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114th out of 411 books
—
621 voters
Under a War-Torn Sky
When Henry Forester is shot down during a bombing run over France, the World War II pilot finds himself trapped behind enemy lines. In constant danger of discovery by German soldiers, Henry begins a remarkable journey to freedom. Relying on the kindness of strangers, Henry moves from town to town--traveling by moonlight, never asking questions, or even the names of the peo...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
June 1st 2003
by Disney-Hyperion
(first published 2001)
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Mar 17, 2010
Valerie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Valerie by:
Cara
Shelves:
male-protagonist,
historical-fiction
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 do...more
Henry is one of the best pilots, but do...more
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...more
Title of book: Under a War torn sky
Author: L.M. Elliot
Under a War-Sky is about an American B-42 bomber pilot who goes on his 15 mission. While on his mission they are attacked by German fighter pilots. His bomber is shot down and he parachutes to the ground. Henry then falls and gets injured where he meets a frech teacher who feeds and cares for him. The French teacher is in the resistance and helps henry on to the next resistance post. There he meets Madame, and pretends to be her child. After...more
Author: L.M. Elliot
Under a War-Sky is about an American B-42 bomber pilot who goes on his 15 mission. While on his mission they are attacked by German fighter pilots. His bomber is shot down and he parachutes to the ground. Henry then falls and gets injured where he meets a frech teacher who feeds and cares for him. The French teacher is in the resistance and helps henry on to the next resistance post. There he meets Madame, and pretends to be her child. After...more
I have a variety of conflicted thoughts on this novel. Just the notion of a pilot escaping through Nazi-occupied France was fascinating. I have always enjoyed the stories of everyday people in these sorts of circumstances- they weren't generals, dictators, presidents, etc. , but they did actually make an impact. The descriptions of those of the French Resistance were what truly made this book.
However, the writing often seemed awkward and forced. The narration constantly referred to Henry's paren...more
However, the writing often seemed awkward and forced. The narration constantly referred to Henry's paren...more
The book, Under a War Torn Sky, by Laura Malone Elliot, was an exceptional read. The book contained many thrilling, suspensful, and action-packed scenes that I thought were gripping and sad. The book is about a U.S airforce pilot named Henry, who was on a bombing mission and his bomber was shot down, and he landed in Nazi-controlled terrritory. For instance, meeting many characters that helped and supported Henry through Nazi-controlled territory caused me to care for each and every person going...more
The book is for Readers that want a good book to read and to read about what happened in World War 2, but not the war but the peoples families who were in the middle of it.
The stories main problem is when Henry the main character is shot down in his plane over enemy lines and has to get back to his home base in Britain.
The setting and the time is in world war 2 in germany and france.
The main character is Henry forester is 19 years old and is youngest person in his air force squadron.
In the...more
The stories main problem is when Henry the main character is shot down in his plane over enemy lines and has to get back to his home base in Britain.
The setting and the time is in world war 2 in germany and france.
The main character is Henry forester is 19 years old and is youngest person in his air force squadron.
In the...more
Apr 11, 2009
Katherine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Katherine by:
Edie Ching
Shelves:
young-revolutionaries
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jan 10, 2013
Evan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who really like Historical Fiction and World War II Novels
This is a great novel! Whoever likes historical fiction about wars should definitely check this book out. It starts out with a young man who flies a B-24 in World War II. When his plane gets shot out of the sky, he is trapped behind enemy lines. Alone. As he moves through enemy occupied territory, kind French citizens help him escape and get back to the states. Wounded, hungry, and afraid, Henry struggles toward freedom on foot, with a wounded ankle. Over the time period that he is on foot, he f...more
My youngest son and I read this book back when he was in 7th grade and homeschooled for a year. We both absolutely loved it so much that we formed the "Under a War-torn sky" fan club. Not a real fan club, just our way of saying this is an AWESOME book. And here's why I put up the review after so long (he's now a senior in high school): because at the library today I happened across the sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky!! I was so excited and checked it out immediately. It is called "A Troubled Peac...more
I read this book after reading it's sequel. I remember that when I added it to the library it was one I wanted to read, but then I want to read most of the books I add to the library - sometimes they just slip through and I never read them.
When A Troubled Peace arrived, I was looking for a new book, and read it immediately. Although I had no trouble following the story, I still wanted to read all about Henry's flight out of Nazi France.
It is a wonderful tale, and shows the true greatness of peop...more
When A Troubled Peace arrived, I was looking for a new book, and read it immediately. Although I had no trouble following the story, I still wanted to read all about Henry's flight out of Nazi France.
It is a wonderful tale, and shows the true greatness of peop...more
I thought this book was okay. I wish that the book could have been more energetic. I felt as if every part of the book was depressing as all get out. Now don't get me wrong, the book was extreamly intense and gripping, but the sad, depressing thing isn't something I like to read about. But I thought the whole background of the story was amazing. The fact that someone had to go through that kind of suffering is hard to get my head around. The fact that he fell from a mile in the air and break his...more
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.
This book is probably my favorite book of all time. It's an amazing historical fiction book about a boy whose plane is shot down during WWII. He is stuck wandering alone in the wilderness until he is rescued by an old man in France. From there, he must journey through all of the Nazi infested Europe, with only the help of complete strangers, to try and get back to his home in the US. It's an amazing story of people that are so different, and yet give their lives to others and unite together in t...more
This is a great book. The fun thing I had while I was reading this book was the different languages the author added in the book were quite interesting. It was mostly German and French. It was weird because these are two languages I can't speak, but I could understand what they were saying from the just reading the context and understand what was going on. For example: Oui, les papiers sont parfaits. That is french for, Yes , papers are perfect. This was one of the easiest ones I figured out by...more
This book is GREAT for boys!!! It is an action filled story about a young pilot named Henry Forester. He faces many life threatening tasks, life saving situations, and life changing experiences. It provides some insight about WW2 and the stress and hardships it brought to the soldiers. Henry encounters some pretty graphic and stressful situations. At one point he even kills a dog to save himself, which could be a little too much for elementary. But overall it kept me wanting to read the next pag...more
Quality YA novel about a WWII fighter pilot shot down over France and finds himself on a harrowing journey across France with the resistance. The main character is a sympathetic, educated, farm boy from Virginia barely graduated from high school in 1944. He wants nothing more than to survive and return home to his mother and girlfriend and start college at Univ. of VA. The author did her research and the remarkable coming of age story rings true and is full of many glimpses into the world of a w...more
"Under a War-Torn Sky" tells the story of a young World War II bomber pilot shot down on a mission over Nazi-controlled Europe and his long, arduous journey home. I've read several war adventure stories originally from the 1940s and although this is a modern novel I recognized aspects of these earlier adventure stories for young people in this work. That said, the book had a decidedly modern edge in it's unflinching look at war's horrors from torture with water and dogs (which, most appropriatel...more
The value of this story lies within the wisdom and experience Henry, a young, naiive American pilot gains while trying to survive and escape Nazi-occupied France after being shot down. Elliot combined the experiences of many Allied pilots into one, harrowing story of an individual for this novel. Henry sees the both best and worst in human nature that war truly brings out in people. The reader also sees Henry grow up himself through his experiences and we see his true character tried and tested...more
I liked this story of a young american pilot flying during WWII. That in itself is a story, but when his plane is shot down he learns that another battle is raging "under [the] war-torn sky" where he had spent his days and nights. On the ground he mets various people who risk their lives to save his.
Not a happy read, there is so much courage and determination and love displayed that the book makes you grateful that such people exist and makes you want to be better. Especially good for tween/te...more
Not a happy read, there is so much courage and determination and love displayed that the book makes you grateful that such people exist and makes you want to be better. Especially good for tween/te...more
When Henry's plane is shot down behind enemy lines during WWII, he must depend on the help of strangers to try and make his way to safety. I have always enjoyed learning about WWII, so this book was a good way of getting into the mind of a soldier. At the start of the story, Henry is idealistic and good hearted. By the end, Henry remains good hearted, but he has seen the worst in people. I feel like this is a good representation of what happened to many young men during that war, and all wars.
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Under a War-Torn Sky by Laura Malone Elliott is set during World War II. The story follows the youngest pilot in a certain Air Force squadron. His name is Henry Forester. he is one of the best pilots in his squadron. During battle, his shot down by an enemy plane. Stranded in enemy territory and injured, he must find a way to get back home. Will he survive or be captured? This great and brilliantly written historical fiction describes the adventures of a young pilot during World War II, while be...more
I loved thiis book because it was about a pilot whose plane went down behind enemy lines during World War II. I was intrigued because my father did the same thing during that time period - although his expertise was in maintaining and re-building the B-17's instead of B-24's as are in the book. I am always interested in reading about this place and time, because he lived it. This book is fascinating, and it is a story that pulls you in the from beginning and doesn't let go. Excellent story!
This book really could have been better than it turned out to be. The story was all like here and there, the main character Henry didn't seem like a military Lieutenent at all. He acted like some random civilian who just happened to pop up in Europe where the Nazis and other enemies were. This story takes place in the 40's, WW2. I won't spoil it, but you'll tell instantly when Henry encounters Germans he has absolutely no idea how to fight, which I'm starting to find really annoying now in books...more
My son Daniel recommended this book to me from a class he took in grad school this summer called "Historical Perspectives in Young Adult Fiction". This is one of several recommendations that he made. I love young adult fiction. And I loved this book. And I loved the thought of young people reading it. It has a lot to offer. And paints a illuminating picture of the French Resistance Movement and how much its members risked to get soliders out of France during the war.
I thought this book was a great book to read outside of school. I loved that it was adventure filled and displayed the life of a downed pilot over in occupied Europe. The life of the estranged pilot was rough and painful, but he was able to complete his journey back to home in the end. Although he was captured and tortured, he carried on vigilantly to prevail. I enjoyed this book because of Henry's bravery and the bravery of the others who helped him.
Overall this is a great book. It's the story of an American pilot stationed in England whose plane gets shot down on a bomb run. He must brave the elements along with the constant threat of being discovered by the Nazis on his journey back to england. This story uses excellent senery to describe one of the darkest times in our short lived history and gives the reader an idea of just how hard it was just to get by being a soldier behind enemy lines.
This is defently one of my favorite books I've ever read. It's full of adventure. The main character, Henry is the youngest pilliot on his base but the best. while in battle he is shoot down in enemy territory. scared and hurt he strugls to find his was home with the help of many new friends he finds. after a long year of struggling he finally makes it home.
This is the best book ever, it may be sad in some parts but all in all its very entertaning.
This is the best book ever, it may be sad in some parts but all in all its very entertaning.
Do not forget your walking boots and brush up on your French. 19-year-old Henry Forester from Richmond, Virginia, on his 15th bombing mission has been shot down by Hitler’s Luftwaffe. On the way down his parachute was hit by machine gun fire and he landed in a snowdrift badly injuring his left leg. Though he is not sure where he is we know he is in occupied France. He may be able to contact the French Resistance and try walking across France to rejoin his unit. Danger is at every corner and deat...more
Nineteen-year-old Henry is shot down over Switzerland and spends several months trying to get back to the allies. In the process, he finds himself aiding the French Resistance in their attempts to thwart German takeover of cities.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book! Plus, it's wonderful to have an historical-fiction book about the French Resistance movement. Not many teens know about it and this book could lead to some great curiosity reading!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book! Plus, it's wonderful to have an historical-fiction book about the French Resistance movement. Not many teens know about it and this book could lead to some great curiosity reading!
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.
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L. M. Elliott is author of the young adult (YA) historical novels: Under a War-torn Sky, a Notable Book in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC), a Jefferson Cup Honor Book, winner of Border’s Original Voices Award for YA Literature, and a finalist for the Iowa, PA, SC, and MD state teen literature awards; Annie, Between the States, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, IRA Teachers’ choice, and VA...more
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Feb 24, 2009 05:35pm