In The Long March Home, Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee pair up to write a historical fiction piece based on the real-life experiences of those who experienced the Bataan Death March. This World War II era novel combines the stories of many soldiers into the experiences of three friends serving from the same home town. Together they face the unimaginable cruelty and abuse inflicted by their captors and the horrific travesties of war.  The authors provide closing remarks letting the readers know which stories were accurate and the few liberties taken with timelines and locations.

The tales revealed in this book are intense emotionally and provide readers with glimpses into the lives of the soldiers who were fought in this part of the world during this time. The read is difficult and especially poignant for those who personally know someone who was there. The authors do not sugarcoat the experiences, but manage to write in such a way that readers understand the severity of the circumstances without having to provide every single gory and graphic detail. Don’t misunderstand, there is plenty of gore and descriptions of mistreatment, abuse and torture, but the authors clearly restrained themselves in providing details.

One interesting aspect of the book is how one of the main characters, Jimmy Propfield, experiences flashbacks that provide rich detail to the backstory of the three friends. It is these flashbacks that really draw the reader in emotionally and provide a depth of understanding to their motives and actions. Reading this book will renew one’s gratitude and patriotic respect for the armed forces and all that they do to protect their country and families. This is a book that illustrates just how important it is to love and support those around us.

Review of an Advance Reader Copy provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  2 religious exclamations, 2 mild obscenities, 3 derogatory names.

Violence/Gore: Many scenes depicting wartime events such as bombings and shootings; characters are present for many scenes of dismemberment and fatal injuries; characters are beaten, stabbed, starved at the hands of enemy soldiers; a character reports being beaten by his father; there are many descriptions of bloody injuries and infections.

Sex/Nudity: Characters refer to a prophylactic kit, which is used after a person engages in sexual activity; references are made to prostitutes and venereal diseases; report of a character running around with women.

Mature Subjects:  

Wartime events, prisoners of war, abusive parents, death of close family and friends.

Drug/Alcohol Use:

Many references to characters drinking beer and a character becoming drunk.