5 stars

Look. Erin Entrada Kelly is on that list of writers whose work I'll queue without even knowing so much as a synopsis. It was a special treat to read this nonfiction debut, which is just as successful and compelling as all of the EEK fiction I love!

My favorite aspect of children's nonfiction is the "are you smarter than a fifth grader?" vibe, wherein I realize that I know little to no material in a book designed for a much younger audience. I absolutely got that kind of joy from this read.

The subject of this book is Joey Guerrero, and this individual faced incredible challenges but then went on to lead a life that seems right out of the movies. I really enjoyed learning about this in real time, so I'm intentionally leaving out details for others who are coming in fresh. It is ALWAYS a good time to focus on the stories of marginalized people, but I think we need that more than ever right now. This book will go a long way in helping the younger generation understand that how someone looks and whether someone is socially shunned has truly nothing to do with their self-worth or the ways in which they can contribute to society as a whole.

Yep. I really enjoyed this one, and I hope that this is the first of many nonfiction efforts from Kelly.

As a homeschooling mom, I think my kids would enjoy this book. My oldest son who is a World War 2 fanactic will especially enjoy it.
Joey’s store is an amazing one. How she survived so many terrible things but always kept her serving heart is beautiful. She is a testament to women everyone.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own .

Such a fascinating topic! I loved learning more about Joey Guerrero's life, Hansen's Disease, the Philippines, Catholicism, Allied spy during World War II.

The author masterfully weaves together the multiple threads of Guerrero's life: her early hardships as an orphan, her daring espionage work during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, her subsequent quarantine in Louisiana, and her later achievements in education and public service. What stands out is not just the extraordinary nature of her accomplishments, but the indomitable spirit with which she approached each challenge.
Particularly compelling is Guerrero's refusal to be defined by her illness or the discrimination she faced. Instead of accepting the limitations society placed on her, she pursued education in her 40s and joined the Peace Corps, demonstrating that it's never too late to reinvent oneself or serve others.