Description
A biography of Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian who was one of the six Marines to raise the United States flag on Iwo Jima during World War II, an event immortalized by Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph.
Growing up on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona, Ira Hayes was a quiet, shy boy. He never wanted to be the center of attention, and at school, he felt lonely and out of place.
By the time Ira was in his late teens, World War II was raging. When the United States called its men to arms, Ira answered by joining the Marine Corps. He believed it was his duty to fight honorably for his country, and with his Marine buddies by his side, Ira finally felt as if he belonged. Eventually they were sent to the tiny Japanese island of Iwo Jima, where a chance event and an extraordinary photograph catapulted Ira to national awareness and transformed his life forever.
Filled with all the patriotism and tragedy of wartime and its afteraffects, Quiet Hero is the story of one person's courage in the face of both military and personal battles. It is a poignant tribute to Ira Hayes.
Product Details
| Publisher | Lee & Low Books |
| Publish Date | September 01, 2006 |
| Pages | 32 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781600604270 |
| Dimensions | 10.5 X 8.8 X 0.1 inches | 0.3 pounds |
About the Author
S.D. Nelson is an award-winning illustrator, whose work includes Lee & Low's Crazy Horse's Vision, Jim Thorpe's Bright Path, and Quiet Hero. He is also the author and illustrator of many picture book stories inspired by the traditions of his Lakota heritage--including Gift Horse, winner of the Parents' Choice Award, and The Star People, an Oppenheim Gold Award winner. A former middle school art teacher, Nelson is now a full-time artist whose paintings are held in both private and public collections. He is of Lakota (Sioux) descent and lives with his wife in Chandler, Arizona. Visit him online at sdnelson.net.
Reviews
"The writing is clear and avoids fictionalized thoughts or dialogue. Soft, well-composed acrylic paintings support the text. Nelson cleverly obscures the faces of the soldiers in battle, emphasizing their anonymity, conveying the fact that any one of them could have been in Hayes's position, and underscoring his struggle to accept attention that he believed to be undeserved... A satisfying read for those in search of background on the iconic photograph, families looking for a patriotic story, and students seeking material on minority Americans." -- School Library Journal
"Stationed in the Pacific, Ira, always 'an honorable warrior, ' was nonetheless often frightened. He was also one of six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima, an act that singularly thrust him into the popular imagination as Americans searched for heroes. Nelson captures this duality with a title that signals a private man and mural-like illustrations that honor an event that has taken on a mythic dimension." -- The Horn Book
"Several spreads dynamically capture the fury of war, and the text is readable and informative. The author's note provides a bit more information about this well-known military moment." -- Booklist
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