William Wells Brown (1814? 84) was uncertain of his own birthday because he was born a slave, near Lexington, Kentucky. He managed to escape to Ohio, a free state, in 1834. Obtaining work on steamboats, he assisted many other slaves to escape across Lake Erie to Canada. In 1849, having achieved prominence in the American anti-slavery movement, he left for Europe, both to lecture against slavery and also to gain an education for his daughters. He stayed in Europe until 1854, since the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 had made it possible that he could be taken back into slavery if he returned. Meanwhile, he had begun to write both fiction and non-fiction, and this account of his travels in Europe, prefaced by a short biography, was published in 1852. Brown was able to return to the United States in 1854, when British friends paid for his freedom."

Teenage Warrior is primarily about the effect WWII had on "baby brothers" who watched older brothers leave home to serve their country. Being left behind, feeling useless, and all the normal frustrations of early teens. Bill became a "teenage delinquent" before the term was coined. He wrangled his way into the Navy at 15 and soon had doubts that he could handle it. Remembering his Dad's words, "I'll help you get in but won't help you get out," he served 32 months during the war. 26 months were spent at sea and 12 months were spent in combat zones. The WWII tales in this book vary from "serious" to humorous. Bill survived the explosion of the Chicago Naval Ammunition Depot, hurricane Cobra, a surprise Japanese "Betty" bombing of B29's at Tinian, and a "psycho ward" on Roi Namur Island. The book is full of surprises as Bill remembers some of the good times he had even in the face of battle. Bill became a WWII Veteran, same as his four older brothers.

Teenage Warrior is primarily about the effect WWII had on "baby brothers" who watched older brothers leave home to serve their country. Being left behind, feeling useless, and all the normal frustrations of early teens. Bill became a "teenage delinquent" before the term was coined. He wrangled his way into the Navy at 15 and soon had doubts that he could handle it. Remembering his Dad's words, "I'll help you get in but won't help you get out," he served 32 months during the war. 26 months were spent at sea and 12 months were spent in combat zones. The WWII tales in this book vary from "serious" to humorous. Bill survived the explosion of the Chicago Naval Ammunition Depot, hurricane Cobra, a surprise Japanese "Betty" bombing of B29's at Tinian, and a "psycho ward" on Roi Namur Island. The book is full of surprises as Bill remembers some of the good times he had even in the face of battle. Bill became a WWII Veteran, same as his four older brothers.