Sniper Fire: The Fight for Ortona, Paul Baldassara, Italy, 1943

I Am Canada

by Jonathan Webb

Seventeen-year-old Paul Baldassara lies about his age to enlist in the Canadian Army. He joins the Loyal Edmonton regiment, which is tasked with taking Italy’s port town of Ortona. Little does he know the horrors of the battle that lie ahead . . .

Paul soon finds himself in the midst of the fierce fighting that earned Ortona the name “the Italian Stalingrad,” because of the massive casualties and deaths. He and his fellow Canadian soldiers resort to tactics such as “mouse-holing” — blasting their way through the walls of houses which German snipers have made the streets and courtyards.

Will Paul prevail and help the Canadians save Ortona, no matter what the risk?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, World War II

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2016

Reviews

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This I am Canada novel describes the WWII sniper battle of Ortona, Italy. The heroes are among the Loyal Edmonton riflemen and they find themselves in a house to house battle down the narrow streets of the city. Teens who play the Call of Duty games will instantly understand the difficulty of the landscape and will be able to identify the army jargon. The battles scenes are exciting and the ingenuity of the soldiers is impressive. The accompanying maps and photos are helpful. Recommended for teens and reluctant readers who enjoy military history.

[Gouett's 5'S · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sniper Fire: the fight for Ortona" is an Action and adventure and realistic fiction. The Author is Jonathan Webb. The main Character in the Book is Paul Baldassara who has to fight for Ortona.

This takes place at the beginning of the book when Paul is going from Colle d’anchise and travel from there forward. Now Paul has to face a lot of challenges that will put him at risk of Danger. This book is about Paul and his friends Danny, Loon, Jimmy, and Doug. I liked the book because it had tons of adventures that they go on some bad and some good I think this book is good for young readers like girls and boys.

[Lori Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t bad but wasn’t fantastic either. Was a fairly easy book to read.

[Chloe Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike the other books in the series, this one does not have a prologue or epilogue. It is narrated in the present tense. Considering how the Italian campaign of WWII doesn’t get much attention, I thought that this was a good addition to the series. It also explores the treatment of Italian Canadians during the war.

[Michelle]

Did not finish. I've read all the other books in the series, and I'm a history major who's studied this period...but I just couldn't get into it.