Race against Death by Deborah Hopkinson

Race against Death surveys the fall of the Philippines during WWII, the fate of American prisoners left there, and the bold plan to rescue them near the war’s end.

Race against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II by Deborah Hopkinson. Scholastic Focus, 2023, 239 pages.

Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15

Recommended for: ages 12-18

The Fall of the Philippines

The “day of infamy” that propelled the United States into World War II was soon over at Pearl Harbor, but for American servicemen in the Philippines it began a nightmare lasting four years. First a month-long battle for control of the islands against impossible odds, then a last-ditch defense on the Island of Corregidor. Finally an ignominious surrender in April followed by a “death march” of prisoners of war to sweltering, ill-supplied prison camps where they were treated like vermin. As the war was ending, many prisoners were loaded on to “hell ships” bound for Japan, some of which were bombed by American planes.

The one bright note in the saga is the focus of this book. As the Allies were close to re-taking the Philippines, American commanders suspected remaining prisoners in the camps were likely to be killed (a gruesome incident on Palawan Island bears this out). As a sideline to the American invasion, a daring rescue of remaining prisoners was planned, to be carried out by Army rangers and Filipino special forces.  This stirring tale comes near the end of the narrative, most of which is taken up by the fall of the Philippines and the fate of Americans left there. The author uses eyewitness accounts wherever possible—servicemen, civilians, nurses and diplomats. These lend human emotion and pathos to a grim tale.

The author begins with a “Note” that’s become necessary in today’s hyper-sensitive diversity culture. “You may want to know that most of the American soldiers in the story are white,” and also male. She gives a nod to black servicemen in the Pacific and singles out the Latino soldiers from New Mexico who endured the Death March. She also reminds readers of the racist treatment of Japanese Americans during the war but emphasizes that “the barbaric treatment of POWs by Japanese guards is well-documented” and may be disturbing to some readers. Point taken; POW camps in the Pacific were death camps in comparison with German POW camps in Europe. There’s no excuse for Japanese internment in the US, but also no excuse for the excesses of Bataan and Camp O’Donnell.

It’s a complex story that younger generations need to know, made both understandable and relatable.

Considerations:

• Some mild profanity is quoted throughout, notably uses of “d—” and “h—”
• The subject matter, as noted above, may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: More by Deborah Hopkinson, such as Dive!, a history of WWII submarine warfare and The Great Trouble, a novel of the London Cholera epidemic of 1854. Also two picture books: Steamboat School and Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen.
• Resource: World War II is a perennially interesting subject for young readers. See our “Heroes of World War II” booklist for teens and tweens.

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