Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific, written by Deborah Hopkinson, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Japanese strategists sought to take the United States out of the war by severely crippling its naval forces. They wanted to strike one decisive blow early in the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor ends up mobilizing the war effort instead of destroying the will to fight. The small division of submarines stationed in the Pacific escapes the attack on Pearl Harbor virtually unscathed. The submarines become key in disrupting the supply lines to the Japanese troops and Japanese shipping. Improved, more reliable torpedoes give the submarines the ability to cripple or sink Japanese ships in greater numbers. These sustained losses by the Japanese turn the tide of the war.

Hopkinson uses photographs, first person eyewitness accounts and declassified government documents to tell the story of U.S. submarines and their pivotal role in the winning the war in the Pacific during World War II. The chapters are short and loaded with photographs, drawings and short sections, which offer supplemental information. Events are presented in chronological order. The book also lists multiple websites for readers interested in learning more. The websites cover a variety of topics, including submarine design and weaponry, battles won and lost and daily life on a submarine. Many of the surviving submarines found new life as tourist attractions, including the U.S.S. Silversides permanently docked in Muskegon, MI. Hopkinson also shares humorous tales of several dogs smuggled on board various submarines and a captain’s quest to secure an ice cream machine for his crew.

Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific supports non-fiction reading assignments and curriculum units on World War II.  The stories reflect the realities of war in an age-appropriate manner for middle school and high school students. The stories are interesting, powerful and ultimately encouraging.  The high reading level may present a challenge for struggling readers. The multitude of photographs supporting the text and the compelling stories will appeal to reluctant readers. Students with an interest in stories about World War II, naval battles and submarines will gravitate to this book.  Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific does not contain any objectionable language. It does include references to drinking alcohol, smoking and detailed descriptions of naval battles which include loss of life. The descriptions are central to the essence of the book and not gratuitous.