII.
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