At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom

Gr 4-8–Kelly’s biography reveals the extraordinary life of Josefina “Joey” Guerrero. Despite considering herself ordinary, Guerrero was anything but. At 22, she contracted Hansen’s disease (leprosy) yet remained steadfast in her Catholic faith and unwavering in her commitment to serve. Short in stature but mighty in courage, Guerrero’s friendly nature and bilingual abilities in Tagalog and English made her an ideal operative for the U.S. and Philippine resistance forces during WWII. She transported classified information through enemy lines while aiding wounded soldiers, earning the Medal of Freedom from President Truman. Post-war, misconceptions about her illness forced Guerrero into hiding and then to the prisonlike Tala Leprosarium near Manila, which she helped transform into a sanctuary. Later, she moved to Carville, the only U.S. facility for Hansen’s disease patients, where treatment lasted 10 years instead of the expected two. Despite receiving American citizenship, persistent discrimination compelled Guerrero to adopt a new identity and conceal her history. Kelly’s meticulously researched work provides rich context on Philippine colonization, WWII, and Hansen’s disease, complemented by maps, historical photographs, and illustrations. The cover artfully depicts Guerrero’s profile surrounded by Filipino flora and fauna, a sun resembling Japan’s military emblem, and symbols representing her espionage work. Grayscale illustrations, some based on photos, also complement the text.