World War II Close Up: They Battled in Blizzards

Award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson brings to life the stories of the men who fought in World War II's Battle of the Bulge, attacked without warning, weathering deadly blizzards, and facing an enemy who had nothing to lose. Perfect for fans of the I Survived series!

In the dead of winter, deep in the Forest of Ardennes, as the devastation of World War II drew to a close, a desperate Nazi army launches a surprise attack on Allied forces in the early morning hours of December 16th.

As the ground is blown apart by mortar shells and an endless curtain of bullets rains down upon them, the mostly young, inexperienced, and exhausted Allied soldiers must take up arms against the Nazis. Blinded by dangerous blizzards and hampered by the rough terrain, they fight to hold their positions until reinforcements arrive.

But deadly weather conditions and the suprise attack make matters difficult, and soon, the Allied forces are overwhelmed -- outmanned, outgunned, and underprepared.

As winter continues and the Battle of the Bulge rages on, it will take an unprecedented combination of determination, grit, and unimaginable courage to thwart the Nazis's plans and defeat them, once and for all.

Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson transports readers to the blistering cold of Belgium's Ardennes Forest with this daring examination of one of the most infamous battles in history. Drawing on the true accounts of soldiers and nurses and others who lived to tell the tale, and featuring rare photographs, Deborah Hopkinson seamlessly weaves together the stories of the men and women who risked everything. They Battled in Blizzards is sure to thrill every history fan!

Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Publisher: Scholastic Focus
Published: 09/02/2025
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.88lbs
Size: 8.43h x 5.59w x 0.79d
ISBN: 9781338882360
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2025

About the Author
Deborah Hopkinson is the highly acclaimed author of thrilling, accessible, and compelling works of fiction and nonfiction for every reader. She has written over forty award-winning books, including World War II Close Up: They Saved the Stallions and They Battled in Blizzards; Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist and Sibert Honor Book; D-Day: The World War II Invasion That Changed History; We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport, which was a Kids' Book Choice Award Nominee and a Sydney Taylor Notable Book; NCTE/Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, We Must Not Forget; Race Against Death, which School Library Journal called "impactful" in a starred review; and her series for Grades 2-5, The Deadliest, which are action-packed, photo-filled nonfiction titles about disasters throughout history, and the rollicking novel The Plot to Kill a Queen. Deborah lives outside Portland, Oregon.