A World War II Novel
of the Pacific
by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.
Life in the Philippines seems like paradise–until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.
What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive.
Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.
- Publisher : Revell
- Publication Date : May 2, 2023
- Hardcover : 400 pages
My Thoughts
At 2:00 am this morning when I shut The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific, I knew I’d be able to honestly post that it held my attention and was a page-turner. I think this is only the second WWII book I’ve read that had the Pacific as the setting. Though I hated history in school, I’m finding that learning through historical fiction is my kind of learning.
I found this book to be a touching combination of friendship, love, and the horrors of war. The story flashed from the 1940s when three young friends joined the service, to the 1930s and their former history together.
The authors completely brought this story to life. The depiction of this area during the war felt authentic and heartbreaking. These young men, or in some cases boys, were subjected to the cruel upbringing that the Imperial soldiers experienced and then exhibited. The prison camps were horrendous.
Main Characters
Jimmy Propfield is a preacher’s son who lived in Mobile, Alabama. He experienced a rather sheltered life with a caring family. His father planned for Jimmy to follow in his footsteps.
Claire Crockett lived in the same neighborhood as Jimmy. Their families are close, so Claire and Jimmy are together a lot.
Billy Crockett is Claire’s younger brother who managed to tag along with Jimmy and Claire.
Hank Wright is a new boy who shows up in school. He is older than Jimmy and Claire but ends up in their classroom.
It isn’t long before Jimmy, Claire, Billy, and Hank become inseparable.
As you might guess, the three who enlist are Hank, Jimmy, and young Billy, who fakes his age in order to be accepted. It doesn’t take long to realize that there is something being left unsaid between Hank and Jimmy.
The story is inspired by true stories and told from Jimmy’s POV. The flashbacks that I mentioned earlier, are a much-needed break from what these naïve young men are experiencing.
I loved the fact that there are two maps toward the front of the book that I was able to refer to throughout the story.
My Concerns
It’s hard to accurately depict war without describing the horrors and inhumane treatment that accompany it. For some, this might be too hard to read.
Final Thoughts
This is a book that I won’t soon forget. The writing was excellent. The pacing was never a problem, and the characters came across as real . . . ones with true emotions.
Rather than zero in on the war itself, the authors managed to weave the war around friendship, love, and sacrifice.
I highly recommend this book, but be ready to sacrifice some sleep if you start reading in the evening.
My thanks to Revell for a gifted copy. I was under no obligation to post a positive review.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Marcus Brotherton is a New York Times bestselling author and coauthor dedicated to writing books that inspire heroics, promote empathy, and encourage noble living. His commendations include the Christopher Award for literature “that affirms the highest values of the human spirit.”
His newest book, The Long March Home, (written with New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee) is the lyrically-written and harrowing saga of three young WWII soldiers who struggle to survive on Bataan.
For more information, visit: www.marcusbrotherton.com
Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels including THE LONG MARCH HOME (with New York Times bestselling author Marcus Brotherton) THE LINE BETWEEN, THE PROGENY, THE LEGEND OF SHEBA, and ISCARIOT. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and been optioned for TV and film. She is the recipient of two International Book Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion, ECPA Book of the Year, and the Nebraska Book Award, and has finaled for numerous others including the Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award, the High Plains Book Award, a second Silver Falchion, and the Christy. When she’s not writing, Tosca loves binging television shows, looking for something good to eat, cooking when she can’t find it, traveling with her husband, and sleeping in.
You can find Tosca on social media or hanging around the snack table. To learn more, please visit toscalee.com.
