Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II

by Deborah Hopkinson

A thrilling account of the most daring American P.O.W. rescue mission of World War II. Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, America entered World War II, and a new theater of battle opened up in the Pacific. But US troops, along with thousands of Filipino soldiers who fought alongside them, were overtaken in the Philippines by a fiercely determined Japanese navy, and many Americans and Filipino fighters were killed or captured. These American and Filipino prisoners of war were forced to endure the most horrific conditions on the deadly trek known as the Bataan Death March. Then, the American servicemen who were held captive by the Japanese military in Cabanatuan Camp and others in the Philippines, faced beatings, starvation, and tropical diseases, and lived constantly under the threat of death. Unable to forget their comrades’ fate and concerned that these POWs would be brutally murdered as the tides of war shifted in the Pacific, the US Army Rangers undertook one of the most daring and dangerous rescue missions of all time. Aided by the “Angels of the Underground,” the Sixth Ranger Battalion and courageous Filipino guerrilla soldiers set out on an uncertain and treacherous assignment. Often called the Great Raid, this remarkable story remains largely forgotten. Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson presents an extraordinary and unflinching look at the heroic servicemen and women who courageously weathered the worst of circumstances and conditions in service to their country, as well as those who answered the call to save their fellow soldiers.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Historical, World War II, War, Childrens

320 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2023

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

[ethansbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher

Race Against Death is about the greatest POW rescue of World War II. It roughly covers the war in the Pacific, and specifically the Bataan Death March and the POW camps. The main protagonist of the story is James Henry "Hank" Cowan, a young American mechanic who worked at Clark Field, an American air base in the Philippines. The story also follows a long list of other people who were part of the story in different ways, such as Pilar Campos, a young Filipino woman who helped smuggle food to prisoners; Juan Pajota, a Filipino captain who helped liberate the POWs; and Ralph E. Hibbs, a young battalion surgeon who helped sick soldiers in the camp. 

  The book was interesting and educational, but I wasn't sure if the age group it is for is appropriate. The inside of the cover says the book is for ages 9–12, but it's very detailed, with a long list of characters to remember, and it's also a little graphic, with all the death, disease, and abuse. Of course, all of the details were important to the story, but it could possibly be too much for nine year olds. I'm not sure if most kids will want to tackle this book. 

     But all in all this book made me reflect a lot on all the different places WWII was fought, and the personal battles everyone had. Whether they were fighting on the battlefield, sabotaging enemy equipment, helping nurse soldiers back to health, or even just fighting to stay alive in concentration camps, I feel like there's a lot to learn from the prisoners that were in these awful camps and the ones who rescued them.

[Curren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a vague recollection of the “Bataan Death March” from a long ago history class, but didn’t remember anything about it. In fact I didn’t really know anything about the pacific front in WWII. This book was informative, respectful of the men and women who made sacrifices, and was incredibly eye opening. There is so much suffering in this world and it’s so sad to think about the lives lost, and the horrible experiences the survivors went through. I plan to learn more about this time period in the Pacific and perhaps visit the museum in West Virginia now.

Even though this book was written for young adults/high school aged teens, adults will get just as much out of reading it.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe the best way to spark curiosity in young people is to read nonfiction. Deborah Hopkinson is a master at writing nonfiction. And here she recounts the details of the Bataan Death March and the incredible rescue known as the The Great Raid, a story that remains largely forgotten.

This book is filled with photos, maps and timelines as it presents the extraordinary look at the heroic men and women who courageously weathered the worst of circumstances and conditions in service to their country.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book my principal was able to purchase for my classroom library. The majority of my 8th grade students know there was a WWII and that Hitler and the Nazis were involved, but that's about all of their extent. My entire third quarter focuses on texts from and about the second world war, so I was glad that I was able to get this book so students that wanted to learn about the war, especially outside of the conflicts in Europe, they could do so.

This book focuses on the the Philippines: the taking by the Japanese, the Bataan Death March, conditions in the POW camps, and the allies freeing the POWs. One hundred pages could be devoted to each of these and it wouldn't be enough. Writer Hopkinson has smartly used first hand counts to cover the war from different perspectives. And even better, she documents her sources and includes websites readers can visit to learn even more information.

The writing is clear, the facts are given succinctly, and the emotions of the participants will resonate with readers. There are also many pictures and maps to help readers visualize what's being discussed.

I would allow students to read this for a book report even though it is non-fiction. By focusing on James Henry "Hank" Cowan students would be able to write a growth chart for this individual. This is the first non-fiction book I've read for my students that I've encountered where this would be possible.

I'm now very interested in reading Hopkinson's other books.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not the world's smartest history buff, and with December approaching, thought this would be a good time to enhance my knowledge and understanding of such a horrible time in history.

I chose the book "Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II (Scholastic Focus)" written by Deborah Hopkinson, narrated by Ramon de Ocampo. What an excellent way for me to glean what I felt I have not understood for so many years. I had no idea the atrocities these poor people faced. From dysentery, insect caused diseases, injuries from battle. On the flip side, we find absolutely amazing nurses and doctors that can nearly foresee the future and prepare for it.

I am in huge appreciation of the massive amounts of research she and perhaps others did to compile this work. Supposedly written for a younger audience, but it was perfect for this old gal. It covers the war in the Pacific, and in particular the Bataan Death March and the POW camps. The focus of the book is based on the story of James Henry "Hank" Cowan, a young mechanic who worked at Clark Field, an American Air Base in the Philippines. There are any other people the story follows which really puts into perspective the many challenges and story: they are Pilar Campos, a young Filipino woman who helped smuggle food to prisoners; Juan Pajota, a Filipino captain who helped liberate the POWs, and Ralph Hibbs, an amazing surgeon that helped sick soldiers.

This is the first book by Hopkinson I've experienced. Her work is very good and I appreciate her abilities. Recommend, 5 stars!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research that goes into Deborah Hopkinson’s books amazes me. So many primary and secondary sources used and then she puts it together in a book that is clearly non-fiction but with enough narrative elements that it often reads like an action story. “Race Against Death” piqued my interest because of the subtitle, “The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II.” However, I wrongly assumed that it would be a rescue in the heart of Germany or maybe even Poland. This rescue involved the Japanese held Filipino and America soldiers who also endured the Bataan Death March. Like many non-historians, this was not an area I knew much about. My lack of background knowledge and preference for fiction did make this a challenging read but as with the three other, equally well-documented Hopkinson books I’ve read (We Must Not Forget, We Had to Brave and Courage & Defiance), I learned so much. This book will have a place in a wide array of libraries from middle grade through adult.

Thanks for sending a print arc of this one, Deborah Hopkinson.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father in law has a friend who survived the Bataan Death March, and while I knew that was a big deal, it wasn’t until reading this wonderfully informative book that I understood how amazing it is that this friend is still alive. This book taught me about the relationship between the Philippines and the US and the essential guerilla and army work many Filipinos did to fight off the Japanese and rescue the POWs at the Cabanatuan camp. This is the largest POW rescue ever. I was sorry to go to bed at night because it meant not devouring this essential history. A very important work.

[Joy Kirr]

(I'm not giving it a star rating, as I'm not a history buff. I'm sure many history buffs would rate this one high.) I'd never heard of the Bataan Death March in the Philippines, and I didn't have a clue that "in Germany in WWII, POWs died at a rate of 1.2%. In the Philippines, POWs died at a rate of 40%." The more I read, the more it sounded like POWs were treated like Jewish citizens in the concentration camps. This book was full of personal accounts, tactical details, photos and maps, and I'm glad it followed a few people through the 1941-1945 (and beyond if they survived).

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using numerous primary sources, Deborah Hopkinson tells readers the story of the rescue of the American POWs imprisoned in Cabanatuan Camp on the Philippines. Hopkinson sets the stage for the rescue by relating the history of the US presence in the Philippines, the Japanese invasion, and the devastating Bataan Death March forced on the US and Filippino soldiers captured immediately after. She then explains what the Japanese did in some other POW camps as the Allies moved in, and why their was such urgency to rescue the camp as soon as possible after the Allies returned to Luzon.

Hopkinson obviously did a staggering amount of research to be able to include all the firsthand witness quotes in this book. After reading it, you feel like you know several of the people who were there from soldiers like Hank Cowan to nurses like Lucy Wilson to some of the Filipino heroes like Juan Pajota or Pilar Campos. It's an excellent piece of nonfiction writing that makes the "Great Raid" come alive for today's teens and encourages readers to highly value human rights and those who work to save lives.

Notes on content:
Language: About 20 minor swears in quotes.
Sexual content: It is mentioned some adults are dating, but nothing more than that.
Violence: Battles, the inhumane death march, and deplorable conditions at POW camps in the Philippines are all related. They are related matter of factly, tactfully, but not pulling any punches on how awful things were at times (while also leaving out gratuitous gory information).
Ethnic diversity: Hopkinson shares how most of the US soldiers were White few were Black (she talks about the disparity in roles they could take), but a unit from New Mexico in the Philippines did include many Mexican Americans. Hopkinson also honors the many, many Filipinos who helped men survive on the death march, in resistance movements, and in the escape from Cabanatuan.
LGBTQ+ content: None mentioned.
Other: Smoking and drinking of adults is mentioned as was common at the time. Diseases incurred because of starvation and exposure in the jungle are talked about. Some talk about surviving in a tunnel.

[Amy Gourlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary! That’s all I can say the for the most recent offering from Deborah Hopkinson. Race Against Death is a detailed non-fiction account of the greatest POW rescue of WWII. Deborah Hopkinson's storytelling abilities and attention to historical detail make it difficult to put this one down. I am always searching for non-fiction to add to my library and Hopkinson delivers in a big way! If you have the chance to read the book, you will find it insightful, captivating and difficult to put down too.

[Jennifer Halbur · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly well researched book about the Bataan Death March.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed from an ARC.

Hopkinson, author of 11 other middle grade non-fiction books about war and scourges of the past, weaves together a dozen or so first-person narratives to document the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese at the start of World War II, the Bataan Death March, the incarceration at Camp Cabanatuan (the major Japanese POW camp on Luzon), and the rescue of the remaining 500 American POWs.

The sense of urgency to rescue them before the war ended is palpable. She opens with an introduction and brief bios of different people in the book; this will help orient readers as they progress through the story. Told from the point of view of men and women who were in the thick of things at this time, there is an immediacy and intimacy that is quickly established with young readers. Inclusion of B&W photographs of people, places, and things break up what (for some) may be some pretty intensive events. Side-bar information set off by using gray shading around the page is also inserted within chapters. One of the things that Hopkins does particularly well is to encourage readers to go and seek more information about subjects they are reading about by including weblinks and books for more information woven within the text.

Written during Covid, Hopkinson relied largely on materials available on the web, showing how strong research can be conducted online. However, a deep feeling for what it feels like, smells like, or looks like what it is to be in the Philippines never really develops; it remains a bit aloof. Hopkinson writes with a casual tone, letting the people telling their own stories. Maps included are limited; two maps are each used twice within the book - Northern Luzon (p.16 & p. 26) and Last Stand on Luzon (p.66 & p. 95). One error: Cabanatuan is described as located “about 46 miles north of Camp O’Donnell” – it is actually more east/northeast of Camp O’Donnell. A good map of Corregidor, the Bataan Death March, Metro Manila, and Camp Cabanatuan would have helped orientation. Also, a glossary of location names and pronunciations would have helped those not familiar with the area.

Backmatter includes a timeline major Pacific WWII events, resources to explore (listed by topic), an extensive bibliography of books and websites used, source notes, photo credits, and index (unseen). Hopkinson offers one of the few books for youth ever published on this topic and holds a great respect for the subject –and it shows. I hope she gets to visit the Philippines one day…

Reviewer’s Note: It should be noted that my husband was stationed at NAS Cubi Point – adjacent to Naval Station Subic Bay - from 1989-1992. We were limited on places to visit at the time (due to the communist insurgency and risk to Americans), but were able to tour Corregidor, explore old Manila (including University of Santo Thomas, Malacañang Palace, and Intramuros), drive along the northern part of the route taken by the Bataan Death Marchers, and pass through Central Luzon to visit Baguio.

Recommended for grades 5-8.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Hopkinson has been literally on fire lately, with Deadlisst Fires, Deadliest Hurricanes, Deadliest Diseases, and We Must Not Forget, all in the last couple of years! This is another incredibly well researched book; any time the author apologizes for not being able to go to the Philippines because of the Pandemic in order to fully appreciate the topic, you know you have someone who is paying very close attention to details.

I feel like I have a decent grip on World War II history; I even did a podcast about WWII books years ago. My readers still have a huge interest in the topic and avidly consume books on all aspects of the war, but I... am not really interested. There is so much interesting information in this book, so many stories about courageous people, so much background information and supporting documentation like poems, pictures, and sidebars that I was overwhelmed. The war in the Philippines was horrific, and not talked about as much, although there is another excellent middle grade book on the events surrounding the Bataan Death March, Farrell's Pure Grit: How WWII Nurses in the Pacific Survived Combat and Prison Camp (2014). I especially liked the fact that Hopkinson points out similarities with what is currently going on between Russia and Ukraine. There is even a never-before-seen photograph of the surrender signing on the USS Misouri!

Do all middle school and high school libraries need to put this on the very top of their purchasing lists? Absolutely. Not only is is highly readable, it would be great for research as well. Hopkinson's list of websites, source notes, photo credits, and selected bibliography are impeccable. There have been a number of nonfiction books lately that DON'T cite all the sources used, which I find problematic, so I really appreciated this attention to detail.

Can I do this book justice? No. The space left in my brain to care about WWII is increasingly limited. This is not a reflection on this fantastic book!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shortly after the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor, they also destroyed the airbases in the Philippines, leaving the American and Filipino armed forces without adequate firepower. By April 1942, Bataan had fallen, the American generals had surrendered and thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were taken as prisoners of war. Conditions in the camps were dismal at best, and survival rates were very low, their only hope was a bold rescue.

Race Against Death is a mix of literary non-fiction and true non-fiction. Hopkins tells the stories of several who experienced the battles, were POWs, or had other involvement at that time. She has used interviews, primary sources as well as memorial and heritage sites to put together this account. I loved the vignettes but didn't love that the stories were often interrupted by historical information. However, all of that was important because the culminating rescue needed that context. I especially loved that one of the maps was labeled "Your Briefing Map" and instructions were given on how to read it - it made me feel a part of the rescue. I would recommend Race Against Death to a reader looking for a non-fiction book about World War II that isn't graphically violent but is engaging and exciting. There's dysentery, diarrhea, the presence of lice, maggots, bedbugs, eating things that are barely food, etc but no graphic descriptions of violence. I loved all the pictures, and maps. Includes a great timeline, sources, and resources for more information. The main characters are adults, mostly Americans, and some Filipino

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com

[Nancy Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever complained, "That was like the Bataan Death March!" Well, I'll never say that again. There's no way now, having read Deborah Hopkinson's book, that I would compare any inconvenience of my own to the tortures that American and Filipino military prisoners endured -- and too often, did not survive -- when the Philippines were overtaken by the Japanese military following their attack on Pearl Harbor.

The war in the Pacific is something I know very little about. So, I read this book with an eye toward how it educates the casual reader. In readable and vivid text, Ms. Hopkinson sheds light on the horrific conditions of the march and the inhumane treatment of the POWs that survived it only to be tortured and starved and perish from disease in the prison camps. Her story reaches its climax when U.S. Army Rangers and Filipino guerrilla soldiers undertake a dangerous mission to free the prisoners.

Ms. Hopkinson has unearthed copious primary sources to immerse the reader in the story. Journals, poems, oral histories, photos and more provide the detail that brings the larger story to life. The text is extensively sourced and in the backmatter there is a timeline, bibliography, and resources to explore. Although the book is targeted to the middle grade reader (aged 9-12), I found it an absorbing read. That's often the case when I read middle grade and YA books on subjects that are new to me.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Race Against Death" uses true accounts, primary sources and offers alternate resources for further readings on this episode of the Pacific Theater of World War II. I had seen the movie "The Great Raid" starring Benjamon Bratt many, many years ago and I was eager to recall the details that transpired to make this happen.

The author did a marvelous job of building the background information relevant to the Death March and to the plight of the POWs in Cabanatuan leading to the great plans to free those prisoners--emaciated from hunger, disease, and torutre. One will appreciate all the facts pulled to gether in order to come up with this comprehensive account of that aspect of World War II in the Philippines. One will also appreciate the many photographs (some previously never published) to go along with the often disturbing descriptions of life at camp.

I do not agree though that it is classified under the children's section as it can be a hard read because of the contents. I believe this is better suited to the Young Adult audience and any young military enthisuasts and young avid historians. It is a great way to get children reading about history based on facts and firsthand accounts.

Nevertheless, hats off to the author's extensive research and for sharing the many ways readers can expand on their knowledge on this topic.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father was killed in action during the final battles to free the Philippines toward the end of World War II. He was a pilot and his plane was lost during those battles and never recovered. When I saw this book by Deborah Hopkinson, I wanted to know more details about the story of that area being overtaken so early by the Japanese, what happened in the Bataan Death March, why did it take so long for the US to return, and what about the POWs who were there most of the war, IF they manage to stay alive? Hopkinson well researches this with a specific focus on some survivors who have written their stories about that time. There are photos and timelines, links for learning more throughout the text, and resource lists. She also includes later events concerning this amazing feat carried out by Americans and Filipinos to rescue the prisoners, fearing that soon they would be massacred since the U.S. had returned to retake the Philipines. I also liked hearing how much the Filipinos helped in any way they could, even though their country had been taken and they had suffered much. Now I know so much more about why my father gave his life so others could live. It's quite an amazing story of the courage of people to fight for good.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love narrative nonfiction and I know that Deborah Hopkinson is a reliable voice for an impeccably researched and thoughtfully presented book. This book was no exception. The remarkable rescue of World War II prisoners of war from a Japanese prison camp called Cabanatuan. The soldiers encamped were both American and Filipino soldiers and civilians who were forced on a 65-mile march known as the Bataan Death March before their final arrival at Cabanatuan. The conditions were harsh and fatalities were high. Using first person accounts, letters, and oral histories Deborah Hopkinson puts readers into the action and singles out certain key players who were imprisoned and those who were instrumental in the rescue of the prisoners.

I love history, but not necessarily World War II history, so this book wasn't as engaging for me personally as I was hoping. I do think that it is highly readable, adventurous, and exciting. Readers who want more "true stories" from WWII should give this book a chance.

[Josh Morrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out, I didn't know anything about the events that took place in the Philippines during WWII. I knew there was some fighting in the South Pacific, but I had no idea that Japan raided the Philippines, took over several American military outposts, and took tens of thousands of US POWs. I knew nothing about the Bataan Death March, or the "Death Ships" that took POWs to Japan, or any of that stuff. So the story told in this book, and the individual tales of many brave and heroic Americans, was fascinating stuff. I give it only four stars because the book feels rushed. It does note that it's more of a summary of events leading up to the POW rescue at the end, and provides many other resources to read if one wants to learn more about a specific event mentioned in the book. But even so, the rescue at the end of the book, which, based on the title, is the whole point, was also rushed through and more summarized than told in detail. I would like to have spent a little more time at the end on the details of the rescue operation itself. Other than that, this was a very interesting read.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way Ms. Hopkinson weaves primary sources into the narrative via interviews is outstanding. I knew about the Bataan March because many New Mexico soldiers walked that long road. In her note, the author mentions that the book "focuses primarily on American soldiers", and I was hopeful that I would finally read more of the Hispanic American soldiers' accounts, especially because about 1,800 soldiers there were from the New Mexico National Guard. There were two Hispanic soldiers who had a brief spotlight in the story, and I will look up the corrido one of them wrote.

The organization of the book was different in that it focused on one person and his/her accounts of the events. Then it focused on a new person and moved chronologically that way. It did help to have each chapter state who the point of view person was.

[Danielle Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved: all the first person experiences, the shortness of the book, a peak into the Bataan Death March and POW camps in the Philippines

Disliked: the advertisement for other books - best reserved for the end. Repeatedly referring to info that will be shared later in the book. Jumping back and forth in the timeline. Providing too much background info for some parts and not enough for others.

I never felt emotionally engaged in this book. Horrific events happened, but it never evoked much emotion from me. I just finished a book that did a really good job of emotionally devastating me that its absence while reading this book was very noticeable. And I think that is ultimately why I wouldn’t recommend this book. My other dislikes are just minor quips compared to not feeling emotionally invested.

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the jacket and the table of contents. I also read part of the introduction and part of Ch. 15 "The Rescuers: A Daring Plan." I could not find a toe hold for entering the book. A month before picking up this book, I talked with a teacher at the gym who was born in the Philippines. She told me about the Bataan Death March. I want to learn about this era in WWII history. I know more about the European Theater than the Pacific one, which is odd, because my dad is a navy vet (but never sent to a war zone; he was stationed in Okinawa for a time). However, I think that I need to watch some documentaries to give me more context before trying to read about the aspect of the Pacific Theater of WW II.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Race Against Death, Hopkinson covers the Philippines during World War II covering the Bataan Death March, General MacArthur famously promising to return, the terrible conditions for American and Filipino POWs in Camp O’Donnell and Cabanatuan, and the daring rescue of POWs from Cabanatuan. The author focuses on real people telling their stories in their own words, like Hank Cowan the plane mechanic, the brave NM National Guardsmen, Carlos Romulo the Filipino journalist, Pilar Campos the young Filipina resistance fighter and her surgeon boyfriend Ralph Hibbs. Hopkinson draws on detailed primary sources and has included detailed maps and photographs. A story that should not be forgotten.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars.
An excellent, gripping and well researched account of the dramatic rescue of prisoners trapped in a hellish Japanese prison camp, facing death in the final days of World War 2.
Hopkinson does a superb job emphasizing the sacrifice and contributions of the Filipino people and the Filipino freedom fighters. The numbers of those lost and the heroism of those who fought is staggering. (As is the brutality)
Lots of photos, sidebars, maps and explanatory text keep the pages turning. A superb book to capture imagination while providing a sobering dose of history.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A phenomenal telling of this POW Rescue, along with the Baataan Death March and an explanation of the war in the Pacific. She uses oral histories and shares her primary sources the whole way through. It's informative and a master class in non-fiction. And it's readable! It's also painful, the atrocities committed by the Japanese in the Philippines are horrifying so it was a very hard read for me. I know kids, teens and adults who are interested would really enjoy this book but it was a personal struggle for me.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was full of interesting facts and information. However, I did not like how it was organized. It was hard to follow what took place when because it didn't just tell the story chronologically, nor did it follow one person. It kind of jumped around to where I struggled to know who was who and what took place where and when. Too much to keep track of for all the information that was offered. I would recommend only if you already have some knowledge on the subject or it is a bit hard to follow.

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hopkinson tells the story of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Bataan and Corregidor that lead to the surrender and capture of American and Filipino forces and the horrific conditions of the Bataan Death March and the subsequent POW encampments. She uses primary sources, maps, and photographs to tell the story and rescue of 500 POWs from Camp Cabanatuan. Recommended for 5th-7th graders who like books about World War II.

[Christine Barth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thorough story based on eyewitness accounts of Americans in the Philippines during WWII. This is very different from the other True stories in focus I've read because it's not about a subject under debate such as the mummy's curse or Roswell. The war in the Pacific, in particular the treatment of POWs is gruesome (much like the Holocaust), so I would say it's for older teens.
The rescue itself is at the very end of the book, so the title is also a bit misleading.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to a digital audio book edition of Race Against Death. I had never heard of The Bataan death march or the rescue written about in the book.

Sometimes or maybe more than sometimes I have a hard time remembering what I listen to when I listen to an audio book so I don't have much to say about Race Against death.

Though I can remember that things sounded pretty bad for people in book. Maybe I will listen to it again. I don't know.

[LS Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author write NF so well; it makes even the most horrific topics accessible and understandable. I’m grateful to learn more about this aspect of WWII history that is usually covered with just a paragraph in textbooks. This book would make great supplementary materials to any classroom. There is excellent back matter, including timelines, photos and additional resources.