A Foreign Field

by Gillian Chan

Life has been tough for 14-year-old Ellen Logan. With her country embroiled in the Second World War, she's forced to shoulder many family responsibilities. Life's even tougher for Stephen Dearborn, a young British pilot in training at the local airfield. As Ellen and Stephen are forced to grow up before their time, their friendship deepens -- and together they discover that sometimes falling apart is only steps away from falling in love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, World War II, Canada, War, Fiction

Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

I am English by birth, Canadian by choice. I live in Dundas, Ontario, with my husband and sometimes my son (he goes to boarding school, and no, it's his choice, not because he is a bad boy!)

I love history, especially anything to do with Norse history and Vikings. Researching any of my historical novels is my idea of fun. I am currently researching the fall of Hong Kong in 1941 to write a book in Scholastic's I Am Canada series from the point of view of a young soldier from Winnipeg.

I also love fantasy and science fiction and still plan to write an epic fantasy based on Norse history and mythology with a few werebears thrown in. I did mention that I love Vikings, didn't I?

Reviews

[Jessica Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A foreign field sets place in Hagersville, Ontario during the time of World War 2. The main character Ellen Logan is a 14-year-old girl forced to grow up before her time, by taking on extra responsibility to help her family as they support the war effort. During this she meets Stephen Dearborn a young British pilot in training, as their friendship grows, Stephen unearths a deep secret to Ellen and their lives take a different turn. As the war effort heats up, Stephen is called upon to serve his country and has to leave.
Ellen and Stephen keep in touch through letters while he is away, and this deepens their connection, but as Stephen soon realizes that war is painful and frightening, he confides in Ellen his fears, nightmares and struggles when a close friend dies on a mission. Ellen send encouraging letters back to keep his spirits up but as tragedy hits, Stephen become a hero after facing his fears after his close friend’s death and steps into the cockpit.
This is truly a coming of age story, that I enjoyed and still often reread even years after I first read it. Gillian Chan makes you fall in love with the adorable awkward characters, and makes their relationship one based on respect, and understanding each other in their common dreams and feelings about the war. They also set a realistic reality of what war life would have been like for those of that time, it will make you laugh and cry. It is a book that will make you feel even after you’ve turned the last page.

[Alyssia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a good story, it made me cry at the end.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one I remember reading once or twice in high school, around the same time I first read Ruth Elwin Harris (Sisters of the Quantock Hills) and Theresa Breslin (Remembrance). Unfortunately, this book is not as good as those. The plot is promising (European pilots training in Canada prior to WWII) but I never felt invested in the characters. They weren't particularly developed or memorable. I felt like the author wanted me to care about them, but I just didn't know enough about them to feel connected. I also felt that the cover and summary bill this as a romance and it really wasn't. The romance angle felt very forced and awkward. Minus a little rough language, this seemed aimed more at middle grade readers than young adults.
Not a bad book, per say, but not one I'd recommend and not on par at all with the authors mentioned above.

[Shanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this book once before and like the last time, I could not set it down for too long. Once I started to read it, I could not stop.
I definitely have a soft spot for books set during World War II and throw in a love story, well I'm in trouble!
The friendship between Ellen and Stephen made me laugh at times and get teary-eyed at other times. This is definitely a great read for teens and adults as well.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really loved this book for awhile now; it's one of my squishy favorites just because. While I do love this book, I won't whole-heartedly recommend it, because it does include swearing and somewhat adult situations (mentions of a girl getting pregnant out of wedlock, etc...).

Still, a very sweet story about a girl on the Canadian home-front and a RAF pilot.

[TheIron Paw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A "Young Adult" novel setting: WWII air training in Southern Ontario. A young british pilot trainee and a young local girl struggle with their fears and prejudices. Very well written with strong character development. I rarely give books a 5, but this one earned it.

[Shanelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and could not, for the life of me, set it down. The relationship between Ellen and Stephen was a sweet one and had myself glued to the book waiting to read what happened next.

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book, but many losses

[Rebecca Radnor]

Not available on kindle

[Amy Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/a-forei...

[day · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England.