The Battle of Iwo Jima: Guerrilla Warfare in the Pacific (Graphic Battles of World War II)

*Starred Review* It's often hard to interest students in long-ago events, but using a graphic novel to introduce the battle for Iwo Jima makes it very accessible. Before the graphic-novel section of the book begins, Hama provides a short, informative background piece describing the run-up to World War II, the significance of the Japanese war machine, and the importance of the tiny island of Iwo Jima. Then the graphic novel, illustrated by Williams in camouflage colors, does a terrific job of examining the ups and downs of the battle as well as the horror of so many losses--on both sides. That is one of the book's real strengths. Hama makes readers see the Japanese as real people and not just as the enemy. For instance, he introduces three young botany students who somehow arrived on Iwo Jima as the battle was beginning; and some readers may be surprised by the fact that the Japanese generals had spent time in the United States.