Some days I feel invisible.
Children see what adults ignore. They document the truth hidden in plain sight.
The Eye of the Secret War
Armed with a Rolleiflex TLR Camera, Jamie captures a world reversed. He develops the truth in the darkroom, exposing secrets others miss, like the "Ghost Engine" at Wright Field.
"If you do not document it, people forget."
The Lookout's Burden
Seeking to be a soldier, Billy became a victim. A "warm rock" hiding Polonium-210 brought a slow sickness, disguised by adults but revealing a terrifying truth.
"We were holding thunder."
The Invisible Observer of 1944
Carrying the burden of Gaman, Kenji sketches the hidden realities of the Dayton Project. While adults see past him, he records hissing mud and hazmat suits, censored by mail clerks but preserved in margins.
"Some days I feel invisible."
"Gripping, fast-paced, and expertly told through multiple points of view. A powerful and eye-opening debut that handles heavy themes like grief and the WWII home front with incredible sensitivity."
I loved this book. I recommend adults and children read. A part of our history brought to life through a fictional story. An excellent read. This book would be an excellent tool for teaching students about our history.
If you are looking for a book that does not insult young readers but challenges their thinking and starts the process of using history and creative writing to grow their minds, here is a book to consider. History, mystery, and honesty are wrapped up in The Secret War by Todd Burleson.
The Secret War is a very thought provoking book of historical fiction. Though aimed towards a middle school audience, I would highly recommend it for adults as well. Read it with your child and discuss how it is important that we learn from our past, lest we make the same mistakes in the future.
Danger, suspense, history, and secrets written for kids by an author who understands how to weave it all together. Teachers will love using this book to teach history in an captivating and immersive way.
I’m not even a middle grade reader and I enjoyed this. The author kept me reading chapter by chapter! What a cool way to learn about a part of history I didn’t know about.
In the shadows of industrial America, history was forged in secret. While the world watched the battlefields, three boys uncovered a clandestine war in their own backyard. The Dayton Project demanded silence, but the innocent eyes of witnesses recorded every hushed whisper, every glowing stone, and every missing friend.
This is their story. This is The Secret War.
History, STEM, and Ethics modules designed for 5th-7th grade instruction.
Includes The Blueprint roadmap, a 20-day Teacher Companion pacing guide, Student Field Notes workbook, History & STEM modules, Book Club frameworks, and primary source historical documents.
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