War in the Ring

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Studying the world wars this year has opened our eyes to many different ways that the wars affected everyday people.  From the loss of life, absences of loved ones, changing demographics in the work force, and more.  War in the Ring introduced us to how two men ended up with the weight of a country (each their own) as they entered the ring.  This is our review.

From the Cover

Both Joe Louis and Max Schmeling were born into poverty and used boxing as a way up the economic ladder, becoming icons in their home countries in the process. In America, Joe was a symbol of hope, especially to blacks yearning to participate in the American dream.  In Germany, Max was a symbol of the supposed superiority of the Aryan race. The two men climbed through the ropes with the weight of their countries on their shoulders – and only one would leave victorious. 

The battles between Joe and Max still resonate today.  War in the Ring is the story of these two out-sized heroes, their lives, their careers, and the global conflict surrounding them.

What you Get:

10 chapters, non-fiction, bound up as a trade paperback, geared for upper elementary through middle school. 

Focuses around the lives of two men, Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, two men from opposite sides of a global conflict.  They need to deal with the realities of where they live… for Joe that means dealing with racism, for Max dealing with poverty.  

Did you know they met twice in conflict?   The first round went to Schmeling, the second, well….You’d have to read the book for yourself! 🙂

This is an easy book to read aloud with pictures clear enough to show a lad across a table. I received an ARC copy so not all the images were available to me, nothing I did receive was objectionable. Just images of the men and the times they lived in. 

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore when author’s include source notes.  Breaking down where they found information and where, if needed, they changed to the story for readability or to follow one historical source over another.  I always find it fascinating reading. My son is less convinced about this. 🙂

Anyways, we learned a lot about both men.  The book was not merely about the battle, but about everything leading up to and beyond the battle.  We learned so much about how the hopes and dreams of both nations weighed on the men and affected their decisions.

War in the Ring: Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, and the Fight between America and Hitler. 
John Florio & Ouisie Shaprio
Roaring Brook Press
trade paperback, 208 pages
10-14 years
Boxing, WW2, Joe Louis,
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.