Heartbreaking true story of young WWll pilots and the courage of their family through it all

This is the compelling review of What Leora Never Knew: A Granddaughter’s Quest for Answers by author and photojournalist David LaBelle:

“When I finished reading What Leora Never Knew, I didn’t know whether to clap or cry. Internally, I did both. Knowing the details of what happened to each young pilot was sobering and sad. Yet, as truth often brings, there is a comforting peace in knowing the details about those we love and have lost.

“Like the Joads in Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, we are introduced to the dreams, hardships and heartbreaks of Clabe and Leora Wilson and their children. After just a few pages, they feel like family, and the letters Joy Kidney recovered and shared, were written to us. And unlike fictional tales, these are true stories of love and courage of average Americans in the shadow of war and depression. A tireless researcher, Kidney has an unusual gift for sorting through thousands of letters, interviews and government documents and then weaving a story so personal it is as if we are sitting by a wood stove in winter listening to her tell it.

“I recommend you start at the beginning with Leora’s Letters and read each book in the order they were written.”

Photojournalist David LaBelle is the author of the poignant Bridges and Angels: The Story of Ruth, as well as several books on photography. Please have a look at his website.

He will teach a workshop next month at the Cedar Falls Christian Writer’s Conference.