Across a War-Tossed Sea

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By L.M. Elliott

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To escape the Blitz, two British brothers are sent to the U.S. for safety during World War II—but the war and its colossal violence creep ever-closer, in this riveting novel from L.M. Elliott, the New York Times bestselling author of Under a War-Ton Sky.
 
It's 1943, and World War II is raging. To escape the terror of the Blitz, ten-year-old Wesley and fourteen-year-old Charles were evacuated from England to America. After a treacherous ocean crossing and a few near misses with German U-boats, the brothers arrive in Virginia. Living on a rural farm, they may be safer, but the culture shock is intense as the London boys have to learn new sports, customs, and spellings, and face new bullies.

As the brothers begin to adapt to their new reality they blaze their own trails, writing letters home, making new friends, and pitching in to the American war effort. But just when Wes and Charles think they’re free from the terror of the battles raging thousands of miles across the sea, they encounter the very brand of soldiers they were trying to escape: Nazis imprisoned at a POW camp right around the corner. As U-boats torpedo American ships off the nearby Atlantic coastline, Charles, Wesley, and their new Virginian family must face the dangers of a foreign war coming too close to home.

For fans of Dear America, Karen Hesse, and Max in the House of Spies, award-winning author L. M. Elliott brings a rarely told story of World War II on U.S. soil to light in this gripping and meticulously-researched novel, a companion to the beloved Under a War-Torn Sky.
 
Praise for Under a War-Torn Sky
"An emotional, action-packed gem! …. An engrossing thrill-ride."
KLIATT

"A powerful debut novel of adventure and salvation. Readers, young and old, will be moved by this fine book."
Children's Literature

“Packed with action, intrigue, and suspense … this novel celebrates acts of kindness and heroism without glorifying war."
Booklist

  • "Likable protagonists and a fascinating historical backdrop combine for a story well-told." Kirkus Reviews

    "Serious issues of intolerance (religious freedom in Europe, racism in America, cruelty to German POWs) permeate the story without overwhelming it, making this a breezy and enlightening read. The occasional letters from the brothers to their father overseas are a nice touch, portraying an accurate kid's-eye-view of a terrible time in history." Booklist

    "This historical novel would be a perfect fit for any collection seeking to engage readers in conversations around race, culture, and equality in America." School Library Journal

    Praise for Under a War-Torn Sky

    "An emotional, action-packed gem! Elliott paints a picture of war that we don't often see, one that is away from the battles, showing life and death in a war-ravaged land. An engrossing thrill-ride." KLIATT

    "A powerful debut novel of adventure and salvation. Readers, young and old, will be moved by this fine book." Children's Literature

    "It's packed with action, intrigue, and suspense, but this novel celebrates acts of kindness and heroism without glorifying war." Booklist

    "Elliott's fluid style is woven together with vivid historical details from WWII, appropriate for adolescents who seek suspense-filled adventures." BookPage

On Sale
Apr 8, 2014
Page Count
256 pages
ISBN-13
9781423193944

L.M. Elliott

About the Author

L. M. Elliott was an award-winning magazine journalist in Washington, DC, before becoming a New York Times bestselling author of historical and biographical young adult novels. Her works include Under a War-Torn Sky, Suspect Red, Hamilton and Peggy!, Walls, and Bea and the New Deal Horse, have won the Scott O'Dell, the VLA Cardinal Cup, and the Grateful American Book Prize for historical fiction, and been named NCSS/CBC Notables, Bank Street College of Ed. Bests, and Kirkus Bests. Visit her online at lmelliott.com.

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