Martin deftly breathes new life into the familiar story of John F. Kennedy; the 1943 sinking of his boat, the PT-109, off the Solomon Islands; and the breathtaking survival of JFK and 10 members of his crew. A wealth of ancillary material debar features, maps, photographs, and more ovides context for the main story, examining Kennedy's early life and supplying information about WWII in the Pacific. Martin's story continues through the end of the war and briefly covers Kennedy's political career and assassination. The text of this exercise in narrative nonfiction is extremely well written, thrilling in its evocation of the sinking of the PT boat and its aftermath, while creating a vivid, multidimensional portrait of the future president, who emerges as an authentic American hero who repeatedly faced danger in his efforts to save the lives of his crew. It's an epic story that deserves being discovered by a new generation of readers for whom it will be a revelation and may well inspire further reading.

Martin provides a fast-paced account of JFK's heroic actions as commander of a patrol torpedo boat attacked by a Japanese destroyer in 1943. Exceptionally well-researched and -written, the book dramatically portrays Kennedy's courageous efforts to protect his badly injured crew. Captioned archival photos of the Kennedy family and of JFK as a naval skipper are included, in addition to fascinating WWII "Facts and Trivia" sidebars. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

In this well-researched, dramatic account of JFK-s life, with a particular emphasis on his naval career, Martin (Gettysburg: The True Account of Two Young Heroes in the Greatest Battle of the Civil War) reprises famous events in short, riveting chapters enhanced by abundant photographs, World War II facts and trivia, Kennedy family scrapbook items, and quotations from contemporary writings. Kennedy-s ambition to -make a difference- drove him from a cushy desk job to volunteering to command the new navy patrol boats at the age of 25. The tension-filled narrative of his assignment to the Solomon Islands in 1943, his rescue of the PT 109 crew, and the later rescue by PT 59 of stranded combatants from Choiseul constitute half the book. Martin argues that these events-along with -Survival,- John Hersey-s widely read 1944 story about them-were formative and crucial to Kennedy-s subsequent political success. Martin-s sympathetic, balanced rendering of Kennedy-s postwar career includes reconciliation with Japan, the two Melanesian islanders who played a determining role in the PT 109 crew-s survival, and the fate of each major figure in the story. Archival photos and illustrations, recommended reading, sources, and an index round out this offering. Ages 8-12. (July)

Gr 4-8 In this account of John F. Kennedy's survival following the destruction of his patrol torpedo (PT) boat, Martin provides readers with an exciting and detailed tale. Kennedy, the second son of millionaire and ambassador to Britain, Joseph Kennedy, was a naval officer who sought combat duty. While he was patrolling in PT 109, his boat was damaged in a collision with a Japanese destroyer and set adrift. For the next six days, Kennedy and his surviving crew diligently tried to get rescued while stranded on a desert island. Coconuts were their only nourishment. Due to Kennedy and his crew's tireless efforts, the men were finally returned to U.S. lines. Martin's account is readable and complemented with photographs. However, readers may pause at Martin's reference to "pidgin English" in describing the linguistic abilities of the Solomon Islands' Indigenous people, as no context is provided. That flaw aside, this book provides an exciting read. For those whose interest in President Kennedy was piqued with Shana Corey's A Time to Act: John F. Kennedy's Big Speech, this title offers insight into the young man and how his war experiences affected his subsequent political career. VERDICT An engaging war story about a popular president, this title will entice those with interest in presidential and military history. Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA