The Childrens Crusade

This was the type of book you could not put down after reading just a few chapters. We were surprised at the prejudice shown during this period in our history. Matt being part American Indian kept him from being treated fairly. Hopefully, this would not happen today. We were amazed at the hardships endured by our very young troops and the amount of spunk they showed in overcoming them. For boys so young this was amazing.
The bravery shown by these young men was also amazing. The hardships of being on their own away from family and friends hit us. Also, the intelligence and bravery was outstanding. The fortitude shown by our nation during this trying time was heartwarming.
The steady nerves of those brave young men in the face of the horrors of war - seeing your friends blown to pieces in front of you and still being able to carry out your mission left us spellbound.
ByTomon
Cheryl Pula created a very entertaining account of the boys who eventually became the men of the B-17 crews. I took my father-in-law to a presentation that the author gave at a public library. Even though he was a B-24 pilot, he found the presentation accurate and interesting, which led me to get the book for him as a gift. However, I started reading it first and found myself reluctant to put it down. I attached myself to the characters, their personal lives, and their adventures from training to battle. The bomber crews were certainly courageous.
I can't wait to start the 2nd book on the Ragged Irregulars of the Eighth

5Amazing!
ByMatthew Lynchon
This book is amazing! I bought two just to keep one in mint condition! A must read for anyone that cares about war or planes.

5Fantastic Book
ByDeniseon
I was given this book to read and at first I was very skeptical. I usually do not like to read about history or war stories. This book captivated me from the first page. I couldn't put it down. When I got to the end I was sad and now I can't wait for the next one. I would recommend this book to everyone. It reads easy and keeps your interest. Who knows you might even learn a few things like I did.

4A mighty fine read
ByDennison
Yes kids, it's true! It's actually possible for a woman to write a marvelously researched and thoroughly engrossing story set during the early years of the Eighth Air Force's B-17 bombing campaign in Europe at the height of World War II. Pula's first book in this series begins in early 1942 as the future pilot and co-pilot of the B-17 "Full House", Jack Harrington and Matt Moore, meet during their intensive Heavy Bomber Training at Kearny Army Airfield, in Kearny Nebraska, and become best friends.

The book takes the reader, along with Jack and Matt, by B-17, to England, where they meet the rest of the brave and very young men who will be serving as the ten man crew of the "Full House". After their months of intensive training, the novice crew of the "Full House" must prove themselves worthy to be part of a daring daylight bombing campaign which, before their arrival, had been suffering an 80% casualty rate. Who lives? Who dies? Read the book and find out!

I had the pleasure of reading an earlier version of this book, several years ago, and I enjoyed it back then. Pula's research is extensive and it shows throughout the book as we get to experience the shameful racism still evident in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII and learn about the phenomenal amount of work involved to train and equip a B-17 bomber crew of ten men, all of whom were under the age of twenty-five. The events depicted in this are true and happened to people interviewed by Pula, for her research, who were there back then.

"The Children's Crusade" taught me more about B-17s and the men who flew them, than I ever thought possible. Pula nicely captures the ceaseless tension of an actual combat mission and the book ends with a grand cliffhanger leaving me eagerly waiting for book two.