From award-winning journalist and children's book author Mary Cronk Farrell comes the inspiring and fascinating story of the woman who gave a human face to the Vietnam War. Close-Up on War tells the story of French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the war's few woman photographers, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Although she had no formal photographic training and had never traveled more than a few hundred miles from Paris before, Leroy left home at age 21 to travel to Vietnam and document the faces of war. Despite being told that women didn't belong in a "man's world," she was cool under fire, gravitated toward the thickest battles, went along on the soldiers' slogs through the heat and mud of the jungle, crawled through rice paddies, and became the only official photojournalist to parachute into combat with American soldiers. Leroy took striking photos that gave America no choice but to look at the realities of war-showing what it did to people on both sides-from wounded soldiers to civilian casualties.
Later, Leroy was gravely wounded from shrapnel, but that didn't keep her down more than a month. When captured by the North Vietnamese in 1968, she talked herself free after photographing her captors, scoring a cover story in Life magazine. A recipient of the George Polk Award, one of the most prestigious awards in journalism, Leroy was one of the most well-known photographers in the world during her time, and her legacy of bravery and compassion endures today.
Farrell interviewed people who knew Leroy, as well as military personnel and other journalists who covered the war. In addition to a foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnot, the book includes a preface, author's note, endnotes, bibliography, timeline, and index.
From award-winning journalist and children's book author Mary Cronk Farrell comes the inspiring and fascinating story of the woman who gave a human face to the Vietnam War. Close-Up on War tells the story of French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the war's few woman photographers, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Although she had no formal photographic training and had never traveled more than a few hundred miles from Paris before, Leroy left home at age 21 to travel to Vietnam and document the faces of war. Despite being told that women didn't belong in a "man's world," she was cool under fire, gravitated toward the thickest battles, went along on the soldiers' slogs through the heat and mud of the jungle, crawled through rice paddies, and became the only official photojournalist to parachute into combat with American soldiers. Leroy took striking photos that gave America no choice but to look at the realities of war-showing what it did to people on both sides-from wounded soldiers to civilian casualties.
Later, Leroy was gravely wounded from shrapnel, but that didn't keep her down more than a month. When captured by the North Vietnamese in 1968, she talked herself free after photographing her captors, scoring a cover story in Life magazine. A recipient of the George Polk Award, one of the most prestigious awards in journalism, Leroy was one of the most well-known photographers in the world during her time, and her legacy of bravery and compassion endures today.
Farrell interviewed people who knew Leroy, as well as military personnel and other journalists who covered the war. In addition to a foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnot, the book includes a preface, author's note, endnotes, bibliography, timeline, and index.
The incredible story of Catherine Leroy, one of the few woman photographers during the Vietnam War, told by an award-winning journalist and children's author
Mary Cronk Farrell is an award-winning journalist and children’s book writer. Her books have won a SPUR Award for Best Juvenile Fiction about the American West and been honored on lists such as the Notable Social Studies Books for Young People, Bank Street College’s List of Best Children’s Books, and the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens. Her journalistic work has also received numerous awards for excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists and two Emmy nominations. Farrell frequently speaks at schools, libraries, conferences, and women’s and family workshops. Her books include Pure Grit, Irena’sChildren, and Standing Up Against Hate. She lives in Spokane, Washington.
**STARRED REVIEW**
"This excellently written account will leave readers marveling at
Leroy’s determination, bravery, and disregard for her own safety as
she documented what was happening in Vietnam. A riveting biography
that puts an overlooked, award-winning female photojournalist into
historical context."
*Kirkus Review*
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Smooth, engaging writing nimbly avoids the doldrums of
stats-saturated reportage, taking a human-interest approach to the
war and putting readers directly in the action beside Leroy. .
.Source notes, image credits, and a bibliography speak to Farrell’s
diligent research into this inspiring but under-recognized woman’s
life."
*Booklist*
**STARRED REVIEW**
"This is really three books in one—it tells of the work of Leroy,
describes the daily workings of war correspondents of that era,
and gives a glimpse into life during the Vietnam War—excelling at
each. History buffs looking for a personal account of the war will
enjoy this book."
*School Library Journal*
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Well-contextualized. . .Offering an intimate glimpse of the
photographer’s personal observations and needs amid discussions of
the war and of Leroy’s actions in Vietnam."
*Publishers Weekly*
Background on the course of the war during Leroy’s three years
there is provided, and the inclusion of a raft of Leroy’s
photographs ably convey information beyond history texts.
*The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books*
Leroy is not as well-known as her male counterparts in Vietnam, but
Farrell's gripping biography has the potential to put a significant
dent in that discrepancy. She brings her audience face-to-face with
the determination, compassion and fortitude of this groundbreaking
woman. Readers who meet Leroy through Close-Up on War will not
forget her.
*Shelf-awareness*
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