Phantoms In The Snow - Hardcover

Duble, Kathleen Benner

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0545197708 ISBN 13: 9780545197700

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2011

Synopsis

In this gripping journey, a fifteen-year-old pacifist must decide what he believes as he faces the reality of World War II.

The year is 1944, and fifteen-year-old Noah Garrett's parents have died from smallpox. Without any other family nearby, Noah is sent to live with his uncle, whom he has never met, in Camp Hale, Colorado. There is one small problem with this decision: Noah has been raised a pacifist, and Camp Hale is a U.S. military base for a little-known division of winter warfare soldiers called Phantoms. Can a boy who's never seen snow and doesn't believe in war survive among these soldiers?
Noah's struggle to resolve his upbringing with the horrors of World War II into a way of life he can believe in takes him on an incredible and riveting journey from the training camp to the frontlines of battle. Based on historical events, the story of Noah and the Phantoms of the Tenth Mountain Division is one of courage and conviction, brotherhood, and the joy in living.

About this title

About the Author:

Kathleen Benner Duble is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author of many historical novels for children. Her books include THE SACRIFICE, BRAVE ZULU, SAMANTHA!, HEARTS OF IRON, and QUEST. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and their two daughters.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

From Phantoms in the Snow

Noah grinned and took a step forward on his skis, swayed a bit, tried adjusting, and fell hard.

His uncle let out a loud laugh.

Noah frowned, the excitement over learning to ski lessening slightly with the embarrassment of falling so incredibly quickly and the uncomfortable feeling of the seat of his pants growing suddenly wet and cold.

His uncle laughed even harder. "Here, let's try again."

He pulled Noah to his feet once more and held him still until he was sure Noah was balanced.

Noah felt awkward, just standing there, afraid to move. In the pictures he'd seen, skiing had looked easy, but the long wooden boards strapped to his feet made Noah feel unwieldy. He shifted his weight to try and get more comfortable, but as he did so, the skis suddenly started to slide out from under him. And he began to move down the slope.

"Turn your skis into the hill," his uncle cried out as he saw Noah begin to slip farther down the mountain, "into the hill, boy!"

Noah tried to pound the skis into the snow on the mountain as his uncle had instructed, but instead, he began to pick up speed.

"Help!" Noah managed to shout through the fear that was now thick in his throat.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0545197708
• ISBN 13: 9780545197700
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240