Synopsis
Throughout history, prisoners of all kinds have tried to escape They may have been criminals in "escape proof" prisons, prisoners of war who longed to return home, or political prisoners held because of what they believed
Children's Literature
Prisoners are not always people who are guilty of committing crimes. Some are soldiers—or even civilians—captured and kept as prisoners of war. Regardless, they are all confined to small areas against their will, and many spend their time planning to escape. This book describes some of the most daring and dangerous escapes of all time. Although the captives may not be well-known, their stories are amazing. For example, Henri Charriere was imprisoned for committing a murder that he denied. He escaped every prison he was put into, including one on a small island—and eventually proved to authorities that he was, in fact, innocent. Roger Bushnell was a prisoner of war who helped lead a tunneling escape from a German prison camp. Although courageous and daring, Roger's escape ultimately was not successful; he and many others were recaptured and put to death. This interesting book also depicts the escapes of the Dalia Lamas from Tibet, John Morris and the Anglin brothers from Alcatraz, and Dith Pran from the atrocities of war torn Cambodia. Filled with many fascinating illustrations, photographs, maps, and quotes, this informative and engaging book will certainly intrigue even the most reluctant readers. It is part of the "Difficult & Dangerous" series. Reviewer: Denise Daley