An informational graphic novel about what life was like for people in the United States once the US entered WWII. It looks at rationing, how everyday people helped the war effort, the different jobs that opened up to women during the time period, and how various ethnic groups were treated during the time period.

This was easily readable, attractively illustrated, and well-balanced in looking at both the good and the bad of life in the US during WWII. It was kept at a level very approachable even for the lower end of middle grade readers.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Fighting and deaths in the war are touched on briefly, nothing is shown.
Ethnic diversity: A mixture of whites, Blacks, Latinx, and Japanese all highlighted.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Racial prejudice and injustices faced by Blacks, Latinx, and Japanese all included.

A great read on World War II told in comics. It is great for children, teens and adults and worth a read. It is easy to keep up with and understand. 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of History Comics: World War II by Kate Hannigan in exchange for my honest review.

My history loving middle schooler thought this was a bit high level, but thought it would be great for kids who don't know much about the war.

Students love to read graphic novels and this will certainly be on the list for my students. The pictures were colorful and well thought out. I think that Kate Hannigan did an excellent job explaining the many factors of WWII in an easily, relatable way for my students. I can't wait to see other books by this author.

'History Comics: World War II' is an informative graphic novel that provides a comprehensive overview of WWII suitable for young readers. With engaging illustrations and clear storytelling, it effectively conveys the complexities of the war, making it a valuable resource for a school library.

The book’s subtitle is key to understanding how this non-fiction history graphic novel is different from other stories of World War II. History Comics: World War II: Fight on the Home Front tells stories of those living through the early 1940s in the United States, with special focus on women, kids, and people of color.

There are plenty of statistics—the country’s population, how many were affected by various policies, the numbers of soldiers and volunteers—to make this book educational, but it’s the stories of how the workforce changed, for example, that hit home. Details of daily life make the history personal.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked how it explained the time period with no real political bias either way. It was factual but entertaining. The format of children saying what they saw and felt really made it a book children can relate to. With so many historical books out there for children, this one is definitely one I would recommend for a look at the realities of World War II.

I've read a lot of books and watched many documentaries and films about WWII. I loved being able to read and teach my kids about the subject in a way that they would pay attention to and enjoy. This graphic novel series was more about the lives of the people back at home during the war, whose stories are often overlooked but yet still very important. This was my first read in the History Comics series but it will not be my last. I think this would be perfect for early readers and/or for the classroom.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books, First Second for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This graphic novel is filled with short stories from WWII about people usually overlooked by history. I loved that all the short stories create a bigger picture of what happened during WWII in America. This graphic novel focuses on American soil and what everyday people did to support the war effort: growing vegetables in a victory garden, going door to door to collect scrap metal, women working in factories, city kids helping in the fields with the farms.

I feel like I learned so much from this graphic novel. I plan to use it in my classroom for WWII research projects.

It's rare to find a nonfiction graphic novel, but even rarer to find a nonfiction graphic novel filled with short stories.

Book 170 of 200 ~ 2023

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@01firstsecond and their authors don't do things half-assed for sure. This is why almost every single one of their offerings are amazing, whether they are memoirs or when they share about major world events.

Many moments, I had to pause and reflect as well as discuss with Jerrid, especially since we have binge-watched documentaries as well as true life retellings about WW1 and WW2.

This is an amazing read for everyone. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I’m honestly tired of superhero comics (like most people these days), but I still love the medium of sequential art and graphic novels. As a result, I’m routinely on the lookout for other types of comic books to read. After visiting a couple of museums that had them in their gift shops, I’ve really come to love comics based on historical events because they educate as well as showcase gorgeous artwork and superb writing. You don’t see too many comics out there like History Comics – World War II – Fight on the Home Front, a book designed to teach youngsters about historical events in a fun and engaging way. It seems like most big comic publishers ignore the kid’s market entirely, catering to guys willing to buy ten covers of the same book, ignoring what could potentially be an entirely new fan base. As a result, I commend anyone releasing books like this. This is a single volume in a whole series of books released by a couple of different companies, with this particular one being published by First Second Books, a New York-based imprint of Macmillan Books that specializes in graphic novels.

This comic, above all else, attempts to showcase and highlight the multiple stories of how normal ordinary people handled the struggles and adversity brought on by the second World War. It delves into the lesser-known tales that often get overshadowed by the grandeur of major battles and well-documented events. In the forward of this comic, one such example is shared, involving two young Nebraska girls who, against all odds, single-handedly initiated a scrap metal drive in their neighborhood. Their determination and resourcefulness not only helped contribute significantly to the war effort but also earned them the status of local heroes. It is through stories like these that the true essence of war is revealed – the resilience, creativity, and inner strength of everyday individuals who rose to the occasion and made a difference.

While historians tend to focus on the big grandiose battles, often covering them extensively, it is these lesser-known stories that offer a fresh perspective on the human experience during times of conflict. In my opinion, the fascination with well-known historical events can overshadow the significance of the smaller, yet equally impactful, stories that deserve attention. This comic, with its focus on the “off the beaten path” narratives, provides a refreshing alternative for readers who seek a deeper understanding of history beyond the mainstream accounts.

These tales hold a unique charm and serve as a reminder that the impact of war is not limited to the tactical strategies or the number of casualties. Instead, it is the collective efforts of countless individuals, like the two young Nebraska girls, that shape the narrative and highlight the resilience of the human spirit. This book takes those ideas, of how normal citizens made a difference during wartime and really runs with it, showing all sides of the Homefront during the war.

This comic has a framing narrative involving a group of children pretty much explaining to the audience how America entered the war during World War II. There’s a brief rundown about Pearl Harbor, Hitler declaring war on America, the American draft being initialized, and the sort of training that GIs got. After this, the book shifts to the home front describing staggering changes that happened in the United States during the war, including women entering the workforce, a teacher shortage, young boys dropping out of school to get jobs, lying about their age to join the military, and other drastic societal issues of the time. The book goes into things like victory gardens, scrap drives, war bonds, rationing and other interesting topics.

Despite being geared towards kids and seeming a bit patriotic, this book does not hold back on offering warranted criticism of how the United States handled certain sensitive topics during wartime. Namely, our country’s enduring tendency towards racism in all its various flavors. Not only did Black Americans suffer the hardships of being excluded from getting worthwhile work during this time, but most were nearly excluded from actually being able to fight in the war.

It was not until very late into the war that the government relented and allowed things like Black fighter pilots to be a thing in the US. This book sheds light on the struggles and discrimination faced by Black Americans in their pursuit of equality and recognition as valuable contributors to the war effort. The book also covers the topic of Japanese internment camps, which was quite surprising for a children’s book. Often, there is a tendency to omit or whitewash the “bad stuff” from American history when targeting young readers. However, it is refreshing to see this book take a different approach. By including the discussion of Japanese internment camps, it gives children an opportunity to learn about an unfortunate and dark chapter of American history, fostering empathy and understanding.

What sets this book apart from others is its ability to address these sensitive topics without being ham-fisted or confrontational. It remains reserved in its approach, offering an age-appropriate introduction to the complexities of racism and discrimination. This not only educates young readers, but also allows for meaningful conversations about these important and often overlooked aspects of history. In an era where critical thinking and cultural awareness are essential (and sadly being censored by bad-faith politicians), books like these play a vital role in shaping the perspectives and values of young minds. By tackling uncomfortable truths within the context of a children’s book, it encourages readers to question the status quo and instills a sense of social responsibility.

Even though I am not the target audience for History Comics – World War II – Fight on the Home Front, I found it well-written and interesting. This would be a great book for a child to read in school when they inevitably slam headfirst into the topic of World War II, as topics like what is featured in the book are rarely discussed until higher education levels. The art is pretty good, and somewhat resembles something between an Archie Comic and Steven Universe to a degree. Overall this was a great read, and I highly recommend it.

I was given the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review, thank you to First Second Books for the opportunity.

The History Comics series was launched in 2008 by IDW Publishing. The goal of the series is to give kids
factual historical information in an engaging, visual format that appeals to comic book lovers. This particular comic book format uses humor, narrative, and character-driven stories to make history more interesting and
accessible.

In History Comics: World War II Fight on the Homefront, children get a look at what the men and women of the United States did to support the military during World War II. Starting with America’s reluctance to enter the war, everything changed after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Older teens began dropping out of school to work labor jobs or to join the military. Children put on patriotic plays and did small things to support the military like walking to school so tired could be saved.

When Japan cut off the rubber supplies, children donated their rubber toys to the cause. Married women and mothers went back to work, taking jobs in the factories and schools. The book does note that racism played a part in wages, noting that Black men and women were often paid less than their white counterparts.
History Comics: World War II Fight on the Homefront also doesn’t shy away from the tough aspects of living in the United States during World War II. Japanese Americans went to internment camps and described the horrors that the Jewish population experienced during the war.

History Comics: World War II Fight on the Homefront is a really well-done educational graphic novel about the challenges and triumphs that American citizens experienced in World War II. it’s appropriate for children who don’t know much about World War II but also gives some new information to children who have a basic understanding of this time period.

This is the best of the History Comics that I've read! Interesting information that is inclusive of the many cultures and communities that make up the United States. This book focuses on the "home front" - the people in America during the war, who grew victory gardens, collected scrap metal, and worked in factories. It also tells of the Japanese who were unfairly incarcerated during the war, even if they were U.S. citizens. Kate Hannigan has done her research, but this is much more than an info dump - it was interesting and kept me riveted to the end, and I have read many books about WWII.
What a great nonfiction book for kids who want to know more about what this time period was like for those who weren't on the battlefields.

This is the first graphic novel I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It covered practically every topic and issue of life on the home front in the US during WWII. It was super interesting. I learned a few things myself, and I know upper elementary and middle school kids would learn a lot. I think they'd also enjoy the illustrations and format of the book. I will consider reading her other books in the future.

The History Comics World War II provides the perspective of those left behind to keep things running during WWII. You see the struggles of families, but also the spirit of the community who believe this is all for a good cause. Great way to make what can be seen as a boring topic interesting and accessible for middle grade students.

Kate Hannigan https://www.katehannigan.com/ is the author of more than a dozen graphic novels. Josh Rosen is her illustrator for this novel. History Comics: World War II: Fight on the Home Front was published in 2023. It is the 82nd book I completed reading in 2023.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this book as G. This graphic novel targets Middle School students and depicts the trials, tribulations, and some of the social injustice experienced during WWII. The book focuses on how children experienced the era and contributed to the war effort.

I enjoyed the hour I spent reading this 128-page graphic novel. It is a simple, though thorough look at the US Homefront during WWII. It is a good introduction to the WWII period for students. I like the chosen cover art. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

I’m fairly new to the graphic novel world, but so far, I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen. Case in point: This book. Before I came across this book, I never really stopped to consider what it may have been like for Americans “holding down the fort”, so to speak, during World War II. Oh, yes, I’d thought about aspects of it, of course—but I never had a clear picture of how families coped with fathers and sons gone, or how people were forced to change their jobs because of shortages in the workplace. I found this book a fast, gripping read, and I greatly enjoyed the illustrations. This is a good overview of America’s involvement in the war, and I came away feeling like I learned a lot from it. I’m looking forward to sharing this with my siblings—I think they’d find it interesting and educational.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

I was unfamiliar with the History Comics series but I was blown away by the content of World War II: Fight on the Home Front. I have not previously read such a wonderfully thorough explanation of all that Americans did to help fight the war at home. So many everyday heroes were highlighted: women who filled jobs that servicemen had vacated, retired men who helped patrol streets, and even children who salvaged whatever metal scraps they could find.

It was awe-inspiring to read about the sacrifices and deprivations that were willingly adhered to in order to provide needed materials for the war. One cannot read this book without being amazed by the ingenuity, creativity, and determination of citizens who formed countless support organizations, turned factories into munition suppliers, and organized book drives to ensure soldiers had things to read. I loved the excerpts from real letters (albeit, some very bittersweet as they were the last words a soldier sent). The unprecedented unity and collaboration of citizens to fight a common enemy was unbelievable but so important for children to know about.

And yet there were still areas where the war revealed long-held prejudices against women, African American soldiers, and Native Americans. The war created a forum where some of these barriers were broken but not all. And it's important for children to know about those areas where history failed some groups of people.

The authors have created a panoramic view of the war from start to finish without glossing over the less-than-stellar parts of our history. So much careful research was put into this book and presented in a way that children can understand. And even though we are at peace at the moment, hopefully, this book will inspire children to find ways to contribute to their community at any age. I highly recommend this book for ages 8 and up. It would make a valuable addition to any school classroom or home library.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of World War II: Fight on the Home Front from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

This is an awesome format with which to engage with history! Loved that they started the narrative from the viewpoint of children who participated in supporting the homefront war efforts for WWII. I think that starting point is important and provides a connection for the targeted younger reader. This graphic history book is packed with information! I loved that it had primary sources integrated into it too. Would definitely recommend to all readers! I learned a lot!

This is a perfect addition to upper grade elementary or middle school classrooms. Being a graphic novel, I feel that this will appeal to a wider array of student readers, including those who may not be reading on grade level. I also think this is a perfect way to get more students interested in reading nonfiction. I hope there will be more in this series, covering different events in history!