Children's Literature
- Mary Quattlebaum
Local author L.M. Elliott adds another nuanced historical novel to her much-praised canon. This sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky finds bomber pilot Henry Forester home in Virginia but suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. As World War II nears an end, Henry suffers from flashbacks to his capture and escape from the Gestapo in occupied France. And he cannot forget the young French boy, Pierre, who had protected Henry only to lose his own family. The young pilot returns to France to find the orphan amidst the chaos of the crumbling Nazi regime. With our own country currently at war, this compelling book proves especially timely. Elliott vividly captures the turmoil, fear and hope of the times and the sense of trying to pick up the pieces and re-build. "War ends," she writes in the afterword, "and the battle for peace begins." Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
VOYA
- Ed Goldberg
Eighteen-year-old Henry, recently returned home to Richmond, Virginia, from World War II, has nightmares about his war experiences—being shot down in enemy territory, hiding, receiving assistance from the Resistance, being captured and tortured, and finally finding freedom through the surprising kindness of a German soldier. His dreams wake him up at night. In particular, he dreams about eight-year-old Pierre, who guided him through French forests to freedom. Pierre's mother was captured, and he was placed with a local priest for transport to a safe location. Patsy, Henry's girlfriend, is both afraid of him and for him. His family thinks Henry should return to France and search for Pierre, hoping that knowing Pierre's fate will give Henry peace of mind. In this sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky (Hyperion/DBG, 2001/VOYA December 2001), Henry returns to France, relives some of his war experiences, and locates some people who helped him. The book describes the atrocities and destruction caused by World War II in terms of human life and property; however, the story seems contrived and the characters stereotypes. The repeated descriptions of war and its horrendous casualties seem like a classroom lecture. Elliot's introduction of Henry's post—traumatic stress syndrome, unrecognized during the World War II era, is only touched upon, and the "cure" is too easy. The story is reasonably paced and the language is readable. Readers need not have read the first book to understand the second. The afterword adds some perspective to the story, but it might be a hard sell. Reviewer: Ed Goldberg
School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—Elliott's sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky (Hyperion, 2001) finds 19-year-old Henry home from World War II and troubled with nightmares of his battles and losses. He still loves Patsy, who will not marry him despite his declaration of love to her. He goes back to France to look for Pierre, a boy he remembers because of the loss that Henry may have caused him. Filled with historical references and images of war-torn Europe, the story will appeal to adventure lovers and history enthusiasts. The inclusion of French with some translations might turn slower readers off, but the plot moves along at a pace that will keep its audience's attention.—Richard J. Snyder, Inglewood Junior High School, Sammamish, WA
Kirkus Reviews
The end of World War II is nearing, and 19-year-old Henry Forester has made it home to Virginia after being shot down over Nazi-occupied France (Under a War-Torn Sky, 2001). Unsettled by a refusal of marriage, Henry decides he needs to know more about those who helped him escape, and now that France is free of German rule, he returns to try to resolve his doubts. Peace for his soul comes hard, as it does for the whole country, damaged and suffering from years of resistance and collaboration. Food is scarce, travel difficult and the chaos of daily arrivals from the eastern camps leaves everyone unsettled. As Henry retraces his steps looking for those who helped him, especially the boy Pierre, the ravages of war come clear. Stylistically, this novel doesn't stand out; its strength lies in the evocation of its setting, where heroes and heroines emerge as sacrifices are counted and as their irrepressible spirits begin to reassert themselves. (Historical fiction. YA)
