Overview

"". . . a vibrant picture of early 20th-century life [that] will appeal to readers who appreciate stories of immigration, war, family bonds, and the search for identity. . . . a heartfelt narrative that honors memory while confronting history."" - Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite "". . . a powerful and poignant narrative . . . skillfully blending historical context with raw emotion . . . detailed with a sincere humility to it. . . . a unique perspective on the delicate balance between familial loyalty and personal identity, making this book a thoughtful read that leans into ideology, family, and national loyalty."" -Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite "". . . an absolutely fascinating book. . . . Rudy Jensen writes with feeling, compassion, and honesty. He made me feel like I was there with him as he defended his country. And, although his interactions with his father were often heartbreaking, they provide an in-depth look at a situation that others also must have gone through. I highly recommend this excellent book."" -Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite It was 1923. Rudy Jensen was only two years old when his mother died and his father Carl-a seafaring man-left him with a loving caregiver. Gone for months at a time, Carl was as complex as the feelings Rudy had toward him: he could at once be gruff and loving, determined and aimless. But the return from one of his trips brought a suprise: a new wife, and the loving mother Rudy had longed for. Soon after, the three of them set out from Germany to begin a new life in America. Barely making ends meet with his father's late-night drinking and gambling, Rudy's family lived in stark contrast to the powerful and wealthy of their Washington DC neighbors. Yet curiously, Carl-in his job at a luxury hotel-served J. Edgar Hoover his daily lunch and knew FBI agents and senators by their first names. But by 1941, when England and France declared war against his family's homeland of Germany, overnight the Jensen family became designated ""Enemy Aliens."" With that status, an official investigation of their family was initiated by the FBI. Chronicling Rudy's own role in the US military-within forces that would fight his parents' beloved Germany during World War II-and the questions that percolated around Carl's true identity until after his death, Father and Son is a compelling and poignant depiction of Rudy's life from his unconventional childhood to his conflicted young years, from wartime airman to unlikely educator, culminating in a bombshell end.

Full Product Details

9781736460580

Table of Contents

Reviews

"". . . a vibrant picture of early 20th-century life [that] will appeal to readers who appreciate stories of immigration, war, family bonds, and the search for identity. . . . a heartfelt narrative that honors memory while confronting history."" - Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite "". . . a powerful and poignant narrative . . . skillfully blending historical context with raw emotion . . . detailed with a sincere humility to it. . . . a unique perspective on the delicate balance between familial loyalty and personal identity, making this book a thoughtful read that leans into ideology, family, and national loyalty."" -Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite "". . . an absolutely fascinating book. . . . Rudy Jensen writes with feeling, compassion, and honesty. He made me feel like I was there with him as he defended his country. And, although his interactions with his father were often heartbreaking, they provide an in-depth look at a situation that others also must have gone through. I highly recommend this excellent book."" -Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

Author Information

Rudolf (Rudy) Jensen earned his Masters degree in educational administration at Denver University under the GI bill after World War II. His interest in education began when, as a student teacher, he was assigned a kindergarten class. He found that he and the five-year-olds had much in common-a love of nature and a certain level of hyperactivity. After forty years of working in the California and Los Alamos schools, Rudy was selected as a student trainee evaluator at California State University Chico, a position he held for several years before his death. His retirement years lent him opportunity to develop talents in watercolor, woodworking, and travel. Mary K. Jensen earned her PhD at the University of Oregon where she was an analyst and writer for their federal research clearinghouse. Prior to her doctoral training, she worked at CSU Chico and in California schools, in an array of roles: teaching, school psychology, and administration. She is a member of California Writers Club and is published in North State Writers' 2017 and 2024 anthologies. Mary lives in northern California where she relishes her writing group, book clubs, and friendships. Her recent book, Rudy's Rules for Travel: Life Lessons from around the Globe, shows another side of Rudy you won't want to miss. www.marykjensen.com

Tab Content 6

Countries Available