3.5 stars. Kids who love WWII and/or Gratz will love this book. Gratz is great at writing quick-paced survival historical fiction and this is no exception to his current cannon. I docked half a star for the use of the word "jap" throughout the book as though the author explains it as necessary, I strongly disagree. I believe this will introduce a hateful term to kids who might have been otherwise unaware of it. There is a time in the book when a character uses modern-day slang for something but I was driving and listening and cannot recall which part it was and what word. If you find it, let me know.