Under a War-Torn Sky

by Laura Malone Elliott

Hardcover, 2001

Call number

JF ELL

Publication

Disney-Hyperion (2001), Edition: 1st, 284 pages

Description

After his plane is shot down by Hitler's Luftwaffe, nineteen-year-old Henry Forester of Richmond, Virginia, strives to walk across occupied France, with the help of the French Resistance, in hopes of rejoining his unit.

User reviews

LibraryThing member SheilaCornelisse
This is one of the best war stories that I have read. Because Henry is only 19 years old, it is suitable for younger readers. I have recommended it to numerous Grade 7 and 8 boys who have really enjoyed it. Shot down behind enemy lines in France during WWII, Henry is helped by the French
Show More
Resistence. An excellent historical fiction filled with danger, suspense, heartbreak, and romance.
Show Less
LibraryThing member shell70
A young airman's courageous journey to get back home after his plane was shot down by the Germans. His survival was largely due to the brave people who put their own lives at risk to make sure that he was able to see his own parents again.
LibraryThing member horomnizon
I really enjoyed this YA historical fiction book. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel (A Troubled Peace). The story follows Henry, a 19 year old American pilot during WWII, who gets shot down behind enemy lines and has to depend on the courage and generosity of others to keep him
Show More
safe from the Nazis and others.

The struggle seems real enough. Elliott wrote from the experiences of her own grandfather and others to composite Henry's story. His will to live and return home and his disgust at what he has had to do to survive rings true.

This is what good historical fiction is....it draws you in to the story and teaches you about that time period without being dull and forcing it on you. Through Henry's life, we get a small sense of the horrors of WWII and also the many people who chose to fight against the evil and risked their own lives doing so.

Ever since I read "All Quiet on the Western Front" in high school, I've been a big fan of learning history through stories like these. "Under a War-Torn Sky" does an excellent job of mixing adventure, horrors, heroes, and survival with the true history of WWII. A great book!
Show Less
LibraryThing member samlives2
This novel centers around Hank, a pilot in WW2 whose plane goes down behind enemy lines. On his journey home, he encounters a multitude of people, most of which have a mind to help him, and is kept safe from danger by complete and total strangers. All of these people have distinct personalities,
Show More
and every one has their own past and goals for the future. I believe this plethora of well-rounded characters and a vast array of settings are what give this book its great appeal.
One of the aspects of this book that really connected me to it was the poem which Hank has hung beside his bunk back at the base. It was written by an anonymous pilot, and this poem was read at my grandfather's funeral. He was a pilot in WW2, and had always loved to fly.
Elliott put a lot of effort into writing this book, as she always does, and her extensive research really shows.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mrindt
Nineteen-year-old Henry is an American bomber pilot during World War II. After parachuting out of his downed plane, Henry, with an assortment of helpers from the French Resistance, slowly makes his way across France with the hope of returning home to his. The age of the main character makes the
Show More
story more personal to the reader and makes war a reality.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lizzybeth23
It was a good book, but not my favorite. Definitely not a waste, lots of history, altogether a good book.
LibraryThing member KilmerMSLibrary
Take a look at Nazi-occupied Europe through the eyes and experiences of Henry Forester, a young flier shot down during World War II. Also, A Troubled Peace.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
The story of a young Virginian pilot shot down during WW2 and his experiences while he tried to make it back to Allied territory.
LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
This should have been more exciting than it was, but I think part of that was that the narrator was not a good fit. Also, I disliked that it changed from third-person limited to third-person omniscient in the last chapter.
LibraryThing member jothebookgirl
Amazingly told. I learned things about the war I never knew. This was from the prospective of the resistance in France.

Awards

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2003)
Cardinal Cup (Honor — 2002)
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee — 2004)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2005)

Pages

284

ISBN

0786807555 / 9780786807550

UPC

725961007553

Lexile

700L
Page: 0.6091 seconds