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Back to Bataan

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 30 ratings · 22 reviews

New York City, 1943. War is raging in Europe and the Pacific, while Jack Dalton is stuck attending Dutch Masters Day School. What Jack really wants is to enlist in the army, to fight...

Everything changes when Coco, Jack's "fiancee," throws him over for one of his classmates. Jack sees red and does something drastic. Then he runs away. Hiding out in a nearby park, Jack join...more

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Published July 1st 2012 by Tribute Books (first published January 1st 1992)

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Sep 30, 2012 BethSky Rose Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is so awesome it makes me wonder why it is not a lot more famous. The writing is flawless and I fell in love with Jack's character. He is amazingly more mature and interesting at 11 than most YA protagonists.

The story is about 11 year old Jack Dalton, he is the resident scholarship kid at Dutch Masters Day school, so naturally he gets the stick from his wealthy classmates and when his girlfriend breaks up with him for a the rich boy Alfredo Jack does something stupid to hurt Alfredo's...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Ruth Hill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, e-books

I will say something about this book that I often don't say about books--especially books that are this short. This book honestly could not have been improved upon! I abslutely loved it! From the first page to the last, it was exactly what a "tween"/young adult historical fiction book should be. The characters were well-developed, and the story was believable. The characters had their flaws, and it made them seem that much more realistic. There were no sex scenes (yay!) and no profanity (yay!)....more

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Sep 24, 2012 Alex Baugh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: world-war-2

This is the story of Jack, a lonely 11 year old boy. To begin with, he is the only scholarship student at the Dutch Masters Day School, for which he must deal with some mean-spirited boys despite being top in his class. His mother is away most of the time, working for the war effort and trying to cope with being left alone to care for things on the home front. Poor Jack has also been having a hard time trying to cope with the loss of his father at the Battle of Bataan. And so, Jack decides the t...more This is the story of Jack, a lonely 11 year old boy. To begin with, he is the only scholarship student at the Dutch Masters Day School, for which he must deal with some mean-spirited boys despite being top in his class. His mother is away most of the time, working for the war effort and trying to cope with being left alone to care for things on the home front. Poor Jack has also been having a hard time trying to cope with the loss of his father at the Battle of Bataan. And so, Jack decides the thing for him to do is to drop out of school, enlist in the army and find General MacArthur and go back to Bataan to defeat the Japanese in the south pacific.

Naturally, Jack doesn't get much support for this idea, but after his girlfriend breaks up with him and finds "love" with the rich, overweight Alfredo, a boy their class, life begins to feel like one abandonment after another. Then Jack decides to take out his anger by hurting Alfredo"s family. Afterwards, knowing it was wrong and believing he has committed a major crime, Jack takes the cowardly way out and runs away to Riverside Park rather than facing the consequences. There, he finds acceptance, and companionship with some homeless led by the a tyrannical leader simply named The Leader.

But are things really as wonderful as Jack thinks they are living with The Leader and his faithful companions. Or does Jack find himself in his own personal war, where he must decide if he really is a coward or a brave enough soldier to do the right thing.

At first, I was attracted to this short novel because it is a YA World War II story. Next, I have a hard time resisting a novel set in my favorite place, New York City. In the end, I found Back to Bataan to be a novel that stuck with me for a long time and I ended up with a mixed reaction to the story of Jack.

First of all, the cover that came with the E-book led me to think it was a story about an old teen, not an 11 year old boy. So disregard this cover. Once I wrapped my mind around Jack's age, the story seems more for a younger reader, maybe someone on the cusp of MG/YA.

Back to Bataan turns out to be a nice coming of age story of a boy seeking an appropriate male role model after he losses his own dad. And this is a kid who needs guidance. But everyone seems to fail him, except the one totally unexpected person in the story. Which was a nice message - sometimes you find that the one who will help and guide you in life is the most unexpected person of all.
And Charyn, who grew up in the Bronx during the war, gives a very realistic slice of life picture of NYC in the 1940s in Back to Bataan. Now, I lived here all my live and have been in enough old soda fountain places to know the real deal and Charyn describes them to a tea or should I say an egg cream. For the uninitiated, try going to Lexington Ave and 83rd Street and enjoy an egg cream at The Lexington Candy Shop, opened in 1925.

And the title Back to Bataan: now I watch that old 1945 John Wayne movie Back to Bataan on enough rainy afternoons with my brother to know that in 1942, after General McArthur was ordered out of Philippines, where Bataan is, he uttered the words "I shall return" and apparently young Jack took these words to heart. But, it turns out, he finds his own Bataan right in the heart of New York City.

If you are looking for something different to read about World War II, Jerome Charyn's novel Back to Bataan just may be the book for you.

This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was obtained from the publisher.(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, emotional, short-story, ya, childrens, historical-fiction

Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/09/back-to-bataan-blog-tour-indie-book.html

Our main character Jack just lost his father and he wants to go to war even though he is 11 years old. He is obsessed with war and history. He even already has his fiancee planned out. But after losing her to a rich spoiled kid and feeling like he has lost everything, he makes a big mistake. Jack ends up meeting a man and his group who he thought were good people, but he soon finds out that...more Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/09/back-to-bataan-blog-tour-indie-book.html

Our main character Jack just lost his father and he wants to go to war even though he is 11 years old. He is obsessed with war and history. He even already has his fiancee planned out. But after losing her to a rich spoiled kid and feeling like he has lost everything, he makes a big mistake. Jack ends up meeting a man and his group who he thought were good people, but he soon finds out that he must become a soldier of a different war.

You know the saying, “Don't judge a book by its cover”? Well that couldn't be more true than Back to Bataan. You look at the cover and you think you will get a YA read, but that is not the case. Our main character is 11 years old, not a teenager. Not to mention, this isn't a real "romance" (they are eleven afterall), which again, you would think it would be from the cover. This is a childrens' book, but even as a childrens' book it is a book for a real world. It is a war book through the eyes of a child. Jack was definitely a peculiar eleven year old. He was very smart, but his obsession with the war definitely drove him to fight. But I loved Jack. He was always there for the “little guy”. People who are usually judged whether by nationality or wealth (or lack there of), he quickly tried to become friends with. It made me like him a lot. I love that no matter how difficult his life was, he never took it out on anyone especially those less fortunate than him. His mom and him are struggling, but his mom does what she can.

I like the journey Charyn takes us. Seeing the life of a boy in World War II. The story was pretty fast, only 80 pages. I like how that in such a short amount of time, Jack learns a lot. His world gets turned upside down because of the Leader and how he takes advantage of him. This book definitely showcases what It was like back in WWII and the struggles some families had to face. Jack may be eleven and living on ration stamps, but he keeps his head up. The speech he made at the very end of the story was definitely from a boy way more mature than his age. Hell, most adults don't think like that.

Overall, this was a good read. I have never read a book quite like this or told like this. I won't lie, it was difficult for me to read because of how different it was for me, but it grew on me. The romance portion wasn't really needed, but doesn't take away from the book. It isn't along the lines of the regular "Young Adult" reads I am use to, but it is worth the read. It is a unique story full of history, tragedy, inspiration and courage. I guarantee you will be smiling when you get to the end.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Literary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jack's father was a soldier who died in Bataan during the war. His mother now has to work in a parachute factory to try and keep food on the table, Jack in school, and clothes on Jack's back. All Jack can think of, though, is becoming a soldier and fighting with MacArthur as his father did.

When Jack tells his plans of quitting school and becoming a soldier to his mother and his fiancee, Mauricette, they both become upset with him and basically tell him how foolish he's being. So, Jack writes a c...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-must-reads, july-2012, tribute-book-tours

I would like to Thank Tribute Books for allowing me to be on this tour. I have to say I am a history buff and I love historical books. The way Jerome describes the era had me sitting right there like I was living it. WWII was a rough time for people because soldiers were dying left and right. Plus there was a shortage of food and money. Things were looking very bleak and the only thing a man could do was go to war and fight for his country.

Jack Dalton was one who wanted to be off fighting in the...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Lissette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jack Dalton has always been a lively little boy. He lives in New York City with his mother and has a fiancée he adores like there's no tomorrow. Yet there's something within his life that he misses the most. His father has died within the raging war between Europe and the Pacific. He wants to follow in his father's footsteps, but no one will take a chance on an eleven-year-old little boy. Never-the-less, he's determined to try and change things for the better.

When a school assignment turns his l...more Jack Dalton has always been a lively little boy. He lives in New York City with his mother and has a fiancée he adores like there's no tomorrow. Yet there's something within his life that he misses the most. His father has died within the raging war between Europe and the Pacific. He wants to follow in his father's footsteps, but no one will take a chance on an eleven-year-old little boy. Never-the-less, he's determined to try and change things for the better.

When a school assignment turns his life upside-down, Jack isn't sure as to what hit him. He now finds himself without a fiancée and everyone within his class now see him a tad too differently. He wants his old life back, yet he doesn't have a clue as to how make things right again. Everything he does seems to backfire on him and Coco no longer wants anything to do with him. So much so, that she's now engaged to one of his classmates.

Determined to make them pay for their injustice, Jack inadvertently sets a series of events into motion that will forever change his life and theirs. On the run because of what he's done, he finds himself smack dab in the middle of a group of vagrants living at the park nearby. In Jack's mind, this is a perfect way for him to remain incognito. No one will find him there and he can make the best of the situation while trying to figure out a way to make it to Bataan. Or so he thinks.

For awhile, everything is fine and dandy. He's living the high life on his own with Leader and his little gang. Jack knows that he'll eventually need to atone for his sins, but for now, he's intent on enjoying the little freedom he now has. Soon, he's forced to face the repercussions of the life he tried to leave behind. He knows he'll need to make things right again if he's to be happy with the lot he's been dealt in life. Yet doing so is easier said than done. Never-the-less, he's intent on trying to do just that, even if it takes him awhile in getting there.

While this is a short novel, it's was delightfully engaging. A very quick read about a boy and his life within a 1943 New York City, it's sure to garner the reader's attention and keep it riveted to every page. The flow of the story is easy to follow and you'll find yourself lost within the story in minutes. I found it very intriguing to learn about what life in the Big Apple was like back then. I think the author captured that aspect beautifully and look forward to re-reading the story again some time soon.(less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Tia Bach rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eleven is such a young age to be so grown up, but that's exactly what Jack Dalton is. He's wise beyond his years, fiercely loyal, and determined to figure it all out. Jack's the product of too much loss in a short time, starting with the death of his father. His mother, desperate to give her son every chance, isn't around like she would like.

When Jack loses his girlfriend, who he calls his fiancee, he gives into the pain and loss and lets his emotions rule. Then, in fear of the repercussions, he...more Eleven is such a young age to be so grown up, but that's exactly what Jack Dalton is. He's wise beyond his years, fiercely loyal, and determined to figure it all out. Jack's the product of too much loss in a short time, starting with the death of his father. His mother, desperate to give her son every chance, isn't around like she would like.

When Jack loses his girlfriend, who he calls his fiancee, he gives into the pain and loss and lets his emotions rule. Then, in fear of the repercussions, he hides out with some unsavory fellows. Their leader, called The Leader, becomes an odd sort of influence in Jack's life. This man, someone others see as a dangerous criminal, ends up being an important part of Jack becoming his own man.

The most memorable books to me are the ones that have characters you can't shake. Jack Dalton is definitely one of those, but so are two of the men that influence who he becomes: The Leader and Mr. Fink. My favorite, Mr. Fink. Not only was he perceptive, he was determined to make sure Jack didn't drown in the sadness and misfortune surrounding him. I also loved the characters of Coco, Jack's girlfriend, because she brought out Jack's softer side, and Jack's mother, because she was willing to do anything for him.

When you finish reading Back to Bataan, you have hope. Hope for Jack, and for others like him. Hope for love, and its power. Hope for what's right, even if what's wrong seems to rule the day for awhile.

If you are looking for a memorable read with characters that start to feel like home, pick up Back to Bataan. It takes you on a journey. Although it's Jack's journey, you'll find yourself affected as well. It's powerful in a subtle way, one that might take you days to digest.

Note: Since the book is considered young adult, I am concerned that younger readers won't appreciate it like adults. The timeframe and history might not be as appealing to that age group. However, I do think it would be an excellent book to be used in schools.

I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the opinions expressed are my own.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Dawn Vanniman rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

BACK TO BATAAN is a coming of age story, set in New York City during WWII. The main character, Jack, is only eleven years old. From the cover I expected him to be a full-fledged teenager and so was understandably confused by the language in the story. Once I realized that he was only eleven, the story made more sense.

Jack attends a private school on scholarship. His father died in the war and his mother works at a parachut...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Cecilia (rather barefoot than bookless) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trinute-books-blog-tour, ya

When I began reading this book I was thinking that this book was not all that good. But then I started to realize that I was looking at it all wrong. This book was not what I thought it would be. It was not the usual YA that I usually read and so it would be wrong to judge it by that. So I changed my "glasses" and started over and what I found was actually really good. This book is more of a serious historical young adult and it is a book who will leave you in thought. I actually think this book...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Ottilie rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5

A world of grey. Jack is a child who is a scholarship student, is being raised by a single mother, and is haunted by his father's death in the war. Jack despite his young age (11 years old) takes on the world on himself during a very confusing time in history. When his 'fiance' and him have a rocky path it doesn't help him feel like there are people for him. Jack feels alone in the world and different from all others in his life. Back to Bataan is a coming of age story during a busy time in h...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three stars: A snap shot of a young boy's life during World War II.

Back to Bataan is a hard book for me to review. Mostly because it is such a different type of book that probably won't appeal to readers expecting a traditional YA book. I personally enjoyed this book because it was different and it provided me a glimpse into what life was like for young kids during the war era. I am always intrigued by books that pertain to this time period because I like to envision what the world was like when...more Three stars: A snap shot of a young boy's life during World War II.

Back to Bataan is a hard book for me to review. Mostly because it is such a different type of book that probably won't appeal to readers expecting a traditional YA book. I personally enjoyed this book because it was different and it provided me a glimpse into what life was like for young kids during the war era. I am always intrigued by books that pertain to this time period because I like to envision what the world was like when my grandparents were young. We live in an entirely different world now. This book focuses on a young boy named Jack. He is eleven years old and has the weight of the world upon his shoulders. His father was killed in the first year of the war on Bataan. Jack wants more than anything to be able to be a solider and join up with General McArthur and fight. Of course, at eleven he is told he is too young. He is a young boy forced to grow up too soon because of his situation. He not only dreams of fighting but he envisions a future with his girl Coco, to whom he is already engaged. Imagine an eleven year old wanting to head to war and already seeing himself married. Even though he seems quite grown up he is really a lost little boy. One who desperately is looking for a father type figure. Consequently, he befriends several men in hopes of finding a role model. From the Leader (a hobo) to Hans the German janitor. What follows are his misadventures as he slowly looks to find his place in the world.

Again, this book does not follow a traditional story line. So if you are expecting to pick this up and find a typical YA plot, you will be disappointed. Instead approach it as a novella that outlines life for a young boy during the world and the many difficulties he encounters. This book was written twenty years ago, but it still shines today. I loved Jack and the way he tried to see the good in people who were considered outcasts and the way he wanted to protect his mother. This story reminds us how difficult day to day life was during this period from the air raid warnings, ration stamps, food shortages and victory gardens. I must admit I had heard the term victory garden but didn't have a full understanding of them until I read this book. I came away with a new appreciation for my grandparent's generation. If you are someone who is fascinated by this period then this book is for you.

For me it was a memorable read, different and unexpected. It is a coming of age book for a young boy thrust into adult shoes due to his circumstances.

Favorite Quotations:

"Women really don't make much sense. You have to marry them and all that, but they fall in love with movies stars and they think that having Gary Cooper's signature is like having the whole world."

"Republicans didn't like Mrs. Roosevelt. They called her horseface. I didn't care. She was the kindest horseface in the world."

"You just can't win. I was crazy about Coco and Coco was crazy about me, I imagine, but we were closer to being enemies than friends."

A big thanks to Nicole at Tribute books for the review copy. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Posted Orginally at Rainy Day Ramblings (less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Kathleen Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Back to Bataan by Jerome Charyn is a young adult story that takes place in New York 1943 where an 11 year old boy has lost his father in the war. A sneak peek if you will in the life of a young boy who desperately wants to join the army but he is too young to do so. We learn about his peers at the school, the bullying he takes at times, and his experiences when he runs away for a week and lives with the hobos along the railroads, and how he redeems himself not only to his girlfriend, his peers b...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Waiting For Wentworth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Back To Bataan is a coming of age story set in New York City during World War II. It is very well written, but also very simple in style, which makes it an easy read. I found the setting to be very real, mostly due to the time frame in which the story takes place.

I enjoyed the wide variety of characters that are in Back To Bataan. There are good guys, bad guys, a benefactor that I couldn't figure out, and a love interest that was way too fickle.

The protagonist, Jack, while not relatable to me...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Gina Butler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I read this book for a book tour for Tribute Books. This book is a quick read, I read it in a day.

I found myself feeling bad for the main character Jack. He is such a young child trying to deal with things in a grown up way.

Jack doesn't realize that no matter what he's doing in his young life, good or bad, he has someone looking out for him. It's this person behind the scenes that really help Jack to succeed.

I think Jack needs a father figure in his life. If he had that, he'd be able to contro...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-book-read, kindle-books

This book surprised me, not only was I not expecting it to be told from a young boy's perceptive but I also wasn't counting on it being such an endearing read.

Jack is an eleven year old boy that wants nothing more than to join the war. A war that took away his father and has changed his life forever.

I really liked Jack's voice. There was something so innocent about him.

I really love books that take place during the second world war. I love learning about that part of our history and Charyn not...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-on-blog

Did I enjoy this book: I really didn't enjoy this book. I was expecting so much more after reading the synopsis.

This book is not a YA book so much as it is a middle grade book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy middle grade books but this book just really fell flat and was not intriguing at all. For the most part, the sentences were short and choppy and the story just didn't flow that well in my opinion.

I could not connect with Jack, who is eleven and in grade school during this short story (about 80...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grades, historical-fiction, young-adult

This is one of those stories that stays with the reader long after they have read it. It is very well written. We get to look through the eyes of a young man who has lost his father to the war. He is like many who lose their way only to find it in a strange turn of events. I look forward to putting this on my shelves at school. It will give my students a look at life during the 1940’s for children of that time. There are so many lessons to be learned through this book. There is so much they can...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Lenore Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Last night we managed to settle the kiddos down and I grabbed me a cool bath. I zipped up my e-reader into a large zip lock bag so I could read my latest Jerome Charyn book, Back to Bataan. As Jerome always does to me, I was transfered to another time and place. I really liked how the story line shows you that small things can sway the decisions you make in life. And in doing so you often have to make big sacrifices to correct the path your on.

Now the story Back to Bataan was released in 1993 a...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Lenore Riegel rated it 5 of 5 stars

MY first YA book read since I became an OYA (old young adult) and I read it because I am a huge Jerome Charyn fan. Now I'm a huge YA fan. There's something about a YA book that makes you feel timeless.

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Jul 19, 2012 Jessie Harrell rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a good book for a MG period piece, but it was not YA as the cover (and description) leads you to believe.

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Jul 04, 2012 Lenore Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As Jerome always does to me, I was transfered to another time and place. I really liked how the story line shows you that small things can sway the decisions you make in life. And in doing so you often have to make big sacrifices to correct the path your on. The story line is as relevant today as it was 19 years ago.

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Shelves: giveaway

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About Jerome Charyn

Jerome Charyn has been teaching film for the past fourteen years at the American University of Paris. His novel, The Green Lantern, was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and he has also received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Charyns new novel, The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, an astonishing work that reveals the passions and heartbreak of Americas greate...more

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