Attempting to bring humanity to a Japanese internment camp, painting U.S. Navy submarines in action, depicting acts of enemy torture — these are just some of the stories of the first wave of modern artists in America during World War II. Fascinated by the wartime involvement of the champions of modern art, including several Art Students League alumni, Sally Pemberton constructs a gripping captivating narrative. She tells the stories of bravery and human suffering while presenting the visual imagery captured by the reporting of, and responses to, this momentous chapter in world history.