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Up Periscope
The story
1943 - the Pacific War.
U.S. Submarine 'Shark' is gliding through enemy waters on a dangerous mission.
Ken Braden, young officer just out of the Underwater Demolition School, has to swim ashore to a Jap-held island, photograph a code and get back to the patrolling sub. - without detection.
This is one of the most exciting sea-stories of all time, written by a man who knows all about action.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 56-9060
1943 - the Pacific War.
U.S. Submarine 'Shark' is gliding through enemy waters on a dangerous mission.
Ken Braden, young officer just out of the Underwater Demolition School, has to swim ashore to a Jap-held island, photograph a code and get back to the patrolling sub. - without detection.
This is one of the most exciting sea-stories of all time, written by a man who knows all about action.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 56-9060
220 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
5 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Robb White
61 books48 followersRobb White was partnered with gimmick horror film king William Castle during Castle's most popular and productive period. Born in the Philippines, White was a preacher's son who held a wide variety of jobs before landing in the Navy during World War II. He initially collaborated with Castle on the short-lived TV series "Men of Annapolis" (1957), then joined forces with the enterprising producer-director on the horror thrillers "Macabre" (1958), "House on Haunted Hill" (1959), "The Tingler" (1959), "Homicidal" (1961), and "13 Ghosts" (1960). He later went back to TV writing, including "Perry Mason" (1957), as well as novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 14, 2021
This was the first submarine adventure I ever read. Way back all those years ago in school, my brother chose this as one of his purchases through the Scholastic Book Services. I swiped it one summer and read it. Mother would have been shocked. She would have thought it was a boy's book and maybe so, but gosh, what an exciting tale it was to me back then! I read it more than once and then found my own copy years later at a paperback swap shop. Read it a few more times, but this reading was the first in many years.
And I still thought it was very exciting, but I will admit that this is not exactly going to be an objective review. How can anyone look with no emotion at a book that triggered an interest in submarine fiction? lol
We first meet our hero, Lieutenant (junior grade) Ken Braden when he is sitting in an Admiral's office in Pearl Harbor. Braden is a Naval Reserve officer fresh out of Underwater Demolition Training. A few weeks earlier he and a few others had volunteered for a job. but time went by and no one heard anything about what would come next. Until the night Braden was shipped out to Hawaii. He is waiting for the Admiral to get off the phone and tell him (he hopes) just what the job will involve.
But we won't know all the details yet. The Admiral asks questions, chats a bit, and tells Ken to think it over. It seems he must accept the job before he gets to know exactly what he is expected to do. All he can tell (and he is just guessing) is that the job is Very Important and he might not come back alive.
We take our allotted time to think t over, and of course we agree to everything. That is when we find out we are going to be shipping out immediately on a sub that has just come back from close to 60 days on patrol. And that our Skipper is not quite as gung-ho as the crew would like him to be. There is tension on the boat, and Ken Braden has to deal not only with that but with planning the details of his operation, which turns out to be fetching a code the Japanese are using to relay information about American ship locations. A spy in Pearl Harbor has been identified but now it is time to play spy versus spy and feed him incorrect information so that the American ships can navigate the Pacific Ocean more safely.
But first Our Man Braden has to get that code! Will he be able to come up with a good plan? Will he have the courage to execute that plan when the time comes? Will he and the crew of the Shark even survive this trip?
I think Marco will agree that this was an exciting, very dramatic story that gave us both the feeling of life on a WWII era submarine. I was not sure any of us would survive, but I can say for certain that Marco and I did, and I can also say that I enjoyed this book just as much as I did 50 years ago.
And I still thought it was very exciting, but I will admit that this is not exactly going to be an objective review. How can anyone look with no emotion at a book that triggered an interest in submarine fiction? lol
We first meet our hero, Lieutenant (junior grade) Ken Braden when he is sitting in an Admiral's office in Pearl Harbor. Braden is a Naval Reserve officer fresh out of Underwater Demolition Training. A few weeks earlier he and a few others had volunteered for a job. but time went by and no one heard anything about what would come next. Until the night Braden was shipped out to Hawaii. He is waiting for the Admiral to get off the phone and tell him (he hopes) just what the job will involve.
But we won't know all the details yet. The Admiral asks questions, chats a bit, and tells Ken to think it over. It seems he must accept the job before he gets to know exactly what he is expected to do. All he can tell (and he is just guessing) is that the job is Very Important and he might not come back alive.
We take our allotted time to think t over, and of course we agree to everything. That is when we find out we are going to be shipping out immediately on a sub that has just come back from close to 60 days on patrol. And that our Skipper is not quite as gung-ho as the crew would like him to be. There is tension on the boat, and Ken Braden has to deal not only with that but with planning the details of his operation, which turns out to be fetching a code the Japanese are using to relay information about American ship locations. A spy in Pearl Harbor has been identified but now it is time to play spy versus spy and feed him incorrect information so that the American ships can navigate the Pacific Ocean more safely.
But first Our Man Braden has to get that code! Will he be able to come up with a good plan? Will he have the courage to execute that plan when the time comes? Will he and the crew of the Shark even survive this trip?
I think Marco will agree that this was an exciting, very dramatic story that gave us both the feeling of life on a WWII era submarine. I was not sure any of us would survive, but I can say for certain that Marco and I did, and I can also say that I enjoyed this book just as much as I did 50 years ago.
March 24, 2015
One of the first novels I can remember reading when I was around 13 or so. My father and several of my uncles were in the military during WWII, which made me intrigued by the US Navy and WWII.
The story of a WWII UDT diver and his assignment to capture Japanese codes was a page-burner, even for a kid. I remember feeling as though I sweat blood, held my breath and became drenched in the tropical heat of the south pacific.
The story of a WWII UDT diver and his assignment to capture Japanese codes was a page-burner, even for a kid. I remember feeling as though I sweat blood, held my breath and became drenched in the tropical heat of the south pacific.
October 9, 2018
Ken Broaden doesn't really feel like hero material, but when push comes to shove, will he be able to do what's necessary?
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Robb White is a suspense/action genius! This story is realistic, gripping, and free of the political ambiguities which made the Second World War so full of moral gray area. It is just one man's struggle with his own problems, not this stupidity of "let's save the world by eradicating certain nations" thing, and it contains no malice toward their enemy. It is very matter of fact. I recommend this to pretty much anyone of any age anywhere.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Robb White is a suspense/action genius! This story is realistic, gripping, and free of the political ambiguities which made the Second World War so full of moral gray area. It is just one man's struggle with his own problems, not this stupidity of "let's save the world by eradicating certain nations" thing, and it contains no malice toward their enemy. It is very matter of fact. I recommend this to pretty much anyone of any age anywhere.
October 19, 2020
Took a break from my usual lists of book titles to read something from my childhood. Back before CD’s and DVD’s and FM radio in the car, our family entertainment in the car on vacation was homemade. And we created the original audiobook service! My parents made sure there were a couple books packed in there for the ride, and when the alphabet game was over and the stream of new license plates slowed down, out one would come. And we would dive into an adventure or a mystery or something funny until mom’s voice got tired or she started falling asleep. Or one of us would take over reading for her. Or dad needed help from the map/navigator (gasp! 😲). Sound familiar??
Something reminded me of this book recently. Not sure what. I haven’t seen it in 40 years. But I got online and the wonder that is amazon popped it right up. And I bought it. It came all scuffed up, with yellowed pages much like the way I remember it from when I was 10. It even had the same cover. And I took my time reading it, just one or two chapters a night until the end when I had to read the last few all at once because the suspense would’ve kept me awake anyway!
This is a true old-fashioned naval adventure story. I suppose written for boys, but it captivated me as a kid. Especially when read out loud. And as a nostalgic adult, I loved it all over again. With upright characters concerned with honor. With the turbulent post-Pearl Harbor setting. The tension of a secret mission. The exotic South Pacific. Torpedoes and depth charges going off all around. What’s not to love? Will Lt. (J.G.) Kenneth Braden and the crew of the submarine, Shark, make it a successful mission? All read by bedside lamp with the reminiscent fragrance of 64-year-old faded yellow pages. I am so glad to have a copy of this little gem back on my bookshelves! And, just maybe, I will make my kids listen to it in the car someday...
Something reminded me of this book recently. Not sure what. I haven’t seen it in 40 years. But I got online and the wonder that is amazon popped it right up. And I bought it. It came all scuffed up, with yellowed pages much like the way I remember it from when I was 10. It even had the same cover. And I took my time reading it, just one or two chapters a night until the end when I had to read the last few all at once because the suspense would’ve kept me awake anyway!
This is a true old-fashioned naval adventure story. I suppose written for boys, but it captivated me as a kid. Especially when read out loud. And as a nostalgic adult, I loved it all over again. With upright characters concerned with honor. With the turbulent post-Pearl Harbor setting. The tension of a secret mission. The exotic South Pacific. Torpedoes and depth charges going off all around. What’s not to love? Will Lt. (J.G.) Kenneth Braden and the crew of the submarine, Shark, make it a successful mission? All read by bedside lamp with the reminiscent fragrance of 64-year-old faded yellow pages. I am so glad to have a copy of this little gem back on my bookshelves! And, just maybe, I will make my kids listen to it in the car someday...
June 22, 2025
Stole from my papa! I understand why he almost joined the navy now, made me want to hop a submarine. This was a wonderful book to read as I am immersing myself in the baby military of the USFS. I won’t put spoilers but I have some theories!!! I would recommend to anyone, old man or young lady.
August 28, 2024
In Up Periscope, we follow the adventures of diver Ken Braden, who is sent on a secret mission to an island in the middle of the Pacific during World War II. It'll be a difficult mission, and to make it more difficult, a submarine, the Shark is going to be his ride there.
I'll admit that I was kind of bored during the first couple of chapters. I couldn't see where White was going with this story. And then it picked up. Fast. Robb White has nailed the formula for a gripping historical fiction book. He somehow has an intimate knowledge of Naval lingo and technology - and applies it to great affect.
From about the halfway point on this is just a gripping and fun ride - much more fun than being stuck underwater in a submarine.
I'll admit that I was kind of bored during the first couple of chapters. I couldn't see where White was going with this story. And then it picked up. Fast. Robb White has nailed the formula for a gripping historical fiction book. He somehow has an intimate knowledge of Naval lingo and technology - and applies it to great affect.
From about the halfway point on this is just a gripping and fun ride - much more fun than being stuck underwater in a submarine.
July 8, 2020
This book is another in a series of "i watched the movie, now I want to read the book" trend that I seem to be on lately and I am really glad I did as the book and the movie are significantly different and I was able to enjoy them both.
This book is a "For Young People" novel, something I did not realize until looking at the back cover I saw it was published by the Scholastic Book Services. As a result, it is a pretty straightforward action story but I was pleasantly surprised to see some time spent giving technical descriptions of submarine life and what it was like to be in one on a cruise.
Lieutenant (jg) Ken Braden is sent on a dangerous secret mission to a japanese-held pacific island during WW2 in the submarine Shark. The first third of the book moves pretty slowly as Ken struggles with the subs captain and the realities of what he is supposed to do. Once that is resolved, the mission itself begins and is surprisingly realistic, there is no Rambo-style heroics with guys standing up and shooting machineguns at the faceless enemy who can never hit anything. This is a slow stealth mission in an enemy camp.
Finally the last third of the book details a more typical submarine situation, sinking enemt ships and surviving the inevitable retaliation. This seemed a bit rushed to me, but then this is an action story for younger readers and is not a "men under pressure" psychology study.
All in all, a fast read and a well written book that is still enjoyable, decades after WW2 ended.
This book is a "For Young People" novel, something I did not realize until looking at the back cover I saw it was published by the Scholastic Book Services. As a result, it is a pretty straightforward action story but I was pleasantly surprised to see some time spent giving technical descriptions of submarine life and what it was like to be in one on a cruise.
Lieutenant (jg) Ken Braden is sent on a dangerous secret mission to a japanese-held pacific island during WW2 in the submarine Shark. The first third of the book moves pretty slowly as Ken struggles with the subs captain and the realities of what he is supposed to do. Once that is resolved, the mission itself begins and is surprisingly realistic, there is no Rambo-style heroics with guys standing up and shooting machineguns at the faceless enemy who can never hit anything. This is a slow stealth mission in an enemy camp.
Finally the last third of the book details a more typical submarine situation, sinking enemt ships and surviving the inevitable retaliation. This seemed a bit rushed to me, but then this is an action story for younger readers and is not a "men under pressure" psychology study.
All in all, a fast read and a well written book that is still enjoyable, decades after WW2 ended.
April 5, 2009
Found this book in the free bin outside Powell's books in Hyde Park. It's a boys' adventure book set during the end of WWII, and has all the stereotyping and chest-thumping which goes with that. Nothing exceptional about the book but it's straightforward and a nice throwback to the diesel submarine era. Mmm, diesel.
May 30, 2023
Excellent young adult novel first published in 1956. Set during World War II, the protagonist is a young naval officer who recently graduated from Underwater Demolition School. He's assigned to a submarine and given a difficult mission--go ashore on a Japanese-held island and get photographs of a code book without the enemy knowing he was there.
The mission itself is very well-handled, but both before and after that mission, the book is full of submarine-based action. The sub gets strafed and has to crash-dive; it has to stop at an uninhabited island for repairs and gets trapped in a lagoon by a Japanese destroyer; it gets a chance to attack a capital ship surrounded by destroyers and must endure hours of being depth-charged afterwards.
This last action set-piece is a good example of how well-written the book is. The depth-charged sub has long since become a cliche in countless war stories, but it's still an extremely tense scene here. The strong characterizations have populated the sub with people we care about and the prose is vivid and engrossing.
I've noticed that young adult novels from the 1950s and 1960s don't hold back. There's no swearing (one CPO balling out a gun crew is quoted as saying "blankety blank!" several times) and descriptions of gore are very toned down. But death, violence, fear and courage are all dealt with in a realistic, straightforward manner that assumes the young readers can understand these themes.
The mission itself is very well-handled, but both before and after that mission, the book is full of submarine-based action. The sub gets strafed and has to crash-dive; it has to stop at an uninhabited island for repairs and gets trapped in a lagoon by a Japanese destroyer; it gets a chance to attack a capital ship surrounded by destroyers and must endure hours of being depth-charged afterwards.
This last action set-piece is a good example of how well-written the book is. The depth-charged sub has long since become a cliche in countless war stories, but it's still an extremely tense scene here. The strong characterizations have populated the sub with people we care about and the prose is vivid and engrossing.
I've noticed that young adult novels from the 1950s and 1960s don't hold back. There's no swearing (one CPO balling out a gun crew is quoted as saying "blankety blank!" several times) and descriptions of gore are very toned down. But death, violence, fear and courage are all dealt with in a realistic, straightforward manner that assumes the young readers can understand these themes.
January 23, 2021
I recall reading this in 6th or 7th grade. Enjoyed it then, and enjoyed re-reading it as an adult.
I was prompted to read this again after reading War Beneath the Sea by Frank Bonham, another juvenile fiction submarine story that I highly recommend.
I was prompted to read this again after reading War Beneath the Sea by Frank Bonham, another juvenile fiction submarine story that I highly recommend.
July 8, 2017
I read this book several times when I was in grade school, and enjoyed it very much. Now, all these years later, I re-read my very worn paperback copy and liked it just as much. The characters are very distinctive, and the author does an excellent job of telling how life was aboard a World War II submarine; cramped, stuffy, dangerous. A real tribute to the men of the "silent service".
September 30, 2024
Like a time capsule of the 1940s, with all its tropes, overt racism, outmoded values and (mis)understandings.
"Hey Pat." "Hey Ned." "How're you Pat?" "I'm pretty scared Ned." "Me too, Pat."
Pacific-Islanders-who-speak-perfect-English-and-love-America-ex-machina.
Definitely had some moments of decency, but on the whole it did not age well.
"Hey Pat." "Hey Ned." "How're you Pat?" "I'm pretty scared Ned." "Me too, Pat."
Pacific-Islanders-who-speak-perfect-English-and-love-America-ex-machina.
Definitely had some moments of decency, but on the whole it did not age well.
February 11, 2021
I loved this book as a boy. I must have read it a dozen times. I have no idea how it stands up to time or what it would be like to read as an adult (and veteran). But, for a kid with a wild imagination and love for things like sailors and submarines, it was a joy.
March 2, 2023
I read this back in middle school, a whole…fourteen years ago?!?!? My grandfather loaned me his copy.
Anyway, I remember this book being a thrilling submarine adventure, especially back in the day when I wouldn’t touch anything that wasn’t high fantasy.
Anyway, I remember this book being a thrilling submarine adventure, especially back in the day when I wouldn’t touch anything that wasn’t high fantasy.
April 27, 2019
Well-written, intense WWII submarine story.
February 28, 2021
C-. fiction, historical fiction, WWII, naval jargon, from stash, discard
March 13, 2025
Good adventure and kept my interest to the end. One of my favorite James Garner films was based on the book.
February 22, 2016
I really enjoyed reading Robb White's book Up Periscope. It was a very realistic book based off of battles that happened in the Pacific during World War II. One of the best things about this book was how real everything seemed. If I hadn't looked at the spine label on it, I might not have known that it was fiction because the people and missions seemed so real. What I didn't like was how the book ended. It left an open feeling in me, wanting to keep reading and it was rather disappointing. Every time I find a good book it ends. How typical. Up Periscope was still a great book and I loved reading it. Anybody who likes World War II books should read this.
December 26, 2014
Fiction - I bought this WAY back during grade-school (3rd or 4th grade) because it had a cool cover (much better than the one depicted by goodreads) and waited anxiously for its arrival. When it finally arrived (seemed like it took forever back then) it didn't have any pictures in it. I shelved it and didn't read it until I found it again (during college).
I liked it - US Navy - submarines - SCUBA divers - World War II - if you like all that stuff, you'll like this book.
I liked it - US Navy - submarines - SCUBA divers - World War II - if you like all that stuff, you'll like this book.
October 20, 2015
Just like the James Garner movie on the same exact subject matter as the book from the 50's one finds comfort even at sea in this book out in the remote stretches into the deep Pacific Ocean there is a refuge, from the sturm and drang of war being away.....but then it really never is far away.......even out at the farthest stretches.....
July 13, 2012
My father read this to me as a bedtime story when I was a child. I read it again myself later on. It's the story that still comes to me when I think about WWII submarines and my childhood fascination with them. I was delighted to find that the library where I work had a copy of this still in circulation when I started working. Sadly, it has vanished since then, but I would love to own a copy.
November 25, 2016
This was a book I took out from my school library, around grade 6 I believe. I know I enjoyed reading it as the plot stayed with me long after I had forgotten the author and title. Good juvenile action story.
December 20, 2007
read 03.17.84
December 27, 2008
I read it a very long time ago but I still recall it fondly. I went through a period of really enjoying submarine warfare stories.
January 30, 2009
I read this awhile ago and from what i remember, it was very good. Maybe I'll re-read it sometime, when I get a chance.
February 24, 2009
My dad had an old copy which I probably read a dozen times as a kid. I reread it recently and found it as intense and fulfilling as ever.
August 7, 2017
This is a solid adventure story set in World War Two. I suspect it will most appeal to teenage boys. I recently re-read it, and I found it still entertaining.
July 8, 2010
I remember buying this at the school book store, and I still have it.
I'll have to read it again after all these centuries.
January 27, 2012
UP PERISCOPE was an very, very good read. I would highly recommend it for those of up who enjoy WWII naval action.
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June 17, 2012The first book I remember reading several times, in about 5th grade. A new genre for me. Very exciting story for an 11 year old.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews