Told in her own words, here is the true story of a girl who posed as a boy during World War II — and dared to speak up for her fellow prisoners of war.
With the Japanese army poised to invade their Indonesian island in 1942, Rita la Fontaine’s family knew that they and the other Dutch and Dutch-Indonesian residents would soon become prisoners of war. Fearing that twelve-year-old Rita would be forced to act as a "comfort woman" for the Japanese soldiers, the family launched a desperate plan to turn Rita into "Rick," cutting her hair short and dressing her in boy’s clothes. Rita’s aptitude for languages earned her a position as translator for the commandant of the prisoner camp, and for the next three years she played a dangerous game of disguise while advocating against poor conditions, injustice, and torture. Sixty-five years later, Rita describes a war experience like no other — a remarkable tale of integrity, fortitude, and honor.
Back matter includes a glossary.
- ISBN10 0763633291
- ISBN13 9780763633295
- Publish Date 14 August 2007
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 2 June 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Candlewick Press,U.S.
- Edition 2nd ed.
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 384
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780763633295