LAUNCHING LIBERTY

Name: LAUNCHING LIBERTY
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.42 (26 reviews)
ISBN: 9781668017

by relentless Nazi U\u002Dboat attacks on cargo ships in the Atlantic and inspired by Britain’s Merchant Shipbuilding Mission, the U.S. launched a parallel effort. In roughly four years, shipyards from Maine to Oregon produced 2,710 Liberty ships, each longer than a football field. Christened “ugly ducklings” by the press, the ships were practical but unattractive. Even President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who supported the program, said of the ships’ design, “Anyone of you that knows a ship and loves a ship, would hate them, as I do.” In his readable account, Most injects a sense of urgency and humanity into what might otherwise be a niche topic, an approach complemented by the book’s organization into seven sections composed of short chapters. The narrative is at its most lively in the first four sections, which follow the small group of men who created the Liberty program from the ground up. The massive workforce needed to power their effort came with challenges, ranging from the need for housing and schools to health care. One shipyard’s effort to provide health care for workers built the foundation of today’s Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Racism and sexism accompanied the increasingly diverse population of shipyard laborers. The author documents both, but his discussions sometimes lack nuance. “Wendy the Welders,” shipbuilding’s answer to Rosie the Riveter, are present and accounted for, yet the epilogue’s brief descriptions of their subsequent marriages and/or happy transitions to other jobs leave little room for the complexity of their experiences. Most returns to his strengths in the final two sections, describing the push to build ships faster and faster to meet the needs of a country at war."

Book Details

Publisher:Of

Published:2024-01-01

Pages:464

Format:paperback

Language:English

ISBN:9781668017

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

Our Review

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the heart of World War II, following a young girl whose life becomes unexpectedly intertwined with the iconic Rosie the Riveter movement. As she navigates the challenges of a world at war and her own family's struggles, the narrative powerfully captures the spirit of homefront America. The author masterfully blends personal drama with significant historical events, creating an immersive experience that makes history feel immediate and vital. Young readers will be captivated by the protagonist's journey of resilience and self-discovery against a backdrop of national transformation.

What sets this story apart is its authentic voice and the nuanced exploration of themes like duty, sacrifice, and finding one's strength in turbulent times. The protagonist's perspective offers a fresh, relatable entry point into understanding this pivotal era, making complex historical concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. Readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction with strong female leads will find this particularly compelling, as will those seeking stories about ordinary people making extraordinary contributions. The emotional resonance of this coming-of-age tale lingers long after the final page, leaving readers with a deeper appreciation for this defining chapter in American history.

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