A MG biography about an unsung hero in World War II.
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Joey Guerrero, a native of the Philippines, was diagnosed with leprosy during World War II and basically shunned from everything and everyone she knew. When the Japanese occupied the Philippines, Joey, thinking she would die of the disease soon, joined the guerrilla movement to complete covert missions in support of the Allies. No one wanted to touch Guerrero for fear of catching her sickness so she was able to move freely and courier secret messages. She eventually won the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for her efforts. When she’s cured of leprosy after a nine year stint at the National Leprosarium, Guerrero struggled to find work due to her health history and racial discrimination due to her thick accent. Guerrero died in 1996 in DC and she’s listed as a secretary from Manila, but really she’s a hero who needs to be taught in schools across the world.
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This was such a well-researched and well-written biography by @erinentrada I’m sad to admit that I haven’t heard much about Joey Guerrero before diving into this nonfiction book. We absolutely need more titles like this in our libraries so that kids can learn about the people rarely taught in history classes in the U.S. Guerrero was a hero and a survivor who never gave up. She’s a woman to emulate and look up to. Educators: it’s also a great way to show text features such as maps, sidebars, photographs, and other illustrated material. This book releases May 6!

CW: disease, death, illness, medical content, war (theme), racism, poverty, discrimination

This is the story of Joey Guerrero, a woman whose faith upheld her during a life of hardship and amazing accomplishment. Despite having Hansen’s Disease (leprosy), she was a World War II spy and Filipino guerrilla fighter, and an advocate for herself and others afflicted with Hansen’s disease who were isolated and cut off from the world in deplorable conditions. Erin Entrada Kelly not only enlightens the reader about Joey Guerrero, and how little is known about her, but gives us a brief history of the Philippines and WWII in the Philippines, and the history and science of Hansen’s Disease. An amazing book.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for this DRC.
#AtLastSheStood #NetGalley

5 stars

Look. Erin Entrada Kelly is on that list of writers whose work I'll queue without even knowing so much as a synopsis. It was a special treat to read this nonfiction debut, which is just as successful and compelling as all of the EEK fiction I love!

My favorite aspect of children's nonfiction is the "are you smarter than a fifth grader?" vibe, wherein I realize that I know little to no material in a book designed for a much younger audience. I absolutely got that kind of joy from this read.

The subject of this book is Joey Guerrero, and this individual faced incredible challenges but then went on to lead a life that seems right out of the movies. I really enjoyed learning about this in real time, so I'm intentionally leaving out details for others who are coming in fresh. It is ALWAYS a good time to focus on the stories of marginalized people, but I think we need that more than ever right now. This book will go a long way in helping the younger generation understand that how someone looks and whether someone is socially shunned has truly nothing to do with their self-worth or the ways in which they can contribute to society as a whole.

Yep. I really enjoyed this one, and I hope that this is the first of many nonfiction efforts from Kelly.

As a homeschooling mom, I think my kids would enjoy this book. My oldest son who is a World War 2 fanactic will especially enjoy it.
Joey’s store is an amazing one. How she survived so many terrible things but always kept her serving heart is beautiful. She is a testament to women everyone.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own .

Such a fascinating topic! I loved learning more about Joey Guerrero's life, Hansen's Disease, the Philippines, Catholicism, Allied spy during World War II.

The author masterfully weaves together the multiple threads of Guerrero's life: her early hardships as an orphan, her daring espionage work during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, her subsequent quarantine in Louisiana, and her later achievements in education and public service. What stands out is not just the extraordinary nature of her accomplishments, but the indomitable spirit with which she approached each challenge.
Particularly compelling is Guerrero's refusal to be defined by her illness or the discrimination she faced. Instead of accepting the limitations society placed on her, she pursued education in her 40s and joined the Peace Corps, demonstrating that it's never too late to reinvent oneself or serve others.