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255th out of 281 books
—
437 voters
Jump into the Sky
Levi Battle's been left behind all his life. His mother could sing like a bird and she flew away like one, too. His father left him with his grandmother so he could work as a traveling salesman—until Levi's grandmother left this world entirely. Now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella while his father is serving in the U.S. Army. But it's 1945, and the war is nearly over, a...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
August 14th 2012
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Summary (Amazon.com)
Levi Battle has been left behind all his life. His mother could sing like a bird and she flew away like one, too. His father left him with his grandmother so he could work as a traveling salesman—until Levi's grandmother left this world entirely. Now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella while his father is serving in the U.S. Army. But it's 1945, the war is nearly over, and Aunt Odella decides it's time for Levi to do some leaving of his own. Before he can blink, Levi finds hi...more
Levi Battle has been left behind all his life. His mother could sing like a bird and she flew away like one, too. His father left him with his grandmother so he could work as a traveling salesman—until Levi's grandmother left this world entirely. Now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella while his father is serving in the U.S. Army. But it's 1945, the war is nearly over, and Aunt Odella decides it's time for Levi to do some leaving of his own. Before he can blink, Levi finds hi...more
Great cover!!
Goodreads description is a great booktalk, as is the excerpt on the back:
"Levi Battle's been left behind all his life. His mother could sing like a bird and she flew away like one, too. His father left him with his grandmother so he could work as a traveling salesman—until Levi's grandmother left this world entirely. Now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella while his father is serving in the U.S. Army. But it's 1945, and the war is nearly over, and Aunt Odella decides it's time for...more
Goodreads description is a great booktalk, as is the excerpt on the back:
"Levi Battle's been left behind all his life. His mother could sing like a bird and she flew away like one, too. His father left him with his grandmother so he could work as a traveling salesman—until Levi's grandmother left this world entirely. Now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella while his father is serving in the U.S. Army. But it's 1945, and the war is nearly over, and Aunt Odella decides it's time for...more
Dec 18, 2012
Barbara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
bullies,
civil-rights,
community,
cultural-identity,
death,
families,
faith,
friendship,
heroes,
ncbla2013,
rural-life,
seasons,
social-justice,
social-studies,
travel,
urban-life,
war
It's 1945 and WWII seems to be winding down. The aunt with whom he has been living in Chicago decides that it's time for the father of thirteen-year-old Levi Battle to do his part. It might seem cruel for her to send Levi out on his own in that way, but the author makes it clear that Aunt Odella has spent so much of her life taking care of others that she has little time for herself. Levi takes a train from Chicago to Washington, D.C., and then on North Carolina where his father is stationed. He...more
In her new historical novel Jump into the Sky, award-winning historical fiction author Shelley Pearsall explores a little known footnote in World War II history--the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the first black paratrooper unit in the U.S. Army.
The story of the 555th unfolds through the eyes of thirteen-year old Levi, who's been living with his aunt in Chicago while his father serves in a secret Army mission. It's May, 1945, and the war is drawing to close. Levi's aunt decides to send him...more
The story of the 555th unfolds through the eyes of thirteen-year old Levi, who's been living with his aunt in Chicago while his father serves in a secret Army mission. It's May, 1945, and the war is drawing to close. Levi's aunt decides to send him...more
Expected publication: August 14th 2012 by Alfred a Knopf
Levi has been living with an aunt in Chicago since his mother left him and his father is in the army during in WWII. When his aunt tires of having him, she sends him off to where his father is stationed in the south. This is quite a culture shock for the smart, well-behaved boy who is subject to the Jim Crow behavior in this part of the US for the first time. To make matters worse, his father's unit has just been shipped to Oregon. Luckily,...more
Levi has been living with an aunt in Chicago since his mother left him and his father is in the army during in WWII. When his aunt tires of having him, she sends him off to where his father is stationed in the south. This is quite a culture shock for the smart, well-behaved boy who is subject to the Jim Crow behavior in this part of the US for the first time. To make matters worse, his father's unit has just been shipped to Oregon. Luckily,...more
I like a little-known historical fiction story as much as the next person, but it was like I kept waiting for the story to get exciting and it kept ALMOST getting exciting, but then meandering away to something else. Levi's voice wasn't strong enough for me to enjoy the book on his character alone and the plot meandered too much to be compelling. Part of my disappointment might be with the cover and title, both of which seem to promise a lot of wartime action, which is not necessarily the fault...more
It's been years since I've read a Shelley Pearsall novel, but I remember really loving those that I've read in the past. I really liked Jump Into the Sky. I'm not sure that I absolutely loved it. But it was a really good read. I just LOVED the main character, Levi Battle. I really loved his narrative voice, and I enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes. I enjoyed many of the characters, I especially liked Cal, Peaches, and baby Victory. (I loved hearing their love story!) I was so happy that t...more
Reading a book and finding something racist in it is like sitting in a restaurant and noticing a roach swimming around in your soup. So it was with "Jump Into The Sun." The book is about racism faced by African Americans in World War Two, but the protagonists refer to the Japanese as "J-ps." ??? What is that teaching kids who read this book? One might say, "that is historically accurate." But, it is also historically accurate that some people did NOT use racist terms for anyone, and hey, this is...more
It’s the spring of 1945. Levi Battle’s aunt Odella has decided that the war is close to ending and it’s time for Levi to leave her house and go find his father, an officer in the army stationed in North Carolina. Levi is used to people leaving him ever since his mother left him on the seat of a car when he was just a few months old, but he isn’t used to people making him leave them! Levi’s adventures begin when he has to switch trains in Washington, D.C. He learns the hard way that because of th...more
Middle School - Historical Fiction
Levi Battle has lived with his aunt in Chicago for 3 yrs. when she decides to send him off unannounced to his father's base, Ft. Mackall, in NC. Levi experiences the Jim Crow south as he travels by train only to find his father's battalion has just shipped out to Pendleton, OR. Cal and Peaches take Levi under their wing, taking him along to OR when Cal gets orders to join his battalion. Levi become reacquainted with his father in OR and when the war ends, decide...more
Levi Battle has lived with his aunt in Chicago for 3 yrs. when she decides to send him off unannounced to his father's base, Ft. Mackall, in NC. Levi experiences the Jim Crow south as he travels by train only to find his father's battalion has just shipped out to Pendleton, OR. Cal and Peaches take Levi under their wing, taking him along to OR when Cal gets orders to join his battalion. Levi become reacquainted with his father in OR and when the war ends, decide...more
SUMMARY
Jump into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall was a great historical fiction book! It's 1945 in Chicago, and 13-year-old Levin Battle is being left--again! First his mother ran away, then his brave father was enlisted, so the government took him to serve in the U.S. army, then his new guardian, his grandmother, left (entirely), and he was stuck with his strict Aunt Odella, and now she wants him to leave and go to the place that his father was stationed--down South! When Levi gets there, he finds...more
Jump into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall was a great historical fiction book! It's 1945 in Chicago, and 13-year-old Levin Battle is being left--again! First his mother ran away, then his brave father was enlisted, so the government took him to serve in the U.S. army, then his new guardian, his grandmother, left (entirely), and he was stuck with his strict Aunt Odella, and now she wants him to leave and go to the place that his father was stationed--down South! When Levi gets there, he finds...more
Heard of the Tuskegee Airmen? Most have, but few stories have been told of the segregated paratroop group, the "triple nickels", or 555th group who never made it off the continent into the war, despite training and excellence. The central character, Levi, is a thirteen year old Chicago kid who has been left behind all his life. He is launched into many rude awakenings as WWII nears its end and he finds himself leaving the familiar turf of his neighborhood, learning to deal with Jim Crow racism,...more
Imagine being a 13 year old African American boy living in Chicago with your aunt during WWII while your father is away in the Air Force. Imagine further that one morning, out of the blue, your aunt tells you it is time for you to see your father again and that afternoon, without even saying good-bye to your best friend, you find yourself on a train heading to Camp Mackall in North Carolina. Sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it?
Jump into the Sky begins in May 1945. The war has ended in Europe but not...more
Jump into the Sky begins in May 1945. The war has ended in Europe but not...more
I was drawn to this book because it was set during WWII, and I am always looking for military fiction for the boys at my school. While this book is about the 555th Paratroopers Triple Nickels, the story is less about military action than about the segregation of African-Americans during the time. Levi's father is serving as a Lieutenant in the Triple Nickels and has not seen him in three years. Levi's Aunt Odella, after three years of taking care of Levi, decides it is time for him to see his fa...more
I really enjoyed reading this but thought it was maybe a bit clunky (<-technical term). The historical parts (i.e. African American experience in WWII as paratroopers) are absolutely fascinating- I hadn't heard of the "Triple Nickels" before or considered how WWII would intersect with Jim Crow laws since both were before the Civil Rights movement. However, at times it felt a bit didactic- almost like a rough imitation of a Christopher Paul Curtis novel with a similarly endearing African ameri...more
Another winner from author Shelley Pearsall. It's 1945, and 13 year old Levi, after living three years in Chicago with his aunt, is suddenly sent away by her to live with his father on an Army base in South Carolina. Levi hasn't seen his father in three years, only has the occasional cryptic letter sent from a myriad of Army bases. But Levi is hopeful, despite being very nervous to travel alone for the first time on a train through the segregated South, that his dad will be glad to see him and t...more
I was very excited to give this book a read as it is set in America during the waning days of WWII (we actually experience V-E Day as well V-J Day). I haven't read many books during that time and lately have read mostly European-set war books.
Our protagonist is Levi whose aunt has been keeping him in Chicago while his father serves in the army but who is sent to join his father at camp in North Carolina. When Levi arrives, he discovers that he just missed his father and stays with an injured arm...more
Our protagonist is Levi whose aunt has been keeping him in Chicago while his father serves in the army but who is sent to join his father at camp in North Carolina. When Levi arrives, he discovers that he just missed his father and stays with an injured arm...more
Katherine read this to me on the road. It is a very well written story of a young African American boy trying to link up with his father serving with the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (Triple Nickle) during WWII. The injustice of racism is clearly demonstrated, while the sacrifice made by those who served is highlighted. A GREAT read, very easy flowing book but one that will make you think and be very grateful for those who served ahead of us. The Paratrooper humor is well done!
This book has a lot of good things about it: Good descriptions of what life was like for blacks in the South (kids may not believe these things; Good discussions of what family is and means; Good historical context that very few people probably know about, etc. In my opinion it just doesn't have enough great things about it. I would certainly recommend this title to any boy who likes to read about WWII, but it moved too slow and does not have a broad enough appeal for the list.
good read about life in the military for black soldiers during WW II. Had never heard of the triple nickles" so was fasinated to learn there was a group of black paratroopers at that time. Felt for the boy Levi who kept getting left by those in his life who should have loved him. Cal and Peaches were so kind to take Levi in as one of their own to help him locate his father. Of course the treatment of black citizens during this time period made me ill!
The historical back story is really interesting, the hostile environment clearly depicted and you do care about the characters. I think the target audience (4th-7th grade I am guessing?) would enjoy reading this book as well. I am not sure if the language and characters (particularly Peaches) didn't lean toward being caricatures. It reminded me of 'Bud, not Buddy' but I never had that feeling when reading that book.
13 year old Levi has lived with his aunt for three years in Chicago while his father has trained with a division of black paratroopers during WWII. It seems unbelievable that his aunt would send him off alone to find his father on a base in N.C., but his adventures in the South and the search for his father make an engaging story. Little known events during the war add interest to the historical novel.
Thirteen-year-old Levi has been living with Aunt Odella in Chicago while his father is serving in the army during World War II. The war is almost over, so Aunt Odella decides to send Levi by train to North Carolina where his father was last stationed. Levi is surprised by the Jim Crow laws and segreation in the south. He is also surprised to discover his father's unit has been shipped to Oregon. Levi travels across country to find him. (reviewer #5)
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I may have mentioned this before, but, wow! Shelley Pearsall can really write. This is historical fiction as it should be written. I feel like I stepped into a time machine and got to know these people whose experiences happened (unbelievably)even before I was born. Bravo!
This is a great historical novel. I really love the endnote in which the author tells how the book was researched with interviews and which details were taken from real life. The book is based on a little known fact about WWII. A positive male African American character.
I really liked this book. It was the story about the 555th in WWII. It was about black/white relations in different parts of the country. As a teacher, it would be a book that I would read/discuss with middle school students. I was very impressed with Pearsall's historical narrative.
A personalized view of the famous "Triple Nickel" (555) paratroopers from WWII from the perspective of a 13 year old boy from Chicago. A young man is sent from the only home he's ever known with a bag of fried chicken into the segregated South to search for his father serving in the Army during WWII. Highly educational and entertaining historical fiction. Very personable point-of-view character, too!
It's so easy to love Levi in Jump into the Sky. He's a 13 year old boy who has been left his whole life. When his aunt sent him off to find his father in North Carolina, he comes face to face with racism but also meets Cal and Peaches who help him understand the world.
I liked it. It's sobering to read, for sure. I really liked the Author's Note explaining how so much of the story was based on real events and people.
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