Book Tour – No Surrender Soldier

A great book deserves a great book tour!

Most of the book tours I have seen include the author being interviewed, either in person or on a blog. We learn a little about the author’s thought process, get a glimpse inside the crafting of the story.  Fascinating and intriguing for sure.

My idea is a little different. How about a satisfied reader taking the book on a tour? Today’s subject : “No Surrender Soldier” by Christine Kohler.

To begin the tour, I thought about the setting of the story.  On the Pacific island of Guam in the early 1970’s, the wounds of the Second World War and the time of Japanese occupation were still fresh. Now, some of the young men are fighting a new war, in Viet Nam. The author of this book, Christine Kohler,  tells the fascinating true story of a Japanese soldier who was discovered after  hiding in a cave for over 25 years after the end of World War II.

I consulted with a friend who had lived in Guam at the same time as the author did. His memories, and his pictures gave me a much better idea of what life  was like when the lives of the old soldier and the young man who found him  intersected. First stop for “No Surrender Soldier” and I:  learning about Guam. No

My friend gave me a very good feeling for the place, and it’s people. They have been overwhelmed by outsiders remaking their island nation, as a military post, and a modern Americanized place where the outsiders can feel more at home. They struggle to keep their own culture alive, just as so many of us do.

The family in our story runs a gift shop aimed at tourists, where they sell items that may or may not have originated in Guam. Made in China is not a problem for most people, since they will treasure anything they buy here as a memento of their Pacific Island vacation.

For Kiko, the hero of our story, his is a life filled with normal teen things. He goes to school, spends time with friends, and worships with his family.

But in a beautiful  place like this, what  boy could resist exploring the world around him? He spends a lot of time outside, even taking his grandfather with him when he is in charge of watching after the old man.

 

The excitement builds as Kiko and his friends play baseball in an area next to the deep dark jungle.

Their parents have warned that evil lurks in the dense underbrush. Rumors of strange, ghostly figures meld with memories of actual atrocities that occurred when the Japanese occupied the island. All of this mystery only serves to make a curious young boy want to venture deeper into the unknown.

Without providing spoilers, I hope I have piqued your interest in this book. It reaches across the generations to help us reconcile the past while dealing with the present, and hoping for a better future.

The last tour stop for our new friend, “No Surrender Soldier” is at the monument in my hometown that reminds us of how the Second World War and the Vietnam War affected us all. Don’t forget, there were humans involved, on every side. Their story is our story. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all ages.  Hope you enjoy  it as much as I did! 

Comment below for a chance to win your own copy of “No Surrender Soldier.”    (fine print note: Contest is only open to the Continental United States)

 

 

While you are waiting, take a look at Christine Kohler’s website, it’s full of lots of  great information about this book, and everything else Christine is up to!

http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/