World War II Close Up: They Battled in Blizzards

In the dead of winter, deep in the Forest of Ardennes, as the devastation of World War II drew to a close, a desperate Nazi army launches a surprise attack on Allied forces in the early morning hours of December 16th.

As the ground is blown apart by mortar shells and an endless curtain of bullets rains down upon them, the mostly young, inexperienced, and exhausted Allied soldiers must take up arms against the Nazis. Blinded by dangerous blizzards and hampered by the rough terrain, they fight to hold their positions until reinforcements arrive.

But deadly weather conditions and the suprise attack make matters difficult, and soon, the Allied forces are overwhelmed -- outmanned, outgunned, and underprepared.

As winter continues and the Battle of the Bulge rages on, it will take an unprecedented combination of determination, grit, and unimaginable courage to thwart the Nazis''s plans and defeat them, once and for all.

Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson transports readers to the blistering cold of Belgium''s Ardennes Forest with this daring examination of one of the most infamous battles in history. Drawing on the true accounts of soldiers and nurses and others who lived to tell the tale, and featuring rare photographs, Deborah Hopkinson seamlessly weaves together the stories of the men and women who risked everything. They Battled in Blizzards is sure to thrill every history fan!

Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.