★ 07/03/2017
Bruno’s stylized realism vividly brings to life the story of Sergeant Reckless, the only animal to officially hold military rank in the United States. Starving and abandoned during the Korean War, the former racehorse was discovered by U.S. Marines serving overseas and pressed into service to carry ammunition for a cannon dubbed the “reckless” rifle. More than a pack animal, the small mare who would eat anything (chocolate, Coca-Cola, blankets, poker chips) made herself at home among her new family: “After she figured out which bunk belonged to the cook, she’d clip-clop into his tent at daybreak and lick his face until he woke up and served her breakfast.” Spreads heavy with green and brown camouflage hues depict the Marines training and doting on their charge, while poignant close-ups show Reckless nuzzling soldiers’ faces, training, and performing bravely in battle. In an author’s note, McCormick (The Plot to Kill Hitler) rounds out the story with details of Reckless’s life in Korea both before the conflict and post “retirement.” This endearing story of wartime camaraderie won’t soon be forgotten. Ages 6–10. Author’s agent: Heather Schroder, Compass Talent. (Sept.)
★ “Vividly brings to life the story of Sergeant Reckless, the only animal to officially hold military rank in the United States. This endearing story of wartime camaraderie won’t soon be forgotten.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★ “A rousing success. An engaging slice of history.” — Booklist (starred review)
“[An] intriguing historical tale of an underdog. A warm human (and horse) interest story that feels fresh off a newsreel.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Excellent. This well-illustrated war story will appeal to many, especially fans of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse. A strong selection.” — School Library Journal
“Engaging.” — The Horn Book
“A lively look at wartime animal heroism.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER: “Offers a lucid history of the rise of Nazi Germany and a dramatic account of one man’s resistance to evil.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER: “[A] tragic, inspirational, and quite unusual tale of a man who was the moral center of a resistance movement that, though it failed, continues to live on in international memory.” — Booklist (starred review)
Praise for THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER: “Readers will discover how compelling a story about ideas and ideals can be.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for NEVER FALL DOWN: “One of the most inspiring and powerful books I’ve ever read. Never Fall Down can teach us all about finding the courage to speak our truth and change the world.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Praise for PURPLE HEART: “Timely and provocative thriller.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for SOLD: “Hard-hitting ... poignant. The author beautifully balances the harshness of brothel life with the poignant relationships among its residents.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for SOLD: “Unforgettable” — Booklist (starred review)
Praise for SOLD: “Searing...poetic.” — The Horn Book
Praise for CUT: “Poignant and compelling.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
Praise for CUT: “This novel, like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, sympathetically and authentically renders the difficulties of giving voice to a very real sense of harm and powerlessness.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for CUT: “McCormick tackles a side of mental illness that is rarely seen in young adult fiction in a believable and sensitive manner.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
PRAISE FOR MESMERIZED: “A stylish and humorous exploration of the scientific method and the mysteries of the human mind.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PRAISE FOR MESMERIZED: “Brilliantly illustrated...stuffed with period detail and sweeping ribbons and curlicues.” — Booklist (starred review)
Praise for MESMERIZED: “Awonderful and fun-filled title that introduces yet another facet of a fascinating man.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
Praise for MESMERIZED: “For history buffs, science enthusiasts, and fans of a good story, this one hits all the marks.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
08/01/2017
Gr 1–5—At the height of the Korean conflict, a young racehorse was abandoned and left hungry at a racetrack. Around the same time, a nearby U.S. Marine unit was exhausted from lugging heavy ammunition uphill during their battles. While a mule would have been preferable, Sergeant Pederson trained that once-abandoned horse to carry the ammunition for the Marines—and what followed is a remarkable story. Named Reckless, she carried herself with aplomb under the roughest of combat conditions, in one battle she made 51 trips and carried 9,000-pounds of ammunition. Meanwhile she ate everything and anything, waking up the company cook to get her breakfast. Reckless would eventually attain the rank of Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. McCormick's narrative is excellent and Brunos's bold illustrations contribute to the story as much as the text. The work concludes with a synopsis of Reckless's retirement in the United States. While Melissa Higgins's Sgt. Reckless the War Horse: Korean War Hero is a suitable title, McCormick's is more exciting. VERDICT This well-illustrated war story will appeal to many, especially fans of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse. A strong selection.—Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA
2017-06-14
U.S. Marines reluctantly adopt a small mare to carry ammunition in battle during the Korean War, believing she will be too weak for the job. They soon realize their mistake! Digitally colored pencil drawings capture the spirited mare and her military world in a khaki-tinted palette, while the straightforward, informative text is presented framed by various relevant documents and objects, lending the art a collagelike feel. Nicknamed Reckless, the mare has a passion for food—she loves chocolate and Coke, regularly joins the men for scrambled eggs, and even nibbles on poker chips. But it's Reckless' hard work that truly makes her a beloved member of the team, and after learning to cope with the noise of battle, she carries ammunition to the men through shellfire and flares, saving lives and helping win a battle that changes the course of the war. The only nonhuman to be awarded military rank—she's promoted to sergeant and receives two Purple Hearts—Reckless is eventually brought to the States through the efforts of the soldiers who loved her. This intriguing historical tale of an underdog highlights the connection between animals and humans, provides a view of the dangers of the battlefield, and has a subtle feminist slant. A warm human (and horse) interest story that feels fresh off a newsreel. (Informational picture book. 6-10)
