Samuel Zantander, "Sam," is a young Filipino boy growing up during the 1940s when the Japanese threatened to overtake the entire Western Pacific Rim with the capture of Australia. American and Filipino forces thwarted the Japanese plan and their heroic defense angered the Japanese military which resulted in horrific treatment of Filipino citizens. J. F. Zarandin's On the Edge of Survival takes the reader to a time and place where war raged for four years and the struggle to simply stay alive was a part of a population's existence.Seen through the eyes of a young boy, Zarandin's narration is based on true-life events and chronicles the life of Sam and his family for the four-year period. This gritty and moving narration highlights what these proud people did to survive-avoiding capture, losing loved ones to sickness because of inadequate healthcare and supplies, and the aftermath of what the war did to the survivors.Written with insightful clarity and compassion, and from meticulous research and experience, Zarandin's novel is a beautiful and haunting tribute to the proud and strong Archipelago's residents and their heritage.Author Bio:J. F. Zarandin is a writer, retired college teacher and international civil servant involved in economic development in five continents and the Pacific Islands. Mr. Zarandin is currently writing three novels and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the Edge of Survival is his first book.