Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb (Nonfiction World War I)

The Grand Escape: The greatest prison breakout of the 20th Century by Neal Bascomb 

Captured. Probably one of the most dreaded words or events that could befall a World War I soldier or pilot. After all, it meant time away from the war effort, time away from family and the ability to communicate regularly with them, time away from life in general. The waiting and wondering and the petty and overt cruelties suffered by the Allied captured men by the Germans day in and day out, took its toll on the most hardened souls. This book describes what life was like for the thousands who were kept behind enemy lines, but  focuses on a few that were kept at a place called Holzminden. This camp was where many of the Allied pilots were housed, and most of them had already tried to escape from other camps. One made it as far as what he thought was neutral Netherlands, only to realize that there was a German town with the same name, just before the border. Still amazing attempts were made to tunnel under the fences and get to freedom.

Recommended 7th Grade and up.