D-Day: The World War II Invasion that Changed History

by Deborah Hopkinson

Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson brings her signature action-packed narrative style to one of the most crucial battles of WWII. The WWII invasion known as D-Day was the largest military endeavor in history. By June 6, 1944, Hitler and his allies had a strong grip on the European continent, where Nazi Germany was engaged in the mass extermination of the Jewish people. The goal of D-Day was the total defeat of Hitler's regime, and the defense of free democracies everywhere. Knowing they had to breach the French coast, the US, Great Britain, and Canada planned for the impossible. D-Day was an invasion not for conquest, but liberation, and required years to plan and total secrecy to keep the advantage of surprise. Once deployed, Operation Overlord involved soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, and specialists. Acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson weaves together the contributions of not only D-Day's famous players, but African Americans, women, journalists, and service members in a masterful tapestry of official documents, personal narratives, and archival photos to bring this decisive battle to vivid, thrilling life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Middle Grade, World War II, Historical, Military Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

I write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)

NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.

I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many books available about the D-Day Invasion of World War II. But because so many people were involved, there are endless ways for the story to be told. In addition, for the same reason, authors have to pick and choose what information to share, there is simply too much to share in any one book. Plus, no two authors tell the story in the same way. Thus, there is a place for Hopkinson's book on the subject. And she's done a fabulous job in sharing the information in a way that works for adolescent readers.


The book starts with the experience of a young man flying over France as one of the thousands of paratroopers proceeding the sea-based invasion. This makes for a great beginning as it pulls the reader right into the story. Following a brief description of what D-Day was and how the U.S. Army was organized (helpful for those with little military or World War II background), Hopkinson goes back and tells the story of the major events that led up to the invasion itself. The book is divided up into 7 parts as follows: The Plan, The Gods of War, Night Into Day, Utah, Omaha, Aftermath: More than Courage, Quartermaster's Department. Each section includes important information related to the general plans and some of the individuals involved in creating those plans. As this book is written for American youth, it focuses on the two invasion sites that the Americans helped invade, the beaches code named Utah and Omaha. I especially appreciated the widespread use of quotes and experiences from individuals who were there. The story feels more real when one reads the words of an actual person. The inclusion of 'dispatches' and 'Reader's Invasion Briefings' helped create context in relation to specific issues that came up during the invasion.

All in all Hopkinson has created a compelling account of a day that changed the world forever. A day that young history buffs will want to know about. This is a book that would be easy to recommend to young readers who want a glimpse into the experiences of those involved in both the planning and executing of D-Day.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book tries to do too much. Between the layout in which Hopkinson has briefings, strategies, voices, readers's additions, dispatches, notebooks, etc. I wished she had stuck to just one or two angles to cover the invasion that changed history. But of course, she also mentions, there's just so much to cover. I think it got muddled in it's delivery and will be interesting to those that enjoy the subject matter, but unfocused and hard to connect with if you'd like to learn about something that you didn't know much about. I couldn't concentrate with the amount going on.

Yet, I can appreciate the imagery she paints, the primary sources, and documentation to show all of the facets including the most hardhitting when discussing African Americans enlisting, women correspondents, and the difficulties of planning for such a large-scale invasion such as D-Day. Readers can feel the uphill battle and the luck as well as planning that went into this military strategy of this magnitude. It's horrific and difficult, confusing and scary but they did it for the betterment of the world and to stop a madman. I just wish the delivery had been better.

I'd also like to see it in the larger format that I know and love from informational nonfiction for a YA audience as I'm only seeing the ARC and hope it spaces itself out if it's going to a larger size dimension.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing and moving. It's clearly written, with masterful use of original sources to not only illumate various aspects of the operation, but to bring human faces and experiences to the story through their own words.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of book you don’t want to put down. For sophisticated YA and adult readers. I thought I knew about D-Day, but as I began to read this book, I realized I had no idea what a complex operation this was--the covert planning and the freaking size of this plan. 13,000 U.S. paratroopers jumped out of planes. Some 57,000 stormed the beaches at Normandy. Others were brought in on "horsas" --airplane "gliders" made of balsa wood that were pulled by bigger planes and then let go to glide into enemy territory - with hundreds of men and equipment including jeeps aboard. Even though they'd planned and planned, the implementation was a debacle. Paratroopers and gliders landed off course. Amphibious vehicles, loaded with men, beached in the wrong spot or were hit by German weaponry and sank, leaving soldiers to drown or swim to shore, loaded down with 75 pounds of equipment. The Germans had lined the coast with explosives and were nested in to bunkers, ready to attack. The U.S. attempted to destroy some of this before men landed but were not successful. The men landing did not know this until they came upon well-fortified, heavily armored and waiting Germans (especially at Omaha Beach). It was a mess. And yet, they got a "toehold" onto the German occupied territory. A toehold that allowed the Allied forces to start moving against Hitler's army.

I’m writing all of this to say that Hopkinson expertly conveys the gravity and enormity of the situation. She does not pretend to know the feelings or thoughts of individuals involved in this experience. Instead she uses well-established facts and primary sources including many quotes from oral histories to tell the story of this day. Honestly, I finished this book thinking, “OMG” and feeling incredibly indebted to these soldiers and any other person who has served our country.

IN A CLASSROOM – My first thought is “Why do we still rely on textbooks in any kind of high school history class?” Book talk this. And then recruit a group of students to read, engage in student-led conversations, learn from additional sources, and then share their learning (and even their gratitude). Questions that might serve as a guide:
• “What made this endeavor enormous?” This kind of question includes the literal numbers, but also thinking critically about the emotional and mental weight of this plan on key individuals that Hopkinson alludes to and thinking beyond the text to the planning that Hopkinson does not describe, but that must have had to happen to get the troops ready.
• “How does Hopkinson weave complex details together in a way that makes the enormity of what happened accessible to the reader?” This could include a discussion of how she includes statistics, but also oral histories. What is the role of each of these types of details?
• “What does Hopkinson leave out?” or “What choices did Hopkinson clearly make about what to include and what not to include?” or “How does Hopkinson establish accuracy and authority throughout the text?”

IF YOU BOOK TALK THIS, a couple of tips:
• I would not take for granted the value of students previewing this text before reading, of students thinking through the design of the text (looking carefully at the table of contents) and the PURPOSE of special features (e.g., sidebars like “reader’s invasion briefing” and “dispatch”). This will help them navigate and make sense of the information. Even sophisticated readers could benefit from this.
• Also, for me, the narrative really picked up in Part 2 after Hopkinson develops the context for D-Day and describes initial planning. Keep an eye on (striving) readers during Part 1 or until you feel like they are on a roll. It wouldn't hurt to provide extra scaffolds like a current map of Europe, readers can reference as they move through the book or a chance to explore the topic (with video, etc) before they read.
• The technical language that Hopkinson includes early on related to service members' rank, division, etc. may bog some readers down. Do not let this deter them. You may need to think aloud in front of students about how you make sense of these terms as a reader and continue moving forward. This lightens up and becomes easier to navigate a little bit into the book.

The courage it took to face that day (and many others that we have asked service members to face since then) is stunning. As a reader of this book, YOU FEEL THIS. Towards the end of reading this book, I went to lunch with family and as we entered the restaurant, I saw a group of service members eating at a table nearby. I couldn't help it...I quietly paid for their lunch. I asked to be anonymous, but the wait staff gave me away. When the service members came over to say thank you and shake my hand, I nearly wept. I live in a freaking silo—I know no one serving in the military. This book strengthened by gratitude to anyone who has served our country. Thank you, Deborah Hopkinson.

[Ayden.B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never give up even when your in the toughest situations.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story about D-Day brings to life, through the words of a few of the participants, the planning, horrors, and triumphs of one of the most important battles of the Second World War. Hopkinson focuses mainly on the American contribution to the battle.

The story is broken into small chunks with frequent "Look, Listen, Remember" sections that give links to further information about the current topic. Sections called "Briefings" and "Reader's Invasion Briefing" provide a wider context to the the eyewitness material. Other sections called "Reporter's Notebooks" give information about some of the men and women who were war photographers and correspondents. "Dispatches" are first person accounts.

The book is liberally illustrated with photos and maps. It also ends with an extensive "Quartermaster's Department" which includes a timeline, a list of the important people in the book, a glossary, a list of additional sources and detailed notes identifying and giving credit for all the quotes. The book will have an index which was not included in my ARC.

This book was compelling and fascinating. It is an excellent example of the best in current nonfiction and provides the reader with a basic understanding of this important battle and lots of pointers to where interested readers can get more information.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-researched, readable and thorough historical account of one of the world’s most important battles, which turned the tide of war, and eventually led to the liberation of Paris and the defeat of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Everyone should know this amazing story.

So many interesting details about the invasion that I may've missed the first time around. Very well written

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was superb reading! I am shocked that ALA did not reward this with an award such as the Sibert or Yalsa Nonfiction I have read extensively about WWII but not so much on the battlefields themselves. This book will redirect my reading to include more battle history. There was so much I hadn't known before!
Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt Jr., the first Roosevelt President's oldest son, was at D-Day? He insisted on being with the troops on Utah Beach because he knew he could reassure them and do the most good that way. He boasted that he had talked to every soldier in the First Division and proved it by calling out in the dark, "What outfit is this?" and being answered by name! He then proceeded to shock everyone by dying in his bed a few weeks later, just as he was going to be assigned to another, struggling unit. His was only one of the sacrifices of the Roosevelt families to WWII.

Easily the most dramatic, story was one belonging to Hal Baumgarten, a private. He got shot twice on Omaha Beach, then 2 more times that day and night. While in a ditch with 6 other soldiers, all dead, he was close to dying as well. He thought he imagined a voice in broken English telling him he'd be fine. At first he assumed he had been hallucinating. Later he heard about a German soldier who said he encountered a soldier in a ditch where everyone else was dead and tried to reassure him. Of course, Hal never found out if that solder had spoken to him or not. He finally was rescued after shooting his gun to attract the attention of an ambulance. But of course, with his luck, that wasn't it. Sure enough his nursing area got fired on and he got another wound! That makes five wounds in one battle!! He ended up with months and months of surgeries, and discovered that people will treat disabled people badly, and still often do so. He had part of a leg amputated. Is it any surprise he later became a doctor?

I have heard of Ernie Pyle, the great war journalist. But I haven't read his work before. There were a number of quotes from his writings in here. He was what would now be called embedded with the soldiers and endured what they endured. And the soldiers knew it and appreciated him. When he was killed in the war, a hand painted sign was erected at the spot as a makeshift memorial. I don't think anyone can look at the photo of that sign and not get emotional over it.

I really appreciated the clear writing of what was a terribly chaotic panic stricken day. I appreciated the stories of the big names such as Ike. However, what made this book really special was the focus on the ordinary person there, such as Hal. Hopkinson also made it clear that African Americans played important support roles since prejudice kept them from being soldiers. She makes it very clear their work was as essential as the soldiers on the front lines. She has a photo of the first woman to reach France as a nurse, rolling bandages. She has extensive online sources as well as a sizable number of primary sources of which Hal, mentioned above, was an important one. While I have admired Hopkinson's work before, and picked this up when I saw her name on the book, she surpassed herself in this one. Shame on ALA for not giving this an award!

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

D-Day: The World War II Invasion that Changed History by Deborah Hopkinson is a non-fiction book about the events of D-Day. This was an invasion of allied troops onto four German occupied beaches. It took months of painstaking planning and coordinated efforts of multiple nations to pull of this heroic feat. D-Day is widely considered one of the most important military efforts in history.

This book does an amazing job of bringing a pivotal point in human history to life. It shows the perspectives of military commanders, journalists, world leaders and soldiers, which allows the reader to become immersed in the story of D-Day. The book was divided into 6 main parts that covered events before, during, and after D-Day. Within these parts, there was numerous other sections, like “Invasion Briefings” and “Reporter’s Notebook.” This broke up the information and made it easier to understand.

My favorite aspect of the book was the invasion briefings. As a World War II buff, it was fascinating to see the intricate maneuvers involved with each invasion, and how different units worked in unison. The labeled maps, captions, and diagrams made the information very accessible. Each of the four beaches (Sword, Juno, Omaha, and Utah) had separate invasions that defied the tremendous odds against them. The Allied troops braved beach obstacles, enemy fire and terrible weather, sacrificing everything for a common goal.

I also loved how this book displayed the bravery of those behind the scenes during D-Day. Though they were not present on the battlefield, thousands of people worked to build machinery, predict the weather, and plan the invasion. If President Roosevelt had picked the wrong day to invade, the entire D-Day operation may have been for nothing. But under extreme pressure, Roosevelt rose to the occasion and picked the right date. I think he said it best: “I thank the gods of war we went when we did.”

I would recommend this book to any reader over the age of ten who enjoys history and reading about World War II. I believe that the best and worst of humanity can be witnessed in wartime situations, and reading about prolific wars is very important. Such a momentous event like D-Day should be appreciated by readers old and young.

I give this book five out of five stars because of the multiple perspectives and fascinating battle plans. This book did justice to the importance of such a pivotal point in our history, and was simply a great read.
Review by Anya A, age 14, Metropolitan Washington Mensa

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as good as it gets for a highly readable, nonfiction, war selection for kids. Getting kids to read about combat is not easy if it's not written in a style they can relate to. It needs to be as close to a narrative telling as it can get without crossing the line into fiction. Hopkinson tackles this challenge by telling the story from the perspective of real men who landed on the beaches of Normandy by air and sea. She is able to do this with a massive amount of quotes that makes it feel at times like dialogue. This is an approach also used by award-winning nonfiction writer, Steve Sheinkin. Her research is more than thorough. She manages to include fine details that make the whole story all the more exciting. Who knew that Eisenhower brought his dog over? Who knew the fate the weather would play? Who knew that cows would be mistaken for German soldiers? Who knew the terrain, filled with hedgerows, would require a new tank design? Fascinating details.

Hopkinson begins by describing the plan, which took a year to finalize and execute. She describes the Normandy coast and the five Allied entry points. The Americans come in at the western points of Utah and Omaha and take the worst beating. She describes the gliders which come in first with supplies. She gives first hand accounts of the paratroopers coming in next. Some dying immediately. Some missing their mark by miles. Then she describes the sea invasion at Omaha beach in astonishing detail.

Famous war correspondent Ernie Pyle said, "After it was over it seemed a pure miracle that we ever took the beach at all." I get why he said that after reading this book. Hopkinson's writing put me there on Omaha Beach and I'm grateful to finally understand this important historical event. It's written for kids, but I also recommend it for adults.

[Sheila Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The WWII invasion known as D‑Day was the largest military endeavor in history. By June 6, 1944, Hitler and his allies had a strong grip on the European continent, where Nazi Germany was engaged in the mass extermination of the Jewish people. The goal of D‑Day was the total defeat of Hitler’s regime, and the defense of free democracies everywhere. Knowing they had to breach the French coast, the US, Great Britain, and Canada planned for the impossible. D‑Day was an invasion not for conquest, but liberation, and required years to plan and total secrecy to keep the advantage of surprise.
Once deployed, Operation Overlord involved soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, and specialists. These are the contributions of not only D‑Day’s famous players, but African Americans, women, journalists, and service members in a tapestry of official documents, personal narratives, and many black and white photos to bring this battle to life by breaking it down into components and focusing on human voices and perspectives. A wealth of information clearly presented shows the complexity of the task undertaken, the challenges of the terrain, and the courage required of those involved. The result is an engaging read for those fascinated with military strategy as well as those not interested in military history.
Figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley get plenty of attention, but more is given to the experiences of the soldiers who waded ashore under fire or parachuted behind enemy lines. Hopkinson allows the participants to tell their own stories and weaves their personal accounts with those of observations by war correspondent Ernie Pyle and others to bring the invasion to life.
Even though I’ve read a great deal about this time period, the book provided new information and new lessons. I highly recommend it and other books by the author as they are well researched. 4

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Reviewed from an ARC

Hopkinson is at her best in this introduction to the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.

The book's focus is on the Americans at Utah and Omaha Beaches and the British action at the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges. Hopkinson opens the book by explaining the organization of military units, with a chart giving numbers of soldiers in each. She also explains some of the choices she made when referring to each in the text. The book is divided into six parts, often beginning with a “Reader’s Briefing” (overview of the topic). Largely told through eyewitness accounts, readers will learn how the men were prepared both mentally and physically for battle, the extent of planning and the time that went into preparing for the invasion, additional considerations such as weather, water tides, food, and security/secrecy, the role of African Americans in the war and the racism they experienced, and what it was like for civilians caught in the middle.

Primary sources such as charts, maps, quotations, black & white photos, posters, letters, and websites are included to extend the text further. Nearly 70 pages of backmatter include a World War II timeline, glossary of terms, key list of people, websites for more research, a resource bibliography, source notes, photo credits and an index (to come).

This is an outstanding introduction to this complicated military accomplishment, albeit with an American focus and would be outstanding to use when studying WWII, pairing it with clips from a movie such as the opening of “Saving Private Ryan”.

Highly Recommended for grades 6-12.

[Laura Koehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of the book— all opinions are my own. I remember my history teachers talking about the significance of D-Day to the Allies in World War II, but I never really personally understood why this was such an important event until reading this book. In this nonfiction narrative, Deborah Hopkinson gives the reader an account of this crucial military endeavor. She starts with all the planning that went into it, all of the action during the invasion, and the aftermath. As she does this, she seamlessly weaves in quotes from soldiers and eye witnesses, actual photos, and links the reader can go to if they want to continue their learning and research. I also appreciate that Hopkinson acknowledges groups that often don’t receive recognition for their achievements during this time, such as women and African Americans, and she honestly addresses the discrimination and racism that prevented them from doing more, even when they wanted to do more. I learned a lot of interesting things while reading this book-- everything from how the weather affected plans, the different people who traveled to Normandy, and how they strategically planned their battle. One thing I found difficult about this book was the chronology. History is can be tricky because so many things are happening simultaneously. I had a hard time understanding what was happening when. I think a visual timeline of just the invasion would have been helpful. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in history, wars, or World War II specifically.

[JoLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in "World War II Nonfiction for Young Readers: D-Day Edition" on Intellectual Recreation.

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and, as a love a good commemorative read, I listened to this book.

On June 6, 1944 the allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and began the final push that would end the war in Europe. This landing was product of months and years of planning and cost nearly 20,000 lives. Deborah Hopkinson's book is a great introduction to the Allied invasion. She very clearly lays out the circumstances leading up to the D-Day and then takes the readers through several of the crucial events of the day. With an event so momentous as D-Day, a history can get bogged down in the details. Hopkinson narrows the focus by primarily discussing the American efforts at Utah and Omaha beach, rather than trying to tackle the landings at all five beaches.

My favorite thing about this book is that it is filled with many firsthand and personal accounts, which helps the history come alive in a way that a strict military recounting cannot. This book would be a great resource for anyone who is doing a report or school project on D-Day or World War II, as it includes links to many other resources.

Published August 28, 2018 by Scholastic Nonfiction.

[MASON · Rating 5 out of 5]

There will be SPOILERS in this review
This book was a ten out of ten read. The stories that were told in this book were entertaining and you got a first-hand experience of what D-Day was like for the young men who fought and died on that very sad day in American history. The book starts on June 6th, 1944 this was the mourning of D-day. nobody knew what to expect, but nobody was ready for what was to come. Around 5 am the U.S and the United Kingdom bombed the shoreline of Normandy beech to try and take the Nazi defenses. Which was okay for a night bombing run, but it left a lot of machine guns still up and running. The next step was the landings that occurred around 6:30 am. The first boats that arrived were pretty much of a death sentence, but the U.S had a trick up their sleeve strength in numbers. The Allies kept sending ship after ship. A great loss of life happened on this day, but every life lost saved a dozen lives in the process. Slowly but surely the Allies kept pushing up the beach and finally at 10 am the Allies had control of the beaches. It was estimated That the U.S and its Allies lost roughly 10,000 men in the D-Day invasion. It is one of the most tragic days in U.S history but also is one of the most important days in U.S history because this was the start of the downfall of the Nazi Regime.

The author of this book was Deborah Hopkins. She did a fantastic job of describing the horrors of the D-day invasion. She included a timeline which I liked. She did a decent job of describing the aftermath of the invasion. Overall the author could have included more veteran stories which would have made the story more entertaining, but overall the Author gets an 8 out of 10 rating in my very best opinion.
I would have liked the author to go into greater detail about what all took place before the invasion like how they pick Normandy beach for a landing spot. Overall I would highly recommend this book to anybody who likes history.

[Jovanni Juarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

You land on Omaha beach, sea sick and nervous. You rush out at the sound of a whistle, and jump into the water, wishing for the best. As you swim, your gear gets heavier and heavier. You hear gunshots and fear poking your head out for air. D-Day: The World War II Invasion That Changed History by Deborah Hopkinson is a book that goes into deep details about the attack on Omaha beach. It shows the strategies, tactics, the men and firearms that the Allied Powers used. Hopkinson does a really good job describing everything that happened In D-Day, and she simplifies it very well. She also includes real quotes from men that experienced D-Day, and she includes many of them. As you’re reading the quotes, you realize how dangerous and hard the attack on Omaha beach was. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading about War War II, and to people that like to read about survivors of any war. This book can be related to Deborah Hopkinson‘s book DIVE!, in which the book includes WW2 journals and different perspectives from the French, Americans, and British.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Deborah Hopkinson's books. She always manages to cover her non-fiction subjects with respect. Her extensive research shines through the memorable little-known stories she includes. Her vignettes about General Eisenhower and his dogs are hilarious. The firsthand accounts from the soldiers who served give the text extra poignancy. Reading D-Day: The World War II Invasion that Changed History as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded gave me hope. So many things could have gone wrong and did go wrong with D-Day that victory was far from certain. In spite of all the many months of planning, a huge part of D-Day's success came down to the weather. The original date, June 5th had to be scrapped because inhospitable weather would have made the landings all but impossible. I highly recommend this book!

[Jacob Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

"D-Day: The World War II Invasion That Changed History" By Deborah Hopkinson is a book that gives a bit more detail into what most books give you about this one specific event during World War II that most other books don't give you. With this book having first hand accounts from people which survived these terrible days of bloodshed it really gives a sort of personal connection to the people that lived these moments. I would recommend this book to a friend if they needed to do a small history project on major events in history. I would also just recommend it to someone that likes reading about World War II and some of the stories. I personally liked the book because it on a subject that I enjoy reading about. The book could have organized things a little differently.

[Patricia Bleile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always found World War II to be extremely interesting. I'm not really sure why I have found it to be so interesting, and that I have also really enjoyed learning about it. Maybe it is because so much happened during that time in history. I really liked this book, and I enjoyed my time reading it. I found this book being hard to put down. I definitely would recommend for other people to read this book. I would probably use this book in my classroom as a group read book for a unit on the time of World War II. This would be if I were to end up teaching in middle school as a history teacher.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at the invasion of Normandy, France during WWII by the Allies that turned the tide of the war. This invasion is often referred to simply as D-Day. Many individual/personal accounts, lots of maps and charts. Incredibly thorough. Statistics and information that I was unaware of; shocking how many people were killed and wounded in this one day. Also saddening how black soldiers were still so poorly treated. Also astonishing how badly plans went astray and yet Allies were still victorious. (So glad I read this before I will go there in April; will be so much more meaningful)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this gave a great overview of the D-Day experience for the intended teen audience. It covers the planning, the preparation, the airborne assault with paratroopers, and the storming of Omaha and Utah beaches. Meticulously researched, the book allows the reader to see all the elements of that day without becoming overwhelmed in one aspect. Instead, the focus is on the deeply personal and compelling stories of the people who lived it. The quotes and first-person accounts are very powerful and vividly bring the details to life.

[Avery D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informational.

I like reading about history, and this book really shone a new light on D-Day for me. It focused a lot more on the stories of soldiers and officers who experienced first hand the events of D-Day. You can really imagine the fear and horrors they experienced.

This book goes into a little detail about the intended plans and preparations, but also reinforces the idea that basically nothing went to plan. The stories are in-depth, and there are multiple little tidbits of information about things like the resources used/needed, aircraft, African American/women involvement, etc.

Would recommend if you like history/war ♥

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopkinson takes a huge and complex historical event and somehow manages to explain the overarching purpose and events without ever losing sight of the individuals who made it happen. Terrifying, riveting and satisfying in equal measures. Great for young people who want to know more about seminal events (especially ones their relatives may have lived through) and for adults as well. Highly recommended.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent telling of the D-Day invasion. The idea of using primary materials to tell the story of D-Day makes history come alive for the students. Having just returned from Normandy, it made the book very interesting. It brought to life the places I had visited. The sources are well documented. Highly recommend this book for a quick overview of the men and places involved in D-Day. Thanks for the review copy.

[emma bubba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the layout was questionable, as someone who only knows basic knowledge on WWII, I really enjoyed this book.


I read this book awhile ago and I wanted to come back to write a review (Even if my mind was foggy.) Every time I read this book, it pushed me more into the story. For me, it incapsulated how scary it must have been to be apart of the invasion.

—Ending it abruptly because I barely remember it.

[Joe Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has been a huge amount written about D-Day which makes it a daunting task for an author to present it in a new, interesting way. Hopkinson nailed it. I really like her format. She breaks it up in a way to hold the interest of young people and adults as well. Her "look, listen, remember" segments invites people to look more in depth at a given topic. I've taught US Military History in college and am impressed with this book. Wish I would have had it available when I was teaching.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandson recommended this book. It was excellent! I knew a lot about the battle and preparations but I still learned more through this reading. The author did an excellent job of collecting information, with quotes and stories from: participants. She provided links to video and audio. I was very impressed and gratified that such authors are providing enriching historical data in a readable form, for almost anyone.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent in-depth look at the invasions, particularly of the U.S. soldiers that landed at Omaha and Utah beaches. Divided into section that detail the history, the strategy, and the personal accounts. This format works really well in print but, unfortunately, doesn’t always translate effectively to audio.

[Partha · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most delightful accounts of D Day. It just feels like a chilly thriller even though every word and every line is just theory. What is the most amazing is the first hand account from real frontline soldiers, and rarest of rare photographs from the beaches. Brilliant. Totally worth the read. Will love to own it someday.

[Geoffrey Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version in advance of a trip to Normandy. The author provides a good summary and adds stories and quotes to make the narrative come alive. It’s an American history rather than an overview of the allied effort, which is fine but not evident from the title. One major negative is the reading of long urls preceded by a loud bell sound, which interrupts the audio narrative.