Across the Blue Pacific : A World War II Story

by Louise Borden, Robert Andrew Parker (Illustrations)

When the United States enters World War II, Molly is attending Beechwood Elementary. But her thoughts are with Ted Walker, her neighbor, who is serving aboard a cruiser in the South Atlantic.

Three years later, the war is still going on and Molly is in the fourth grade. Ted is still at sea, as a naval officer of the USS Albacore, a submarine in the Pacific Ocean. Orchard Road feels like the safest place on earth, but somewhere on the other side of the world, Ted and his crew are carrying out dangerous missions. No one knows when they will come home, and young Molly must find a way to live with fear during wartime.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Picture Books, World War II, Childrens, Historical

40 pages, Library Binding

First published April 24, 2006

About the author

There were already two Louises in my family when I was born: my mother and my grandmother, Nana, who lived with us when I was growing up. So early on, I was given the name Leezie. This is a name that my family still calls me. Years later, my niece was born and also named Louise. Then there were four of us with the same name! Louise is a fine name to have except that people often spell it incorrectly. Sometimes my mail is addressed to Louisa, or Louisie, or Lewis, or Lois. Leezie is also tough for people to spell. Names and their pronunciations have always interested me, so writing about a teacher named Mrs. Kempczinski was a natural thing for me to do.

I grew up in a house at the top of a steep street in Cincinnati, Ohio, the kind of street that is a big challenge when you are pedaling uphill on your bicycle. My two sisters and I used to ride our bikes down, down our street, and then to the local dimestore to buy candy bars or meet up with our friends. But coming home, we had to pedal up our long hill. (This was before mountain bikes!) Pedaling slowly up my street may be where I learned perseverance, something all writers need when they are working alone at their desks.

Writing picture books came much later—after studying history in college, getting married, and raising three children. Even though I didn't grow up to be a composer, I like to think that my picture books are almost songs because the sound of words and the poetry of my style are so important in the texts that I write. I work very hard at my desk, revising and revising and revising, trying to find just the right words that will be beautiful or fun to read.

Reviews

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the winter of 1943, when Molly Crenshaw is in second grade and her next door neighbor, Ted Walker, finishes submarine training and comes home on leave. Molly and her younger brother Sam just want to hang around all day with their real-life hero, after all, who else could help them build a naval snowman or show them how to spit shine their Sunday-best shoes.

Then, in March Ted receives his orders and learns he is heading to the war in the Pacific on a submarine called the USS Albacore. Molly and Sam begin to write weekly letters to Ted, letters that always include a drawing of the Walker's dog, Buttons. During the summer, they hang around Mrs. Walker's porch, listening to the radio. When school begins again, Molly's third grade year just flies by.

In September, 1944, Molly's fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Linsay and a few students paint a world map on one the walls of the school, including every country and all the islands in the Pacific. The map helped Molly imagine where and what Ted might be up to on that small submarine in the so, so large Pacific Ocean.

Then, two days before Christmas, Molly and Sam notice a lot of black cars parked in Mrs. Walker's driveway. Ted's Uncle Will tells them the sad news that the USS Albacore never returned from its last patrol and now, Ted is MIA- Missing in Action.

The days immediately after receiving this news drag by, but eventually life, though now different, returns to a steadier routine. Suddenly, remembering everything about Ted becomes an important memory to keep. The war finally ends in August 1945, Molly begins fifth grade, but looking at the world map still on the school wall, she begins to think about all those soldiers on both sides of the war, ally and enemy, who didn't come home, just as Ted didn't, and how stories of those other lost loved ones are passed down, "in different ways and in different voices/from family to family,/and from neighbor to friend.../the stories/that are important enough to keep.

Across the Blue Pacific is basically a home front story, told from Molly's point of view, and looking back as a adult to those intense years when the war became a reality for her in the figure of Ted Walker. It is told in Borden's well-crafted, sensitive free-verse, a style she has mastered so that Molly's story never loses its sense of poignancy and thoughtful introspection.

Parker's ink and watercolor illustrations alternate between Molly's life at home and Ted life on the submarine, and are done in a subdued, loose-line style that distances the reader (along with Molly) from the war years, but also gives those years a real sense of unsteadiness.

Across the Blue Pacific is a story that has its roots in reality, as you will discover when you read Borden's Author's Note. The real Ted Walker was an uncle whom Borden never knew, an executive officer aboard the USS Albacore. Do read the Note if you want to find out what happened to the submarine, according to the US Navy.

Across the Blue Pacific is a picture book for older readers that deals with the impact of war, loss, and grief on the life of a young girl in elementary school, and the importance of memory to keep those lost alive in our thoughts.

This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL

This review was originally posted at The Children's War

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My elementary students study WWII bit and I need picture books to help them understand better the price of this war in the people lost. This story is masterfully done where a community connects to people in the military that they are connected to and celebrate the end of the war while remembering that some of the servicemen did not return.

This is a quiet story despite the subject matter. I have it in a collection of picture books for my older students.

[(NS) Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly lives next door to Ted Walker, a U.S. serviceman in the navy, and although she and her brother, Sam, know about the war, it seems so far from their everyday lives. Their street, Orchard Road, is a safe and happy place to grow up. When Ted is home on leave, he is patient and helpful to the young children in the neighborhood. When he returns to duty, Molly writes him letters. She always includes sketches of Buttons, the Walker's dog, in the corner on each envelope. When Molly enters fourth grade, she thinks of Ted Walker every time she looks at the large map her teacher has painted on the wall. She imagines what his experiences must be like in the Pacific Ocean. Then Ted's mother, Mrs. Walker, receives the tragic news—Ted's ship is missing. When the war is over Molly says, "This is the best news in a long time, except Ted won't be coming back." And even years later, when she is grown, Molly remembers her next-door neighbor, Ted.

This book brings home the tragedy of war, and shows how people recover while always keeping the memory of the heroes alive in their hearts. This would be a good story to read to children who have loved ones serving abroad.

This story is recommended for students in third through sixth grades.

[James Govednik · Rating 2 out of 5]

This elegant picture book, for ages 10 and up, takes us into the world of Molly, and her fellow students at Beechwood Elementary School during World War II. Like other students at her school, Molly knows a serviceman—Ted Walker, her next-door neighbor. The book details Molly’s admiration of Ted as he graduates from Annapolis and serves in the US Navy in the South Atlantic. She and her friends follow the events of the war and write letters to the men and women serving. The book does a fine job of putting us in the life of a child in 1944, her days at school and around her neighborhood. The illustrations are superb, and Molly’s concern for her neighbors as they await news from Ted pulls us into the story. For all its strengths, I felt the text worked a little too hard on creating the historical setting. There’s a lot of text, and at times the pace slowed and risked losing the reader’s interest. However, students already interested in the topic will find it a worthwhile read, and many children today will relate to Molly and her concern for her neighbor, serving his country half-a-world away.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan of the illustrations - they just didn’t fit the story the way I imagined it

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for cc2 wk16..krb 3/7/17

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louis W. Borden wrote Across the Blue Pacific. This historical fiction story is about World War II, where Molly is attending Beechwood Elementary and Ted Walker, her neighbor, is serving in the South Atlantic. Orchard Road, their street, seems like a happy and safe place to grow up, but Ted and his crew are serving the country by carrying out dangerous missions on the other side of the world. No one knows when they are going to return, but Molly writes him letters when he is on duty. This story really hits home because it portrays the tragedy of war. There are many people who have loved ones overseas, protecting their country. I am included in this; I have family members and friends that have put their lives on the line in order to protect the United States. It is a very sensitive topic, but this story shows how people can survive and recover by always keeping the memory of their loved ones and the heroes alive in their hearts. I believe that this is a great story for readers, as well as a great story to be read aloud, because it is about an issue that is relevant and affecting many lives. Even though this story may seem like ancient history to some because it is about World War II, the events can still happen in everyday life. The story can promote discussion; for example, children can talk about their own families and experiences they have had with loved ones being away from home. The illustrations were great, however they did not totally stand out to me. On the other hand, I really enjoyed this story because of all of the connections I was able to make.

[CH13_ Helen Budeyskaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thi story takes place during World War II when the United States join the war. The main character Molly becomes attached to a soldier, Ted Walker who is away at sea. Ted was Molly's neighbor and he taught her many things. While Ted is at sea he becomes an naval officer. Molly's thoughts are constantly with Ted and how he is doing. Throughout the story the book shows how people are worried about him. It brings out the compassion and the feelings that many may have had during that time period. When Ted goes missing the reader can become even more farmiliar with some of the thoughts and emotions that may have been going on throughout that era.

In terms of plot, I though it was a bit weak. The story seemed to drag on and was a little slow. I do not know if this would hold a student's attention. It is a nice story; however, I do not think that there is enough happenig throughout the story to make it that interesting. Even the illustrations seemed a bit dull at times. The ending however does bring the reader back to the point of always holding on to your memomries and remembering people from the past.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memories of World War II from the perspective of Molly, a young girl living in a small town which seems to be "the safest place in the world." Her neighbor is Ted Walker, a Naval officer just out of Annapolis right before the war starts. A year or two later, he's transferred to a submarine in the Pacific and the children in Molly's class write to him each week. War still feels far away. In 1943, Ted's submarine is lost off the coast of Japan and all of a sudden, Molly learns the immediacy of war. Years later, she still remembers.

The story is written in free verse with loosely constructed watercolor pictures on each facing page.

I like the book, especially Molly's activities which mirror activities of any child today (well, not technology entertainment but school, playing with a dog, drinking lemonade, growing taller.

Maybe 3rd grade and up for reading level; younger if the child is being read to.

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although fiction, this is based on the true story of the author's uncle and the tragic loss of the submarine Albacore during World War II. The pain of uncertainty and loss is slightly muted because it is written from the point of view of a young neighbor, not a family member. But it is still a vivid story, just as meaningful today as it was 50+ years ago, beautifully illustrated in watercolor and ink by Caldecott Honor winner Robert Andrew Parker. Very good picture book for making the history of World War II personal to young children, for whom this must seem ancient history. But it is deeply personal to me because my own father was in the Coast Guard during WWII and made several trips across the Pacific as well as the Atlantic. There is an author's note at the end. The Lexile measure is 840.

[Rachel Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

title: A World War II Story: Across the Blue Pacific (informational)
author: Louise Borden
Illustrator: Robert Andrew Parker
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Date of Publication: 2006
Summary: This book is about the everyday life of a young girl during World War II. The young girls next door neighbor was in the navy. At the young girls school they write thank you notes for the service of the men in the war. It is a sad story because man in the navy dies at war. This story shows how the war affected the friends and family of the men in the war.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in the children's area, but to read to myself. At first glance it seemed like it would be poetry, the way the text was laid out. My kindergartener picked it from our pile for me to read and listened to the whole thing. It didn't have any rhyme or rhythm as I expected but it's well done. It spoke to the anxiety of waiting and loss but doesn't dwell. Life continues as is has been, even while waiting. Lovely, colorful illustrations, but in a way that is expressive, and full of life but not overly cheery. A good introduction I think to the idea of history and war.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written book that would help children with family in the military to cope with their feelings. It gives a picture of the sailors life and his feelings about brig at war, as well as the circumstances he is surrounded by.

[Amanda S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great memoir of a navy man that served in World War II and was loved dearly by family and a little girl in the neighborhood. It is a book about honor and looking up to a great role model. It is a must read!

[Audrey Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

INFORMATIONAL
I loved this book! It is so touching to read these war stories, because it is so close to home for my family. I loved the illustrations.

[Meredith Henning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violet and Matthias didn't really care for this one. The illustrations were not very pleasing and the book didn't seem to represent what the title suggests. Matthias felt that it was just okay.

[Yulidy Decena]

It's a good book to show what people felt like when the soldiers/ marines families and neighbors felt like when they were gone after the Pearl Harbor attack.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story about a girl whose neighbor is missing in action during WWII, but the illustrations were unappealing and disconnected me from the narrative.

[Madison Tumas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good picture book for younger students, though it uses an old war students who have deployed parents may be able to relate.