Boots On The Ground

Elizabeth Partridge

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America's war in Vietnam. In over a decade of bitter fighting, it claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American soldiers and beleaguered four US presidents. More than forty years after America left Vietnam in defeat in 1975, the war remains controversial and divisive both in the United States and abroad.

The history of this era is complex; the cultural impact extraordinary. But it's the personal stories of eight people—six American soldiers, one American military nurse, and one Vietnamese refugee—that create the heartbeat of Boots on the Ground. From dense jungles and terrifying firefights to chaotic helicopter rescues and harrowing escapes, each individual experience reveals a different facet of the war and moves us forward in time. Alternating with these chapters are profiles of key American leaders and events, reminding us of all that was happening at home during the war, including peace protests, presidential scandals, and veterans' struggles to acclimate to life after Vietnam.

With more than one hundred photographs, award-winning author Elizabeth Partridge's unflinching book captures the intensity, frustration, and lasting impacts of one of the most tumultuous periods of American history.

Published: 15 April 2018
ISBN: 9780670785063
Imprint: Viking
Format: Hardback
Pages: 224
RRP: $39.99

Categories:

Young readers non-fiction

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Praise for Boots On The Ground

Elizabeth Partridge takes the path off its pedestal and shows how ordinary people, children among them, can sometimes tip the balance and help determine the outcome of events . . . Drawing on archival photographs and interviews with marchers who were as young as 10 at the time, Partridge swiftly sets the stage for the political war of nerves that culminated in the walk from Selma to Montgomery
The New York Times Book Review

Effective and meaningful archival photographs, quotes, poems, and songs are woven throughout the narrative, giving readers a real sense of the children's mindset and experiences
School Library Journal, starred review

A perfect balance of energetic prose and well-selected, breath-taking photographs
Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A sharply focused historical narrative for a younger audience . . . Partridge once again demonstrates why she is almost peerless in her photo selection
The Horn Book, starred review

The vivid text is filled with quotes collected from Partridge's personal interviews . . . Every spread brings readers up close to the dramatic, often violent action
Booklist, starred review