The School the Aztec Eagles Built

by Dorinda Nicholson

Overview

A photo-illustrated book about the Aztec Eagles, Mexico's World War II Air Force squadron interwoven with the story of Sergeant Angel Bocanegra, whose service was rewarded with the building of a school in his village.

In May 1942, German U-boats torpedoed two unarmed Mexican oil tankers off the Gulf Coast, forcing Mexico to enter World War II. With the help of United States President Roosevelt, Mexican President Camacho arranged to send one Air Force squadron to fight in the war. Thirty-eight of Mexico's top pilots, and about two hundred sixty additional military crew were carefully selected to form the 201st Air Force Squadron, also known as the Aztec Eagles. The squadron was the first unit in history to leave Mexico on a fighting mission.

To mark this historic event, President Camacho asked the men if they had any last minute requests before they went to war. Sergeant Angel Bocanegra, a former teacher and now squadron ground crewmember, stepped forward and made a request. He asked that a school be built in his small village of Tepoztlan.

The School the Aztec Eagles Built tells the exciting story of how a Mexican Air Force squadron and an unknown schoolteacher made their mark in history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781600604409
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	10/01/2016
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.50(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	NC1170L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson was born in Hawai’i and was an eyewitness to the attack on Pearl Harbor when she was six years old. She believes it is her mission to bring World War II history to life for children. Her works have received starred reviews and awards, including the IRA Children’s Book Award for nonfiction, Benjamin Franklin Award, and ALA Notable. The School the Aztec Eagles Built has also garnered an SCBWI Book Launch Award. In addition to being a writer, Nicholson is a Missouri Humanities Council member and an avid hula dancer. She and her husband live in Raytown, Missouri.

Editorial Reviews

* "The neatly designed account is accessible and well-organized, telling the story in a chronological series of double-page spreads... A stirring tribute to an unjustly overlooked group of heroes." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This tribute to Mexico's war efforts complements other narratives of groups and individual aviators who aided the cause." — Booklist

"The intersection of military history, biography, and the power of community is unique. An additional purchase for those looking for a multifaceted work of history." — School Library Journal

Américas Award Commended Title - Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs

From the Publisher

09/01/2016
Gr 4–6—A tribute to Air Fighter Squadron 201 (the Aztec Eagles) and Sgt. Ángel Bocanegra del Castillo, whose actions ensured the building of a school in the village of Tepoztlán, Mexico. The work begins with a quick refresher on relations between the United States and Mexico from 1830 to World War II, leading up to the creation of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force. Readers follow as the pilots train and eventually join the Pacific theater in the Philippines. Running parallel to this historical narrative is the account of Bocanegra del Castillo and his journey from schoolteacher to military pilot. When the president of Mexico, Ávila Camacho, asked the soon-to-deploy Aztec Eagles if they had any requests, Bocanegra del Castillo asked for a proper school to be built in his village of Tepoztlán. By the time the squadron returned to Mexico at the end of World War II, the school had been built and named after the squadron. The importance of the school to this community is strongly emphasized. The text briefly describes the military action in which the squadron was involved. Well-captioned vintage photos appear on every page. VERDICT The intersection of military history, biography, and the power of community is unique. An additional purchase for those looking for a multifaceted work of history.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

School Library Journal

★ 2016-07-02
Nicholson chronicles the important but little-known alliance between the United States and Mexico during World War II The neatly designed account is accessible and well-organized, telling the story in a chronological series of double-page spreads. Historic photographs throughout highlight the significant contributions to the war effort by these Mexican pilots and their hardworking ground crew as they protected U.S. troops in spite of the blatant discrimination they initially faced. Providing protective cover for U.S. Navy ships, Mexico’s Air Fighter Squadron 201 kept the ships safe from kamikaze pilots. The Aztec Eagles took out Japanese targets while flying very long range missions from Manila to Taiwan (700 miles). They were awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal for heroism and in recognition of the fact that during their 96 combat missions in the Philippines, no civilians or American military were injured or killed due to friendly fire. The highly decorated squadron “remains the only Mexican military force to see overseas combat.” Perhaps the greatest tribute to the Aztec Eagles was the school built in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico, at the request of one of the crew members, Ángel Bocanegra del Castillo. Inaugurated in 1945 by Mexican President Ávila Camacho and the entire squadron, the school’s classrooms are still filled by children who will always be grateful to the men of “El Escaudrón 201.” A stirring tribute to an unjustly overlooked group of heroes. (glossary, pronunciation guide, author’s note) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews