   | At last she stood : how Joey Guerrero spied, survived, and fought for freedom Author: Kelly, Erin Entrada | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
A biography of the legendary and inspiring Josefina "Joey" Guerrero: World War II spy, Filipina guerrilla fighter, war hero, Medal of Freedom recipient, leprosy survivor, teacher, and peacemaker.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (+) (05/02/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 02/17/2025 Kelly (On Again, Awkward Again) excavates the life of a brave, little-known Filipina who helped the Allied Forces win WWII while living with Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. As a devout nine-year-old Catholic in Lucban, Josefina Veluya (1917-1996) pretends she’s Joan of Arc, and wonders, "What would it be like to be a tiny girl in a giant war, surrounded by people who underestimated you?" At 16, orphaned following her parents’ deaths, Veluya develops tuberculosis and winds up in Manila for treatment; cured, she later meets and marries medical student Renato Guerrero. In 1941, her chronic fever, skin lesions, and joint pains are diagnosed as leprosy. As Japanese forces invade the Philippines, she becomes involved in the guerrilla movement, first spying on Japanese soldiers, then carrying a critical map 40 miles through Japanese military checkpoints to aid in liberating war prisoners. Though details of the subject’s childhood are slim, Kelly recreates vivid moments throughout Veluya’s life, interspersing historical context surrounding key figures, leprosy treatment, and Filipino history. The result is a handy primer for those interested in the period, and a bolstering entreaty for readers to seek out more information. Ages 8-12. (May) - Copyright 2025
School Library Journal - 05/02/2025 Gr 4–8—Kelly's biography reveals the extraordinary life of Josefina "Joey" Guerrero. Despite considering herself ordinary, Guerrero was anything but. At 22, she contracted Hansen's disease (leprosy) yet remained steadfast in her Catholic faith and unwavering in her commitment to serve. Short in stature but mighty in courage, Guerrero's friendly nature and bilingual abilities in Tagalog and English made her an ideal operative for the U.S. and Philippine resistance forces during WWII. She transported classified information through enemy lines while aiding wounded soldiers, earning the Medal of Freedom from President Truman. Post-war, misconceptions about her illness forced Guerrero into hiding and then to the prisonlike Tala Leprosarium near Manila, which she helped transform into a sanctuary. Later, she moved to Carville, the only U.S. facility for Hansen's disease patients, where treatment lasted 10 years instead of the expected two. Despite receiving American citizenship, persistent discrimination compelled Guerrero to adopt a new identity and conceal her history. Kelly's meticulously researched work provides rich context on Philippine colonization, WWII, and Hansen's disease, complemented by maps, historical photographs, and illustrations. The cover artfully depicts Guerrero's profile surrounded by Filipino flora and fauna, a sun resembling Japan's military emblem, and symbols representing her espionage work. Grayscale illustrations, some based on photos, also complement the text. VERDICT This compelling biography belongs in every library, enhancing instruction and research on women's history, WWII, the Philippines, and Hansen's disease.—Ruth Quiroa - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
