D‑Day

The World War II Invasion That Changed History

What is this book about?

The WWII invasion known as D‑Day was the largest military endeavor in history. By June 6, 1944, Hitler and his allies had a strong grip on the European continent, where Nazi Germany was engaged in the mass extermination of the Jewish people. The goal of D‑Day was the total defeat of Hitler’s regime, and the defense of free democracies everywhere. Knowing they had to breach the French coast, the US, Great Britain, and Canada planned for the impossible.D‑Day was an invasion not for conquest, but liberation, and required years to plan and total secrecy to keep the advantage of surprise. Once deployed, Operation Overlord involved soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, and specialists. These are the contributions of not only D‑Day’s famous players, but African Americans, women, journalists, and service members in a masterful tapestry of official documents, personal narratives, and archival photos to bring this decisive battle to vivid, thrilling life.

Reviews

“Hopkinson has compiled a comprehensive and absorbing overview … this insightful title, chock-full of primary sources, is a strong purchase.” (School Library Journal, starred review)

“Hopkinson is particularly adept at directing attention to the stories behind the heroic stories.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)

“How does an author sequentially chronicle multiple, rapidly developing, and simultaneous events and maintain not just coherence, but suspense? Hopkinson employs her signature kaleidoscopic style effectively here: synthesizing complex events into a compelling narrative arc, and sampling myriad voices to add texture and color to the story, while never losing sight of the bigger picture.” (The Horn Book)

“Such major figures as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley get plenty of attention, but more is given to the experiences of the soldiers who waded ashore under fire or parachuted behind enemy lines. Hopkinson weaves their personal accounts with those of observations by Ernie Pyle and others to bring the invasion vividly to life … An attractively packaged, engrossing history that will appeal to readers fascinated with military strategy.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“With thoroughness and clarity, this title brings D‑Day into focus by breaking it down into components and focusing on human voices and perspectives … provides a wealth of information clearly presented alongside many black and white photos, resulting in an engaging read even for those who may not be interested in a book about military history. The complexity of the historical task undertaken, the challenges of the terrain, and the courage required of those involved is conveyed by the author without hyperbole and by allowing the participants to tell their own stories. Highly Recommended.” (School Library Connection)