Under a War-Torn Sky by L.M. Elliott

Under a War-Torn Sky Reviews

• 
  Valerie

  Yes! A book that is really worth it. This is why I love historical fiction so much. You get to see the real heroes even if it is fictional. People who are made up, but may very well be like many of those who were there. The book is following a young American farm boy by the name of Henry Forrester who is the youngest pilot around. It may be in an American's point of view but it is clear that it was to show how much the French Resistance worked during WWII.
  
  Henry is one of the best pilots, but don't let that fool you. He spends most all the book on solid ground hiding from Nazi soldiers after his plane crashes. And Henry finds himself in the thick of Nazi occupied France, where there is distrust and secrets at every turn. Not even those that want him alive say much to him and having a terrible accent he can't do much with a disguise.
  
  As in most historical fiction Henry’s story draws out a sadness from stories of others who have lost and stories of unfairness. With Henry you see just what people are capable of and this goes both ways. He makes friends and loses some. Through all the hiding, all the secrets, all the torture and waiting Henry can only keep sane by memories of home and the hope that one day he may go back.
  
  Henry wants so much to live, not only for himself and the ones he loves, but also in a way for the ones who risked their lives to save his for a cause greater than any one of them. But in a way that the individual is not forgotten, not by Henry they aren't. And with how much he is transferred, then captured, then safe, and captured again Henry has to use all his will he can get to push through. It became an almost boiling frustration even for me and I was just reading it.
  
  But through all this frustration I can say I believe it is worth it. Because it makes the end just the most perfect moment.
  
  
• 
  David

  I read this book to help with my son's high school English assignment. It's targeted to a teen or young adult audience, and tells a good story about an American bomber pilot who is shot down over Alsace during World War II. The book details his struggle to return to freedom, aided by a series of sincere local sympathizers and members of the French resistance movement. While somewhat romanticized, it gives a behind-the-scenes look at the efforts of those who fought against the Nazi invaders. The soldier is captured twice by the Germans and tortured, and other German wartime atrocities are described. The purpose of the novel seems to be to celebrate and recognize acts of kindness and heroism in the midst of the struggles of conflict.
• 
  Leslie

  The story of a young Virginian pilot shot down during WW2 and his experiences while he tried to make it back to Allied territory.
• 
  Samantha

  Through the eyes of Henry Forrester, average American teenager, readers of Under a War Torn Sky are taken up into the skies over Europe and deep into the trenches of the French Resistance during World War II. This is a novel that does not need to be praised with the condition that it is a great read "for YA." Readers of any age can learn about the heart-wrenching experiences of this young bomber pilot and be captivated by his story.
  
  The author created this fictional story based on the first hand accounts of her own father and his friends. Sharing these experiences is not something that all veterans are willing to do, and, as time goes by, less are around to do so. That makes this novel even more impressive, and it reads much like a personal memoir. The gritty truth of running from the Nazi's is presented realistically while still being appropriate for younger readers. In fact, I feel that many of them would benefit from understanding what people their age went through and are capable of. (We expect so little from our teenagers these days, but that's another story.)
  
  There is little that Henry Forrester does not go through from the time his plane is shot down over German occupied France. He meets amazing people, loses friends, has to make impossible choices, and is forced to keep moving without the opportunity to discover whether those who dare to help him live or die. Henry himself is a somewhat naive Virginia farm boy, who is quickly hardened by what he experiences. He struggles to live by the principles that he has been raised by in the face of inhuman cruelty. In him, it is easy to see millions of young men just like him, many of whom never made it home.
  
  Since my grandfather was a pilot in WWII, I appreciate and enjoy stories like this that bring to life the daily hardships and concerns of men that weren't expected to live for more than 16 missions. This book is a wonderful one for younger readers who want to learn about WWII. I would also recommend And Some Fell on Stony Ground as a somewhat deeper look into the mind of an RAF pilot.
• 
  Renee

  Tense YA action/adventure story about downed World War II American pilot and the civilians of the French Resistance who risk all to save him. The young main character works through some old hurts from his father as he spends his days hiding, fearing, fighting. The folks who help him are kind and brave and so real. Hopeful, sad & satisfying. Great read! The best part—the story is based on the experiences of the author’s father!
• 
  Kirsten

  I’ve read lots of WWII novels about several different aspects of the war. This isn’t the first one about someone trying to get back home with the help of the French Resistance, but is definitely one of the most thoroughly researched, well-plotted, beautiful books about the war that I’ve read. This book and Code Name Verity are at the top of my WWII list. A great choice for YA readers who already know something about the war, this novel is so packed with detail about the maqui, American bomber pilots, European geography and more, that it warrants more than one reading. I just read Elliott’s most recent novel Louisa Jane and the Nazis in the Waves and found it equally meticulously researched with a far-less familiar story. I want to read everything she’s written. YA historical fiction at it’s finest. And, she managed to do so without any dramatic love scenes, gratuitous violence or subversive plot lines. (I’m thinking of you Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. UGH.) Well done, Ms. Elliott. I’m so happy to have met you at ALA in Washington DC this past June. And to have been introduced to your books.
• 
  Mazzou B

  Another good fictional world war 2 story! This one is excellent and suitable for a variety of ages. Although exciting, there is nothing to violent or gruesome for younger readers (even age 8). HOWEVER, unfortunately there are inappropriate allusions in this book which make it absolutely unfit for younger readers. As an adult, I found certain things in this book oddly unnecessary and not in keeping with the otherwise family-friendly book. The author wanted to present the reality of the situation a pure-minded young farm boy would experience when thrown into the army with men of lesser moral standards. Thus, the author included crude jokes and allusions not only once, but several times. This is not appropriate for younger readers and I recommend reading aloud or skipping this book.
  I did like the story, especially because it centered around the French resistance. There was a good amount of French in this book which I enjoyed reading. (note: for those who don't know French, each time the situation or conversation is explained).
  
• 
  ❤Marie Gentilcore

  3.5 stars. I'm glad to have read this shortly after I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah as this book is about an American B-24 pilot who ends up in Nazi occupied France and receives assistance from the French Resistance. It had the feel of a companion book to The Nightingale since one of the sisters in that book helped pilots get to safety as part of her role in the French Resistance so it was like seeing the other side of the story. I really liked the main character, young and idealistic Henry, a farm boy from Virginia. As the story progressed, I saw a lot of growth in his character as he goes through many trials on his journey to freedom. I will be reading the sequel to this book, called A Troubled Peace, which finds Henry returning to France to find Pierre, a young boy who helped him in this book.
• 
  Joey

  I definitely enjoyed this. I wasn’t crazy about Henry’s character at all at first, but it was interesting to watch him grow, learn, and mature, and by the end I really liked him. I was invested the entire time, and while the writing wasn’t my favorite, it wasn’t bad and easy to follow. I’m glad I picked this up!
• 
  Sherry Guice

  My 8th graders have LOVED this book and enjoyed learning about WWII via the main character's experiences. Lots of good reading lessons can be taught too...use of context clues, characterization, real events in historical fiction, etc...
• 
  Hanna

  The book started off slow. But, once you got into it, it was really good
• 
  Grace

  Very decent war fiction. Probably a YA read...thumbs up tho
• 
  Katherine

  Wow!
  
  I read this because the author is coming to speak in my class this week. I chose this particular novel because I thought it might be useful for a project I'm doing on youth in times of war (Annie Between the States also sounded interesting, but at 544 pages it was a bit long to add to my current reading list).
  
  I read this in one sitting. The danger that Henry and his saviors faced was very vivid to me. That he had to blindly trust so many people and often was left with no idea of who or what he was supposed to be meeting was frightening, especially when the frenchman sent him walking down a path and his only directions were to take the left fork! His parting with Pierre was heartbreaking. It reminded me of many people who I have met on trips and the feeling when we parted that we would never see each other again. But of course, the feeling Henry would have had there was so much more intense, because death was waiting around the corner for everyone.
  
  The ending brought me to tears. How amazing was the understanding that Henry came to about his father while he was away, and how incredible that his father had the same experience while he was gone! As I read that page I really wondered if his father would say something rude to him, but after all Henry had been through, it was only right for his father to break down and show his affection.
• 
  Elizabeth

  Under a War-Torn Sky, by L.M. Elliott, is a great book. I love WW2 fiction and non-fiction, and I would totally recommend it to any one else who does too. Henry Forester, 19 years old, from Virginia, joins the American Air Force to fight from a plane. When his plane is shot, he is forced to parachute into Alsace and is helped to escape by the French Resistance and members of the Maquis. Anyone who enjoys WW2 pilots, escape,or adventure in Europe should read this book.I can't wait to read the next one!!📚
• 
  Sandra Strange

  Based on true accounts, this novel traces a 19 year old Air Force pilot shot down behind enemy lines in Europe just before D Day of World War II.. He must survive as he makes his way guided by Resistance workers, learning much about evil, violence, goodness, and living. Suspenseful and tear-jerking, with some glancing sexual references (PG only). Positive, with the author’s explanations of how much is “true” at the end.
  
  
• 
  Debby

  I was prompted to read this after seeing Laura Elliott speak at school, where I work. She is an awesome speaker and she writes beautifully. I highly recommend this book even if you don't speak French. It was an exciting read that never stopped at the end. I didn't want it to end! I am also happy to know that there is a follow up book! And with my new Kindle I won't have issues finding it! Go Elliott!!
• 
  Shelley

  One of the best war books I have read ever! Not only does the book shed light on what life was like for American pilots during World War II but it also pays homage to the French resistance movement and the hard work they put in to assist the allies. This book highlights those ordinary people who did what they could to resist the Nazi movement. I highly recommend reading this one all the way through and especially the author's note at the end. No part of this is to be missed!
• 
  AlixJamie

  My first L.M. Elliot book and definitely not my last! A wonderful, very authentic book about WWII. I was caught at the first chapter, and was engrossed for mostly the whole thing. I can only repeat what the back so aptly said, that, 'It's packed with action, intrigue, and suspense, but this novel celebrates acts of kindness and heroism without glorifying war.'
• 
  HannahBeth

  Granted, there were parts that were a teensy bit ok/exciting, but overall this is a boring story (even put me to sleep at one point), not to mention there's a lot of misuses of the Lord's name, and a few inappropriate hints.
• 
  Michelle Chen

  It was a fascinating story, a gripping tale. It will shock you, and you won't want a thing to do with fighting after reading this.
• 
  Emma

  I read this in fifth grade ohmygosh. But I'm like 99% sure this is why I love hisfic so much today.
• 
  Sean Condon

  Author: L.M Elliot
  Title: Under a War-Torn Sky
  Publication: Disney, New York, 2003
  Genre: Young adult fiction/historical fiction
  Recommended age- young adult
  
  Summary- Under a War-Torn Sky’s main protagonist is Henry Forrester, a 19 year old United States Air Force recruit who has quite the knack for flying. Henry lives down in Virginia and works on his parents farm and is sweet on a girl named Patsy, who he thinks of often to get through his toughest moments. L.M Elliot does an amazing job setting the tone for the rest of the story in the first couple pages. Henry’s nightmare foreshadows that the rest of the book is not going to be censored or tamed. Henry’s plane gets shot down and he has to eject himself from his plane, in the process he loses his .45 handgun, his only protection. Henry now finds himself unarmed, and in the middle of a raging war with a severely injured foot. Not to mention that he doesn’t even know where he is, he could be in France, Switzerland, or even Germany. All he knows is go west, because west is the direction of home. Henry will see friend and foe alike, and will go through the horrors of war. While I can’t spoil anything for you, L.M Elliot does an amazing job of capturing the setting and telling the story so that you’re on the edge of your seat every time Henry meets a new person.
  
  Evaluation- Under a War-Torn Sky excels in storytelling and character development. Billy, for example basically ridicules Henry at the beginning of the book. But, once the two go through real war together, they stop their childish bickering and start acting like brothers. As for the storytelling element you really feel for Henry whenever he encounters someone new, you find yourself wondering if the shadow in the distance is friend or foe. The book is filled with moments of suspense that make you want to turn to the next page, which is a nice refresher. You constantly ask yourself if Henry is going to make it out of each situation alive. As for the weakness of the book I think that it does become more predictable as the story goes on. The storytelling is perfect for the first 200 pages, however once he makes it out of each situation you have a feeling that Henry is almost invincible and will without a doubt make it back home. I loved the literary device use of onomatopoeia the “WHACK” and the “SLASH” make you jump when you read them, wondering if Henry will survive the next slash.
  
  Concluding comments- Overall an incredible book, keeps you on the edge of your seat almost throughout the entire story and really teaches you about the horrors of war. While Henry is stranded out in the field, you never know what he’s going to run into next.