This is the story of Catherine Leroy, one of America’s first female photojournalists to cover the Vietnam War. In 1967, at the age of just 23, she traveled to Saigon and began documenting everything she saw – from American soldiers fighting in jungles to Vietnamese villagers living in fear of bombings. her work was published in major magazines such as Life and National Geographic, and helped bring attention to the human cost of war.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for teen and young adult readers who are interested in learning about the Vietnam War from a photojournalist’s perspective. It provides an intimate look at the experiences of Catherine Leroy, who risked her life to capture photos of war-torn villages and American soldiers on the battlefield.
Pros :
- This book tells the story of a female photojournalist who documented the Vietnam War.
- It is published by an imprint of National Geographic, so it has high credibility.
- The back matter includes additional resources such as photographs and an author’s note.
Cons :
- The author spends too much time discussing Leroy’s personal life and not enough describing her photos and their impact.
- Some sections of the book are slow to read or even boring.
- It would have been helpful if more images were included in order to better illustrate Leroy’s work.
Learn more about the author
Mary Cronk Farrell is an award-winning journalist and the author of several books for teens and young adults, including Close-Up on War. She has written extensively about women in history, service members and their families, social justice issues, and contemporary teen culture. Mary lives near Seattle with her family.
Reader Reviews
“This is an incredible story of a pioneer female photojournalist and her work during the Vietnam War. Farrell does an excellent job bringing Leroy to life, showing her courage and determination in the face of great danger. The photographs included are stunning, making this book a must-read for any history or photography enthusiast.”
“In Farrell’s deft telling, Catherine Leroy becomes more than a pioneering female journalist; she is transformed into an emblem of our common humanity.”
“I picked up this book expecting a dry history of Catherine Leroy’s time in Vietnam, but what I found was far more moving. Mary Cronk Farrell has done an incredible job bringing to life the experiences of one of America’s pioneering female journalists, and her account is as harrowing as it is inspiring. Anyone interested in war photography, women’s history or just a good read will find something to love in Close-Up on War.”
“An inspiring and powerful tale of one young woman’s fight to photograph the harsh realities of war, Close-Up on War is a must-read for any history or photography enthusiast.”
