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The Leper Spy: The Story of an Unlikely Hero of World War II
The GIs called her Joey. Hundreds owed their lives to the tiny Filipina woman who was one of the top spies for the Allies during World War II, stashing explosives, tracking Japanese troop movements, and smuggling maps of fortifications across enemy lines for Gen. Douglas MacArthur. As the Battle of Manila raged, young Josefina Guerrero walked through gunfire to bandage wounds and close the eyes of the dead. Her valor earned her the Medal of Freedom, but the thing that made her an effective spy was a disease that was destroying her.
Guerrero suffered from leprosy, which so horrified the Japanese they refused to search her. After the war, army chaplains found her in a nightmarish leper colony and campaigned for the US government to do something it had never welcome a foreigner with leprosy. The fight brought her celebrity, which she used on radio and television to speak for other sufferers. However, the notoriety haunted her after the disease was arrested, and she had to find a way to disappear.
Guerrero suffered from leprosy, which so horrified the Japanese they refused to search her. After the war, army chaplains found her in a nightmarish leper colony and campaigned for the US government to do something it had never welcome a foreigner with leprosy. The fight brought her celebrity, which she used on radio and television to speak for other sufferers. However, the notoriety haunted her after the disease was arrested, and she had to find a way to disappear.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2016
About the author
Ben Montgomery
11 books214 followersBen grew up in Oklahoma and wanted to be a farmer before he got into journalism at Arkansas Tech University, where he played defensive back for the football team, the Wonder Boys. He worked for the Courier in Russellville, Ark., the Standard-Times in San Angelo, Texas, the Times Herald-Record in New York's Hudson River Valley and the Tampa Tribune before joining the Tampa Bay Times, Florida's biggest and best newspaper, in 2006.
In 2010, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting and won the Dart Award and Casey Medal for a series called "For Their Own Good," about abuse at Florida's oldest reform school. He lives in Tampa with his wife, Jennifer, and three children.
In 2010, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting and won the Dart Award and Casey Medal for a series called "For Their Own Good," about abuse at Florida's oldest reform school. He lives in Tampa with his wife, Jennifer, and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 24, 2017
Josefina (Joey) Guerrero was a young woman living in the Philippines when Japan attacked and drove the U.S. soldiers and the burgeoning Philippine republic out. She chose to side with the Americans and the Philippine resistance, spying for them against the Japanese. She moved about Manila, gathering information and delivering supplies to the GIs. Of course, you wouldn't assume this to be an easy task. For Joey, it was easy to be "invisible" because she had leprosy (correctly called Hansen's disease now), which terrified the Japanese. Of course, the disease itself made her life difficult - headaches, fatigue, and the skin lesions. But instead of laying low, she used her condition in this heroic way.
You'd think just this story alone would fill a whole book, and that's what I was expecting when I started to read. I thought this would be a book about her spy exploits, with a Mata Hari flare. But that's not who Joey was, nor is it the book's best story.
Most of this book is instead about what happened to this petite, quietly heroic woman after the Japanese were beaten and the war ended. Joey first had to find the medical care she needed. Then she used her notoriety to help correct information about her disease. And then she made a life for herself. I'll let you read it and fill in the details!
I didn't know much about leprosy beyond the Biblical references I remember from Sunday School. I'm glad to have learned more from Joey, and the book's author Ben Montgomery. It's interesting to look back at the way leprosy was treated both medically and in society, and compare with today's initially stigmatized diseases like HIV / AIDS. In both cases it took the concerted effort of many people, both famous and previously unknown, to change public opinion.
Ben Montgomery writes a compelling book. Despite its nonfiction status, The Leper Spy reads as easily as a fictional story. I admit, though, the first hundred pages of detailed wartime descriptions were tough. Some parts were gruesome, and others awfully dry. Hang in there, though! The majority of Joey's story is quite fascinating and inspirational.
You'd think just this story alone would fill a whole book, and that's what I was expecting when I started to read. I thought this would be a book about her spy exploits, with a Mata Hari flare. But that's not who Joey was, nor is it the book's best story.
Most of this book is instead about what happened to this petite, quietly heroic woman after the Japanese were beaten and the war ended. Joey first had to find the medical care she needed. Then she used her notoriety to help correct information about her disease. And then she made a life for herself. I'll let you read it and fill in the details!
I didn't know much about leprosy beyond the Biblical references I remember from Sunday School. I'm glad to have learned more from Joey, and the book's author Ben Montgomery. It's interesting to look back at the way leprosy was treated both medically and in society, and compare with today's initially stigmatized diseases like HIV / AIDS. In both cases it took the concerted effort of many people, both famous and previously unknown, to change public opinion.
Ben Montgomery writes a compelling book. Despite its nonfiction status, The Leper Spy reads as easily as a fictional story. I admit, though, the first hundred pages of detailed wartime descriptions were tough. Some parts were gruesome, and others awfully dry. Hang in there, though! The majority of Joey's story is quite fascinating and inspirational.
January 26, 2023
Fascinating story of yet another unsung hero of WW2. The star rating is more for the author. The book felt disjointed and sparse on details.
March 28, 2020
A wonderful story about a young woman’s diligence to face head-on many struggles and difficulties despite her dire circumstances. Countless hundreds of people, maybe even more over her lifetime, were impacted in a positive way by her bravery and kindness. I also enjoyed the historical information from this time in history.
April 21, 2020
The Leper Spy: The Story of an Unlikely Hero of World War II was written by Ben Montgomery. This book came to my attention because it was written by a student who went to Brink Junior High where I was teaching in Moore, Oklahoma. He is also the son of one of my former students at Moore West Junior High in Moore, Oklahoma. Although he wasn’t my student, Ben was known throughout the school for his excellent writing ability. I had read his previous book, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk¸so knew that his writing had simply gotten much better.
This book takes place in the Phillipines and in the Leper hospital in Carville, Louisiana. This is one of those stories that lie hidden in the shrouds of the past and that only a few really know about and yet her story was told many different times in newspapers in the United States and in the Phillipines.
Josephine Veluya was born outside Manila and as a young girl idolized Joan of Arc. She wanted to pretend she heard voices from God telling her what to do. She wanted to be a nun and live in the convent helping others. However, as a young girl, she met Renato Maria Guerrero, a medical student and fell in love. She helped him in his career and he rose in the medical field until he became a renowned doctor like his Father was. They had a daughter, Cynthia, upon whom Josephine doted. When Cynthia was five, Joey developed leprosy and was told she couldn’t live with Renato and Cynthia. Unwillingly; but knowing it was for the best, Renato and Cynthia moved in with his family and she lived with two servants who were so very loyal to her that they never told anyone of her condition.
When World War II hit the Phillipines, Joey turned her life to being a spy for the Americans. Unafraid of death, she would walk into very dangerous places carrying ammunition, mapping tunnels, caring for the wounded and burying the dead. All this, and more, she did under the eyes of the Japanese. She used her disease to help her as the Japanese were terrified of the disease.
After the war, she turned her efforts to helping those with Leprosy on the Island. She had no choice if she was to live in the town and she was forced to by the government. She set out to make it a fit place to live.
Her entire life was spent trying to help others and to live with the dreaded disease of leprosy handing over her. She had to live without her family, especially her child. Ben takes you into her life and into her mind as she lived her life the best she can.
The only problem I saw with the book was with Chapter 42. I am not sure if it is deliberately cut off or if the book is unintentionally cut short. Whichever it was, I thought it did a disservice to the book.
This book takes place in the Phillipines and in the Leper hospital in Carville, Louisiana. This is one of those stories that lie hidden in the shrouds of the past and that only a few really know about and yet her story was told many different times in newspapers in the United States and in the Phillipines.
Josephine Veluya was born outside Manila and as a young girl idolized Joan of Arc. She wanted to pretend she heard voices from God telling her what to do. She wanted to be a nun and live in the convent helping others. However, as a young girl, she met Renato Maria Guerrero, a medical student and fell in love. She helped him in his career and he rose in the medical field until he became a renowned doctor like his Father was. They had a daughter, Cynthia, upon whom Josephine doted. When Cynthia was five, Joey developed leprosy and was told she couldn’t live with Renato and Cynthia. Unwillingly; but knowing it was for the best, Renato and Cynthia moved in with his family and she lived with two servants who were so very loyal to her that they never told anyone of her condition.
When World War II hit the Phillipines, Joey turned her life to being a spy for the Americans. Unafraid of death, she would walk into very dangerous places carrying ammunition, mapping tunnels, caring for the wounded and burying the dead. All this, and more, she did under the eyes of the Japanese. She used her disease to help her as the Japanese were terrified of the disease.
After the war, she turned her efforts to helping those with Leprosy on the Island. She had no choice if she was to live in the town and she was forced to by the government. She set out to make it a fit place to live.
Her entire life was spent trying to help others and to live with the dreaded disease of leprosy handing over her. She had to live without her family, especially her child. Ben takes you into her life and into her mind as she lived her life the best she can.
The only problem I saw with the book was with Chapter 42. I am not sure if it is deliberately cut off or if the book is unintentionally cut short. Whichever it was, I thought it did a disservice to the book.
February 5, 2020
Having no real concept of how the Philippines played into WWII, I found the entire book fascinating. What a beautiful, brave soul.
October 7, 2023
What a superbly written book is.
The Pacific theatre of WW2 is often overlooked.
Reading reviews on Goodreads, I agree somewhat with the " disjointed and sparse details".
Audible used a male narrator, this is a mistake, a female would have been so much more effective.
Journalists write good history, Ben Montgomery, worked with Florida-based newspapers. Reporters have a good eye for detail, and this account has them.
Good work, I shall check out his other 6 in due course.
The Pacific theatre of WW2 is often overlooked.
Reading reviews on Goodreads, I agree somewhat with the " disjointed and sparse details".
Audible used a male narrator, this is a mistake, a female would have been so much more effective.
Journalists write good history, Ben Montgomery, worked with Florida-based newspapers. Reporters have a good eye for detail, and this account has them.
Good work, I shall check out his other 6 in due course.
February 7, 2021
Unsung Saints
If the Vatican needs research material for an application for sainthood for Josefina Guerrero, they can begin with Ben Montgomery's fanatical research and reporting through "Leper Spy". Like Grandma Gatewood and Plennie Wingo in his other books, this is another story about ordinary people who do extraordinary feats that affect many people; whose resolved personal issues in their lifetimes continue to be relevant to so many others today. Kudos to the author for addressing his readers in a way to which everyone can relate.
If the Vatican needs research material for an application for sainthood for Josefina Guerrero, they can begin with Ben Montgomery's fanatical research and reporting through "Leper Spy". Like Grandma Gatewood and Plennie Wingo in his other books, this is another story about ordinary people who do extraordinary feats that affect many people; whose resolved personal issues in their lifetimes continue to be relevant to so many others today. Kudos to the author for addressing his readers in a way to which everyone can relate.
June 29, 2019
I aways love a good, true story about women battling challenges. This one accomplishes that.
Josefina (goes by Joey) lived a good life in pre WW2 Manila, Phillipines. A good teenager who married an up and coming local daughter and had a daughter. Then, she started to become sick and had lesions on her skin. The doctors diagnosed her with leprosy and advised that she no longer lives with her husband and daughter to prevent them gettting the disease. Then, WW2 started in the Pacific theater. She had to do something. When Bataan fell, she helped the American and Filipino soldiers on their death march. She helped the injured in Manila. Finally, she helped the guerrillas as a messenger and drawing maps of Japanese fortifications in Manila and mine fields. This was extremely helpful to the Americans when they recaptured the city. She befriended some of the japanese soldiers but most were afraid of her because of her leprosy.
After the war, she was forced to live at the Tala Novaliches leprosarium outside Manila city. It was like a prison. With the help of her friends in high places around the world, extra buildings were built and more care was given to the inmates (even though they were inmates). Luckily, she was sent to the leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana, USA to receive modern and up-to-date medical care. Within 10 years and fears of deportation back to the Phillipines, she was cured. Now what? She didn´t want to be a burden to society or friends. She received her high school diploma while at Carville and, later, a teaching degree in California. She wanted to be a teacher. And, she did. She became a US citizen. She worked in the Peace Corps as a teacher.
What a strong woman. In the process, she lost her family, remarried, and divorced again. She once met her daughter, now an adult with her own daughter, but relations were strained and difficult.
This is an excellent book about Hansen´s disease aka leprosy. The myths and the fight to banish the segregation of patients as well as abolishing the word "lerosy" are discussed in detail in this book.
This is also an excellent book about WW2 battles in the Phlllipines. I had learned the battles in school and remember learning about the Fall of Bataan, the Bataan Death March, the Fall of Corregidor, and the Battle of Gulf of Lyte. This book puts those battles in its proper perspective. I never realized that Bataan and Corregidor could be considered part of the metropolitan Manila City. With their fall to the Japanese, Manila had no hope.
Good book. I just wished some of Joey´s spying exploits were given more details.
Josefina (goes by Joey) lived a good life in pre WW2 Manila, Phillipines. A good teenager who married an up and coming local daughter and had a daughter. Then, she started to become sick and had lesions on her skin. The doctors diagnosed her with leprosy and advised that she no longer lives with her husband and daughter to prevent them gettting the disease. Then, WW2 started in the Pacific theater. She had to do something. When Bataan fell, she helped the American and Filipino soldiers on their death march. She helped the injured in Manila. Finally, she helped the guerrillas as a messenger and drawing maps of Japanese fortifications in Manila and mine fields. This was extremely helpful to the Americans when they recaptured the city. She befriended some of the japanese soldiers but most were afraid of her because of her leprosy.
After the war, she was forced to live at the Tala Novaliches leprosarium outside Manila city. It was like a prison. With the help of her friends in high places around the world, extra buildings were built and more care was given to the inmates (even though they were inmates). Luckily, she was sent to the leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana, USA to receive modern and up-to-date medical care. Within 10 years and fears of deportation back to the Phillipines, she was cured. Now what? She didn´t want to be a burden to society or friends. She received her high school diploma while at Carville and, later, a teaching degree in California. She wanted to be a teacher. And, she did. She became a US citizen. She worked in the Peace Corps as a teacher.
What a strong woman. In the process, she lost her family, remarried, and divorced again. She once met her daughter, now an adult with her own daughter, but relations were strained and difficult.
This is an excellent book about Hansen´s disease aka leprosy. The myths and the fight to banish the segregation of patients as well as abolishing the word "lerosy" are discussed in detail in this book.
This is also an excellent book about WW2 battles in the Phlllipines. I had learned the battles in school and remember learning about the Fall of Bataan, the Bataan Death March, the Fall of Corregidor, and the Battle of Gulf of Lyte. This book puts those battles in its proper perspective. I never realized that Bataan and Corregidor could be considered part of the metropolitan Manila City. With their fall to the Japanese, Manila had no hope.
Good book. I just wished some of Joey´s spying exploits were given more details.
March 12, 2024
This book uses a very pro America writing style, which borders on propaganda in my opinion. This is a problem as it makes it hard to trust the authors integrity and accuracy.
For example he writes that the entire population of the Philippines accepted and more importantly loved the white, male American 'ruler' 'governer'? and that the whole country viewed him as a father figure. I mean really? I find that very hard to believe. Particularly when a few paragraphs later the same guy is described as veiwing japanese soldiers as lesser than or not as good as American ones. There is no acknowledgement of the racism in this. And are we honestly meant believe that he was only racist against japanese people? While it is possible, I find it unlikely. And again the fact that this is mentioned almost in passing is concerning. Again it gets me questioning how accurate the account is. That being said I believe the main historical information to be accurate. It is the more nuanced information I am concerned with.
I feel it is important to note that a lot of time -certainly in the earlier chapters- is spent in building up/discussing how great American is. While I get that its important to set the scene particularly for a historical record. This spreads into the world of propaganda for me. And doesn't feel accurate. Again the racism of the time appears to be acknowledged once with the sentence, the japanese couldn't make good toys how could they make good planes. They must be German. (This is powerphased not a direct quote). But again the rasism behind that thought process and how problematical it is, is glossed over or ignored. And let's not forget that the lady who is the focus of this account will have experienced racism at the hands of soldiers and probably sexism as well. Who knows maybe this is acknowledged later in the book.
Also we've just been told how the Americans spent ages building their defense, drawing up plans and running drills. But were then surprised by the japanese attack? While with knowledge of racism and how it works this does make sense. Without this being explained or acknowledged it would seem extremely confusing.
So like I've said its a great shame as it leaves you questioning how reliable the information is. To be clear I didn't finish the book, so who knows maybe it does redeem itself. But I personally found the start to off-putting.
For example he writes that the entire population of the Philippines accepted and more importantly loved the white, male American 'ruler' 'governer'? and that the whole country viewed him as a father figure. I mean really? I find that very hard to believe. Particularly when a few paragraphs later the same guy is described as veiwing japanese soldiers as lesser than or not as good as American ones. There is no acknowledgement of the racism in this. And are we honestly meant believe that he was only racist against japanese people? While it is possible, I find it unlikely. And again the fact that this is mentioned almost in passing is concerning. Again it gets me questioning how accurate the account is. That being said I believe the main historical information to be accurate. It is the more nuanced information I am concerned with.
I feel it is important to note that a lot of time -certainly in the earlier chapters- is spent in building up/discussing how great American is. While I get that its important to set the scene particularly for a historical record. This spreads into the world of propaganda for me. And doesn't feel accurate. Again the racism of the time appears to be acknowledged once with the sentence, the japanese couldn't make good toys how could they make good planes. They must be German. (This is powerphased not a direct quote). But again the rasism behind that thought process and how problematical it is, is glossed over or ignored. And let's not forget that the lady who is the focus of this account will have experienced racism at the hands of soldiers and probably sexism as well. Who knows maybe this is acknowledged later in the book.
Also we've just been told how the Americans spent ages building their defense, drawing up plans and running drills. But were then surprised by the japanese attack? While with knowledge of racism and how it works this does make sense. Without this being explained or acknowledged it would seem extremely confusing.
So like I've said its a great shame as it leaves you questioning how reliable the information is. To be clear I didn't finish the book, so who knows maybe it does redeem itself. But I personally found the start to off-putting.
December 31, 2023
What a story!! Josefina Guerrero was such an amazing lady not only for her selflessness but bravery through her disease & military involvement. She assisted in the WW2 fight, specifically with USA & Philippines against Japan, using her disease as a superpower. Joey also became a voice for people with leprosy within leprosy colonies, outreaching to religious friends and politicians in order to reform the health and overall quality standards. Her life ended anonymously after changing her name to avoid her past life following her and this book was written after a friend of hers recognized her obituary and fought to share her tale.
I found this book after researching for a class presentation about leprosy. How many Asian women do I hear about in history??? Like none. How many women war heroes do I hear about?? Not enough!!
This book definitely told her story well. So, so much of the first third is setting up the political and military dynamics between the Philippines, USA, and Japan. I checked the title of this book like 3x bc I was expecting more about our girl Joey rather than the generals we were informed about. Without having ever met the woman, Montgomery embodies her essence well. Communication through her letters and few pictures gives great insight to the kind of woman she was. I appreciated how we first met her, as an elderly Asian woman as a concert hall attendant. It gives me perspective that every person we come across in this world has a story full of good and bad deeds. Joeys story was full of charitable acts she performed and yet her humility was her most notable feature.
Without much information about her life in America, I felt as though readers were kind of hustled towards the ending. The book also did not state when the Louisiana leper colony was disbanded or when the Philippine colony was disbanded (if it is). Who are the people around her on the cover??? Who are they lmao. I wish we were given info about where to find artifacts, such as the letters Joey wrote or the maps she smuggled in her journey.
Nevertheless, as this is the most prominent book about this woman, it serves her very well! Shout out the university of Arkansas for letting me borrow her #ILL
I found this book after researching for a class presentation about leprosy. How many Asian women do I hear about in history??? Like none. How many women war heroes do I hear about?? Not enough!!
This book definitely told her story well. So, so much of the first third is setting up the political and military dynamics between the Philippines, USA, and Japan. I checked the title of this book like 3x bc I was expecting more about our girl Joey rather than the generals we were informed about. Without having ever met the woman, Montgomery embodies her essence well. Communication through her letters and few pictures gives great insight to the kind of woman she was. I appreciated how we first met her, as an elderly Asian woman as a concert hall attendant. It gives me perspective that every person we come across in this world has a story full of good and bad deeds. Joeys story was full of charitable acts she performed and yet her humility was her most notable feature.
Without much information about her life in America, I felt as though readers were kind of hustled towards the ending. The book also did not state when the Louisiana leper colony was disbanded or when the Philippine colony was disbanded (if it is). Who are the people around her on the cover??? Who are they lmao. I wish we were given info about where to find artifacts, such as the letters Joey wrote or the maps she smuggled in her journey.
Nevertheless, as this is the most prominent book about this woman, it serves her very well! Shout out the university of Arkansas for letting me borrow her #ILL
November 14, 2019
Very interesting story about a Filipino woman named Joey. It was a bit more history than I wanted - I was just interested in her story. I read this book because my professor/advisor in college knew Joey. They served in the Peace Corp together but my professor never knew any of this about Joey. Joey served the US as a spy in WWII and then selflessly served her peers in communities for people with leprosy (all while fighting the disease herself). She received great attention for her service and in an immigration battle for US citizenship and then left that behind for a life of anonymity. My professor didn’t know anything about Joey’s past until someone was calling people in Joey’s address book to notify them of her death. This part of the story (her anonymity in her later years) is barely touched on in the book and is one of the most fascinating parts of the story to me. I’m glad I got the behind the scenes scoop from my professor and wish it was part of the book in a more prominent way.
January 18, 2026
Sometimes I think that next to wars, stigma is one of the worse things we can do to each other. In this story, the worse of both are poised in front of our faces, yet in the end, maybe the best, or at least the better, of humanity’s reaction to stigma is also shown.
We follow the up and down life of Joey Guerrero, cursed with Hanson’s disease, leprosy, through the awful carnage of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during WWII, her recovery, her triumph, and her quiet personal passing.
We might all get a lesson from this woman’s battle with the stigma. We might also get a reminder of the awful atrocities of war by the Japanese Army. It was bloody yet for their Army’s cruelness they were more frightened to get close to people like Joey Guerrero.
Well done by Mr. Montgomery. Maybe a thoughtful reminder of world’s prejudice gone awry.
###
We follow the up and down life of Joey Guerrero, cursed with Hanson’s disease, leprosy, through the awful carnage of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during WWII, her recovery, her triumph, and her quiet personal passing.
We might all get a lesson from this woman’s battle with the stigma. We might also get a reminder of the awful atrocities of war by the Japanese Army. It was bloody yet for their Army’s cruelness they were more frightened to get close to people like Joey Guerrero.
Well done by Mr. Montgomery. Maybe a thoughtful reminder of world’s prejudice gone awry.
###
August 17, 2018
Prob 3.5 stars. I definitely learned a lot, and was awed by Joey Guerrero and her heroism, faith in God, optimism, and unending service to others. What an interesting and heartbreaking look into Hansen’s disease (leprosy) during the 40’s and 50’s and before. Her loss of Rene and Cynthia is especially sad. Also a shame that she faced such opposition to entering and then remaining in the US for treatment and citizenship after her amazing service as a US spy during WWII. This has been on my to-read list for forever, and none of my libraries have had it, so I finally bought it on Ebay. Took me a while to read this in bits and pieces. The end dragged a bit for me. Still a worthwhile read for sure.
June 20, 2023
This books seems like two books rolled in to one. The beginning introduced Joey, a woman from the Philippians who had leprosy but is primarily the history of the Philippians during WWII. The second part is Joey's life after WWII when she came to the United States to get treatment.
Joey was an amazing individual who did so much good for the war effort and for humane conditions for others suffering with Hansen's disease (leprosy). As often happens, history is ignored and heroes are forgotten. In Joey's case much of that was by her choice but I appreciate the author brining her story to light.
I was very disheartened to see someone so very disserving of citizenship in the United States being put off for so long. How is that possible? Ouch.
Joey was an amazing individual who did so much good for the war effort and for humane conditions for others suffering with Hansen's disease (leprosy). As often happens, history is ignored and heroes are forgotten. In Joey's case much of that was by her choice but I appreciate the author brining her story to light.
I was very disheartened to see someone so very disserving of citizenship in the United States being put off for so long. How is that possible? Ouch.
January 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this non-fiction book that told the story of Joey Guerrero and the two wars she fought--an integral part of the win over Japan in the Phillipines and then the fight for her life (and others)--and independence--over Hansen's Disease. There was definitely more of the details of war than I was expecting but I certainly learned a lot. I read quite a bit of historical fiction related to WW2 but did not really know anything about this part of the overall war with the exception of the Bataan death march (which was included in this). I'm sad that I didn't know about Joey--and her bravery--before now. Truly a hero.
May 10, 2020
This book tells the story of Josefina (Joey) Guerrero Leaumax, a Filipina woman diagnosed with Hanson's disease (leprosy) on the eve of World War II, who worked as a spy during the war and later worked to educate people in both the Philippines and the US about leprosy and its stigma. Joey's story is important and inspiring and deserves to be told. Unfortunately, Mr. Montgomery is not the writer to tell her story capably or succinctly. He uses lots of long quotes that are repetitive and sometimes insignificant to the story. The story of Joey is important and worth reading but the book is very poorly written.
December 14, 2024
Wow, what a courageous and honorable woman. The Catholic Church should canonize her as a saint or at least honor her with the title of Mother. She sacrificed so much in order to fulfill her God-given role and duties without complaint and despite suffering. A wonderful and beautiful person. It's a shame Joey's story has been hidden for so long. I wish the author had had more accessible materials and information to incorporate into Joey's story, especially about her life during the war and her work with the resistance groups in the Philippines. I am so happy she is finally now being recognized for the heroine she is.
December 28, 2017
This biography covers Joey Guerrero's life, WWII in the Philippines, and a information on Hansen's disease (leprosy). Joey used her illness during the war to help the guerrillas and the Americans after the Japanese had invaded her country. She smuggled food, messages, and medicine. She campaigned for better living conditions for people with her disease in the Philippines and then continued this when she came to America. She was a very religious woman and believed that God used her for his purpose
August 1, 2021
A low-key telling of a spy story.
I love spy stories and this was one of the most touching. Hansen’s disease used to be a ticket to be alienated and outcast. Joey used it to follow her beliefs to benefit the US effort to liberate the Philippines from occupying Japan. during WWII. Joey remained humble and low-key in her two historic fights: to liberate her homeland and to battle the stigma and suffering from Leprosy. Her faith always guided her conscience. What a charming book about an unsung hero and a country who barely thanked this 5 foot tall hero.
I love spy stories and this was one of the most touching. Hansen’s disease used to be a ticket to be alienated and outcast. Joey used it to follow her beliefs to benefit the US effort to liberate the Philippines from occupying Japan. during WWII. Joey remained humble and low-key in her two historic fights: to liberate her homeland and to battle the stigma and suffering from Leprosy. Her faith always guided her conscience. What a charming book about an unsung hero and a country who barely thanked this 5 foot tall hero.
January 22, 2022
Joey, a young woman of great faith and great suffering, lives an amazing life of courage and sacrifice, both as a WWII wartime spy for the Allied forces and the Philippine guerillas during the Japanese occupation of the Philippine islands, but also as she fought her private war against Hansen's disease, and won victory at great personal cost. I learned a lot about the war in the Pacific, as well as what the powers of a free press and true friendships, and a willingness to get involved, can accomplish. As I said above, amazing and compelling read.
May 11, 2021
Although suffering from.leprosy this woman did great things. Following her healing she seemed to get lost.
This book was interesting at the beginning. But her travel to the U.S. and her healing from leprosy seemed to lose her way. She had many who fought for her to stay in the U.S. but when she got citizenship it did not seem to mean much. She left the U.S. to study elsewhere and kept studying. She moved from place to place in the world after that.
This book was interesting at the beginning. But her travel to the U.S. and her healing from leprosy seemed to lose her way. She had many who fought for her to stay in the U.S. but when she got citizenship it did not seem to mean much. She left the U.S. to study elsewhere and kept studying. She moved from place to place in the world after that.
November 9, 2017
This book covers a lot of ground. It is non-fiction and is the story of a woman with Hanson's disease (leprosy) during WWI. It contains a very informative overview of the role of the US army in the Phillipine's, which was a part of the WWI story I knew very little about. It also offers a historical perspective on the leprosy disease itself which was very fascinating.
December 10, 2018
This is truly a worthwhile read for the historical insight. You will gain so much appreciation for our military, the native people and what they experienced. The story is often riveting, but sometimes gruesome because of the war atrocities that occurred. Warning: the book does slow down a lot in the second half, which is all about Joey Guerrero's life after the war.
April 20, 2020
A good retelling of the war in the Pacific and the Bataan Death Match. Second half left me wanting it to be over, the tediousness of the American bureaucracy, the way a life of a woman who became a victim of a disease and insensitivity of society can be turned around through her faith and personality.
April 24, 2020
I found this book fascinating, particularly the historical background of the Philippines in WWII. It gave Joey's story context and really made me appreciate the sacrifices of many brave people. The author did a tremendous amount of research which added depth to the book. It slowed down towards the end with the focus on Joey's post WWII life, but it was still enjoyable overall.
April 30, 2021
Dual reporting on "Joey's" effectiveness as a spy, enhanced by her leprosy that minimize Japanese interest in searching her for the messages she carried to and Philippine and American military leaders, and the evolution of treatment for Hansen's disease. A woman small in stature but big in accomplishment and life experience, this "unlikely hero" had as many chapters in her life as this book!
April 15, 2025
This was a very interesting audiobook about a brave Phillipino woman who helped during WWII. She contracted leprosy which helped her to smuggle documents across lines because the Japanese didn’t want to touch her to search her. She later came to America to live in a Louisiana leper colony in which she helped the other lepers in many ways.
September 8, 2017
Fascinating story! Not only was I inspired by this unlikely hero but I also learned a lot about the war in the Philippines that I didn't know as well as issues surrounding leprosy (Hansen's disease). I highly recommend this book.
March 8, 2018
I thought the story would be much more about the spying and a lot less about the history of leprosy. It was told in a very dry manner and not overly engaging. Rather journalistic rather than telling a compelling story.
April 13, 2018
Fascinating story. I wish the author had spent less time writing about the U.S. army in the Philippines and more time on Joey's later life. It also details the extraordinary callousness of the U.S. immigration service even back in the 1950's and 60's.
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