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Under a War-Torn Sky #2
A Troubled Peace
March 1945
World War II may be ending, but for nineteen-year-old pilot Henry Forester the conflict still rages. Shot down behind enemy lines in France, Henry endured a dangerous trek to freedom, relying on the heroism of civilians and Resistance fighters to stay alive. But back home in Virginia, Henry is still reliving air battles with Hitler's Luftwaffe and his torture by the Gestapo. Mostly, Henry can't stop worrying about the safety of those who helped him escape—especially one French boy, Pierre, who, because of Henry, may have lost everything.
When Henry returns to France to find Pierre, he is stunned by the brutal after-math of combat: starvation, cities shattered by Allied bombing, and the shocking return of concentration camp survivors. Amid the rubble of war, Henry must begin a daring search for a lost boy—plus a fight to regain his own internal peace and the trust of the girl he loves.
L. M. Elliott's sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky is an astonishing account of surviving the fallout from war.
World War II may be ending, but for nineteen-year-old pilot Henry Forester the conflict still rages. Shot down behind enemy lines in France, Henry endured a dangerous trek to freedom, relying on the heroism of civilians and Resistance fighters to stay alive. But back home in Virginia, Henry is still reliving air battles with Hitler's Luftwaffe and his torture by the Gestapo. Mostly, Henry can't stop worrying about the safety of those who helped him escape—especially one French boy, Pierre, who, because of Henry, may have lost everything.
When Henry returns to France to find Pierre, he is stunned by the brutal after-math of combat: starvation, cities shattered by Allied bombing, and the shocking return of concentration camp survivors. Amid the rubble of war, Henry must begin a daring search for a lost boy—plus a fight to regain his own internal peace and the trust of the girl he loves.
L. M. Elliott's sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky is an astonishing account of surviving the fallout from war.
289 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2009
34 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Elliott
16 books358 followersL. M. Elliott was an award-winning magazine journalist for 20 years before becoming a New York Times bestselling author of historical and biographical novels. Three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award and winner of multiple Dateline Awards, Elliott focused primarily on women's issues. Her groundbreaking profile of a domestic violence survivor, wife of a high-level federal government appointee, was one of the first to discuss "white-collar" violence against women and the psychological/emotional control intrinsic to the abuse. Elliott’s extensive reporting experience on such topics informed and enriched the themes and characters of TRUTH, LIES, AND THE QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN. It is her third docudrama-novel exploring a fraught political era and the dangers of disinformation, unchecked power, hate-rhetoric, and censorship.
Her 14 novels cover a variety of era--–the Cold War, WWII, the Great Depression, American Revolution, and the Italian Renaissance–--and are for a variety of readerships, ages middle grade to adult. Her works have been honored with the Scott O'Dell, VLA Cardinal Cup, and Grateful American prizes for historical fiction; been named NCSS/CBC Notables, Bank Street College of Education Bests, Kirkus Bests, Capitol Choices, and to the TXLA Tayshas HS Reading Lists; as well as named finalists for state awards in VA, MD, PA, UT, ME, VT, KS, IA, and SC.
She holds a BA from Wake Forest University and a MA in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Her 14 novels cover a variety of era--–the Cold War, WWII, the Great Depression, American Revolution, and the Italian Renaissance–--and are for a variety of readerships, ages middle grade to adult. Her works have been honored with the Scott O'Dell, VLA Cardinal Cup, and Grateful American prizes for historical fiction; been named NCSS/CBC Notables, Bank Street College of Education Bests, Kirkus Bests, Capitol Choices, and to the TXLA Tayshas HS Reading Lists; as well as named finalists for state awards in VA, MD, PA, UT, ME, VT, KS, IA, and SC.
She holds a BA from Wake Forest University and a MA in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 22, 2025
Wow. Very rarely do I find a sequel more outstanding than its predecessor. This one was.
Henry has found civilian life difficult upon returning home to Virginia. He is haunted by nightmares and flashbacks of his experiences as a fighter pilot. People he left behind in Europe cross his mind; evil ones, like SS officers, but also brave ones, that literally sacrificed themselves in attempt to combat Nazi atrocities. One small boy, Pierre, whose family took Henry into hiding for months in France, is the one he’s most concerned about, enough so that Henry is willing to return to France to find out about his fate…
Historical fiction buffs will love this novel of the ending months of WW2. The depictions of the orphaned French children, and the released concentration camp survivors will render tears, but the reader will also cheer inwardly at the scenes of joy portrayed on May 8, 1945, the long awaited VE Day. The author’s notes at the end are an excellent addition to the story.
Henry has found civilian life difficult upon returning home to Virginia. He is haunted by nightmares and flashbacks of his experiences as a fighter pilot. People he left behind in Europe cross his mind; evil ones, like SS officers, but also brave ones, that literally sacrificed themselves in attempt to combat Nazi atrocities. One small boy, Pierre, whose family took Henry into hiding for months in France, is the one he’s most concerned about, enough so that Henry is willing to return to France to find out about his fate…
Historical fiction buffs will love this novel of the ending months of WW2. The depictions of the orphaned French children, and the released concentration camp survivors will render tears, but the reader will also cheer inwardly at the scenes of joy portrayed on May 8, 1945, the long awaited VE Day. The author’s notes at the end are an excellent addition to the story.
August 14, 2009
Laura Elliott was kind enough to send me an ARC of this title. Just finished it a few minutes ago and had to send her an email letting her know how it had affected me. Hopefully she won't mind that I'm including part of it below:
You have such a gift for creating characters who really resonate with kids. It sounds so cliched to say that you bring history to life for them, but WOW. Kids who thought they had "learned" World War II are going to be knocked off their feet when they read this. Letting readers know what happened to Henry and Patsy after he returned home is nice, but this story goes so far beyond that... for me, it was even more powerful than the first one.
This sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky does stand alone, but why let it? Elliott's historical fiction is too good to miss one of her titles.
You have such a gift for creating characters who really resonate with kids. It sounds so cliched to say that you bring history to life for them, but WOW. Kids who thought they had "learned" World War II are going to be knocked off their feet when they read this. Letting readers know what happened to Henry and Patsy after he returned home is nice, but this story goes so far beyond that... for me, it was even more powerful than the first one.
This sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky does stand alone, but why let it? Elliott's historical fiction is too good to miss one of her titles.
May 3, 2009
I read the uncorrected proof. I really love the way Laura Elliott incorporates historical research into her books. These snippets of life (a dog pulling a wagon, a boy peddling a bike to make electricity for a hair salon, etc.) blend into the story and make it a learning experience as well as an enjoyable read.
This is the kind of sequel you always wish for but never get. Elliott does a wonderful job tying up loose ends and giving an impression of the overall condition of France as WWII ends.
A must-read for fans of Under a War-Torn Sky.
This is the kind of sequel you always wish for but never get. Elliott does a wonderful job tying up loose ends and giving an impression of the overall condition of France as WWII ends.
A must-read for fans of Under a War-Torn Sky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
"Under a War-Torn Sky" has been my favorite book ever since I read it as a child, but I had no idea there was a sequel to it until a couple of months ago when I hastily bought it off of Amazon without research or checking out reviews. To be honest, I've read almost all of L.M. Elliott's books and have loved them all for many different reasons, specifically the amazing historical research and accuracy she writes with, so I had high hopes.
This book is like her others: well-written and heavily researched. It helps that Henry Forester is one of my favorite characters (probably one of my earliest Book Boyfriends). I am very emotional after reading the book, just like I was after reading "Under a War-Torn Sky," and pleased with the conclusion of Henry's story. All my favorite characters returned (Patsy, Pierre, and Madame), though not always happily, but it tied off Henry's relationships very well.
Overall, I am very happy I read it. I almost feel like that kid who read the first book over and over again, highlighting her favorite passages, and mourned over how beaten up the book became after carrying it all over the place to reread in a spare moment.
This book is like her others: well-written and heavily researched. It helps that Henry Forester is one of my favorite characters (probably one of my earliest Book Boyfriends). I am very emotional after reading the book, just like I was after reading "Under a War-Torn Sky," and pleased with the conclusion of Henry's story. All my favorite characters returned (Patsy, Pierre, and Madame), though not always happily, but it tied off Henry's relationships very well.
Overall, I am very happy I read it. I almost feel like that kid who read the first book over and over again, highlighting her favorite passages, and mourned over how beaten up the book became after carrying it all over the place to reread in a spare moment.
October 3, 2017
This sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky, was not as compelling, but was a satisfying conclusion. Especially interesting was the 17 page Afterword which covered the aftermath of the devastation of WWII in France. Discussion of PTSD.
February 1, 2025
Loved finding out what happened to the characters in “Under a War-Torn Sky” and gaining insight of life for a serviceman post war.
November 11, 2014
This is the sequel to Under a War-torn Sky which I have taught in the past and am again using with an EFL class with the theme of WWII. The students have appreciated that book in the past, and when ordering it, I saw there was a sequel and decided to check it out. This picks up shortly after the previous one ends, and is a very interesting look at France in the immediate post-war period. Not for the faint of heart, the descriptions of the retributions and revenge are probably nonetheless still toned down. The book offers what I felt was a quite accurate analysis of the in-fighting between the various groups at the end of the war, and how eyes were closed on the misdeeds of collaborators and worse, when it was felt those persons could forward a political position. This also evokes the subject of post-traumatic stress disorder, a theme often overlooked in the case of WWII vets. As some of the students in my current class are quite young, I'm not sure I would use this with them, but might find this of value with an older class.
March 5, 2009
This book is not yet an ARC but I urge you to look for it when it comes out. The sequel to Under A War Torn Sky, it deals with Henry's inability to adjust to life back on the farm, haunted by his experiences in Europe escaping the Nazis.
He returns to France as WW II ends, trying to find out what has happened to those who helped him escape (he was shot down behind enemy lines). This is a haunting look at life in a country that has been devastated by war, the terrible lives of those who have "survived", the reception of the "absents", those who have been in concentration camps, the bickering among those in government with their own agenda (DeGaulle does not come off well here) and the harsh realities of survival (everyone seems to be trying to make a deal). There is lots that will resonate with what's going on in the world today, told in a powerful, haunting style.
He returns to France as WW II ends, trying to find out what has happened to those who helped him escape (he was shot down behind enemy lines). This is a haunting look at life in a country that has been devastated by war, the terrible lives of those who have "survived", the reception of the "absents", those who have been in concentration camps, the bickering among those in government with their own agenda (DeGaulle does not come off well here) and the harsh realities of survival (everyone seems to be trying to make a deal). There is lots that will resonate with what's going on in the world today, told in a powerful, haunting style.
February 15, 2021
In this continuation of the story begun in "Under a War-Torn Sky," Henry Forrester struggles with memories of what he has done--and left undone--during his time in France during World War II.
Henry thought returning home to family and the girl he loved would bring him peace. He was done with war, done flying bombing missions, done being a witness to death and destruction. All he wanted to do was get back to normal and finally marry Patsy, his childhood sweetheart.
But he's troubled by nightmares, a temper he can't always predict or control, and nothing he tries seems to help.
Finally, he decides to return to France to try and lay some ghosts to rest and find some people he hopes haven't turned into ghosts while he's been away.
This is a straightforward yet tender novel portraying the aftereffects of war, including the invisible divide between veterans and civilians that is one of the most challenging stumbling blocks to re-entering society after a war. Civilians often don't know what to ask, what to talk about, and veterans must confront daily lives that don't center on life-or-death decisions.
This book portrays the steps one returning soldier and his family take to build bridges among themselves. Most of the time, the family members are offstage. But every decision Henry makes in the novel has his family as its catalyst, and his family will reap the consequences of all those decisions as surely as they reap the corn that grows on their Virginia farm.
Henry thought returning home to family and the girl he loved would bring him peace. He was done with war, done flying bombing missions, done being a witness to death and destruction. All he wanted to do was get back to normal and finally marry Patsy, his childhood sweetheart.
But he's troubled by nightmares, a temper he can't always predict or control, and nothing he tries seems to help.
Finally, he decides to return to France to try and lay some ghosts to rest and find some people he hopes haven't turned into ghosts while he's been away.
This is a straightforward yet tender novel portraying the aftereffects of war, including the invisible divide between veterans and civilians that is one of the most challenging stumbling blocks to re-entering society after a war. Civilians often don't know what to ask, what to talk about, and veterans must confront daily lives that don't center on life-or-death decisions.
This book portrays the steps one returning soldier and his family take to build bridges among themselves. Most of the time, the family members are offstage. But every decision Henry makes in the novel has his family as its catalyst, and his family will reap the consequences of all those decisions as surely as they reap the corn that grows on their Virginia farm.
October 29, 2017
I have read the historical fiction novel "A troubled peace" by L.M. Elliot, it is the second book in it's series. L.M. Elliot is an award winning writer who writes young adult books. The book follows Henry,a 19 year old pilot, who is trying to find Pierre, a French boy who saved his life. while at Virginia after he made it back there he relives fights with Hitler's Luftwaffe and the Gestapo. Feeling that he needs to find Pierre he leaves his home and family behind to search for Pierre in France. He might find Pierre, and that might happen.
I read this book usually before class, but I some times read it at home. I liked the characters and the interactions between them. I also liked the way the author developed the characters in the story. I mostly felt feelings from happiness and joy to feelings of sorrow and sadness. I think this would be a relatively pleasant book for ages 13 through 19, or maybe even older. A book that is similar to this one is "The Boy In the Striped pajamas". So if someone did you good would you go all the way to another country to just see if they were okay?
I read this book usually before class, but I some times read it at home. I liked the characters and the interactions between them. I also liked the way the author developed the characters in the story. I mostly felt feelings from happiness and joy to feelings of sorrow and sadness. I think this would be a relatively pleasant book for ages 13 through 19, or maybe even older. A book that is similar to this one is "The Boy In the Striped pajamas". So if someone did you good would you go all the way to another country to just see if they were okay?
June 4, 2020
The sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky, we meet Henry Forester, who has returned from France following his capture and interrogation by the Nazis after being shot down. Henry suffers from nightmares and flashbacks from his experience, and he feels that he needs to go back to France to see how Pierre, the young boy who saved him, has fared. During Henry's trip back to France, we see the results of the destruction caused by the war that is ending, and the return of concentration camp survivors. The aftermath of war's destruction is seldom mentioned in historical fiction books about WWII, and this will open readers eyes to the problems left after victory. The characters, Henry especially, grow and change throughout the story. Excellent for young adults to read, especially if they have read the previous book.
September 3, 2022
"A Troubled Peace" and it's precursor, "Under a War-Torn Sky" are two of my favorite books. I finished the first one earlier this summer and moved on to the sequel, which takes me a little longer to get through usually. I appreciate L.M. Elliott's painstaking research to place you in France in the months before VE day. To remind the reader that when the war is over on paper, or when a country is 'liberated' after the fact, it's not over in the countries torn apart or in the hearts and minds of those involved. War leaves places a mess, and having Henry be our guide as we struggle through it with them is a heartbreaking reminder. This is not my first re-read through these two books and it won't be my last.
February 23, 2022
I enjoyed this sequel to A War-Torn Sky, but it was written well enough to also adequately stand alone if you haven't read the first book. Henry still carries a lot from his experiences as he fought his way back home, and arriving home safely doesn't right all the wrongs done to him and others in the war. At times the research done by the author seems to take over the story, but that realism also makes the emotional roller coaster believable. I loved the symbolism of the marble through out and the strength of family in all its imperfections that continued to empower Henry and a few old friends in this continuing adventure. Across A War-Tossed Sea is book three.
May 11, 2020
1945 Virginia and France
Henry is a 20 year old WWII veteran, returning home from from the horrors of battle, dealing with PTSD. He's a loving young man who would like nothing better than to return to his old life, and settle back in with his family and girlfriend. It's not a simple task. He remembers those who saved his life while he was in France, and he wonders what became of them. This is a powerful read, and I highly recommend it.
Henry is a 20 year old WWII veteran, returning home from from the horrors of battle, dealing with PTSD. He's a loving young man who would like nothing better than to return to his old life, and settle back in with his family and girlfriend. It's not a simple task. He remembers those who saved his life while he was in France, and he wonders what became of them. This is a powerful read, and I highly recommend it.
September 3, 2021
A great sequel to a brilliant book. “A Troubled Peace” tells the story of Henry Forrester who feels compelled to return to France shortly before the end of WWII to find the young French boy who saved his life in “Under A War Torn Sky”.
Admittedly, I did enjoy the first book slightly more than this one, but if you enjoyed “Under A War Torn Sky”, there is absolutely no reason to not read this book.
Well written and covering an important period in history, this book is well worth a read.
Admittedly, I did enjoy the first book slightly more than this one, but if you enjoyed “Under A War Torn Sky”, there is absolutely no reason to not read this book.
Well written and covering an important period in history, this book is well worth a read.
September 6, 2023
Another exciting yet touching book by L.M.Elliott. Our hero, Henry, from Under a War-Torn Sky returns to Europe at the end of WWII to calm his unsettled anxieties and search for the young boy who helped him escape. I especially enjoyed reading of his reunion with Madame Gaulloise...how touching! In the end, all is well with Henry and his family. I can only hope that he and Patsy lived a long life together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2020
This is a great ending to this story. It's very touching, and although it isn't gushy, it has its way of expressing strong emotions to you, especially hate for all the people who did wrong during the war. Definitely recommend.
June 15, 2023
Troubled Peace, A Elliott, Laura * 4 YA hist. WWII 2) after WWII flier returns home w/ PTSD trouble making peace w/ daily US life until finds out what happened to the resistance fighters who saved him 2014 11/5/2014
October 26, 2017
A great story of a pilot in World War II. I really liked the story it brought you to the war torn France and showed you how life was then.
October 31, 2017
I think this was a good but a little boring of a historical book.
November 22, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up :)
October 8, 2021
This book was ok, but not as good as the first. I found myself skipping whole pages where I felt knew what was going to happen or was just bored.
August 13, 2024
Quick read & great sequel
November 11, 2024
This book made me ugly cry.
December 11, 2020
I absolutely loved Under A War Torn Sky, and taught it as part of the 8th grade curriculum, but I was oddly hesitant to read this sequel. I am so glad I finally decided to do it. The novel felt slow and forced at the very beginning, but it shifted into a fascinating look at life in a war-torn country as the war ends and people from all sides try to make sense of the world they now find themselves in, and rebuild what they have lost.
There are many novels out there about war, but I feel like my eyes have been opened to the fear, pain, and loss that is part of rebuilding after war ends.
I read They Went Left right after this, and recommend both very highly!
There are many novels out there about war, but I feel like my eyes have been opened to the fear, pain, and loss that is part of rebuilding after war ends.
I read They Went Left right after this, and recommend both very highly!
February 12, 2013
A Troubled Peace
Author, Laura Malone Elliott
If there was an award for “the book that touched the hearts,” a Troubled Peace would certainly get that award. A Troubled Peace is the sequel to Under a War Torn Sky, which was our summer reading book last year. I had liked the book so much that I read it twice, and I looked to see if there was a sequel. Once I had heard that there was indeed a sequel, I had screamed.
Honestly, I loved this book, and would read it again, I would suggest it to those who are twelve to fifteen years of age, and I would also not suggest this to a specific gender because it really depends on your choice, and genres of books. This book is fictional/non fictional. The only thing I think should be changed about this book is that Henry’s feelings should be expressed in a more detailed way, and there should also be a bit more action, if not only a little; however over-looking those minor missteps, I would say that this book would indeed be a 4-5 star book. L.M. Elliot did a great job in describing the scenery, and she added several plot changing twists that only makes readers want to keep reading. Elliot also does a great job pointing out that though one person had gone through a lot during World War II, those who were imprisoned in camps had gone through worse, and their troubles would not end even after war. Sometimes, they die from their troubles.
A Troubled Peace is a heart racing, and mind challenging book that touches the hearts of all who read it. It tells the story of what Henry is going through after he escapes the Nazi controlled countries of Europe that he had to travel, trusting strangers with his life, and becoming vulnerable to not only the Nazis, but the ever prowling scavenger that searches to feed on the nightmares of this trouble minded soldier; or what we like to call, fear.
Although Henry has returned safe and sound to his small farm in Virginia, he is still haunted by the memories of war and his last bombing, he is now as vulnerable to his still prowling fear as ever, which searches to devour him at his weakest moments. As he goes on with his life, he faces more loss, regret, guilt, fear, doubts and second thoughts everywhere he turns, especially on his journey to France. Many of these thoughts keep on referring to a certain eight year old boy that had lost his whole family, because of Henry; and his name is Pierre.
On a such desperate quest to find, and help the boy who had helped him, Henry experiences more loss, however much more painful than if he had experienced it while he was on the run; yet he also experiences joy, happiness, pain, and of course, more fear. Meeting and losing old friends, running into old enemies, making new friends, as well as enemies.
Throughout this book you will notice that Henry has trouble figuring out what is real, and what are his fear, memories, and imagination playing with him. Also you will see how much more pain, hurt, sadness, and loss Henry can take before he does the unspeakable. Even though World War II has ended and peace had been declared, in this book Henry has to, yet to declare peace within himself. Once again he faces danger, and also becomes vulnerable to his frequent flashbacks that send his mind and world spinning until he can find some way of fixing them, making this, indeed, a troubled peace.
Author, Laura Malone Elliott
If there was an award for “the book that touched the hearts,” a Troubled Peace would certainly get that award. A Troubled Peace is the sequel to Under a War Torn Sky, which was our summer reading book last year. I had liked the book so much that I read it twice, and I looked to see if there was a sequel. Once I had heard that there was indeed a sequel, I had screamed.
Honestly, I loved this book, and would read it again, I would suggest it to those who are twelve to fifteen years of age, and I would also not suggest this to a specific gender because it really depends on your choice, and genres of books. This book is fictional/non fictional. The only thing I think should be changed about this book is that Henry’s feelings should be expressed in a more detailed way, and there should also be a bit more action, if not only a little; however over-looking those minor missteps, I would say that this book would indeed be a 4-5 star book. L.M. Elliot did a great job in describing the scenery, and she added several plot changing twists that only makes readers want to keep reading. Elliot also does a great job pointing out that though one person had gone through a lot during World War II, those who were imprisoned in camps had gone through worse, and their troubles would not end even after war. Sometimes, they die from their troubles.
A Troubled Peace is a heart racing, and mind challenging book that touches the hearts of all who read it. It tells the story of what Henry is going through after he escapes the Nazi controlled countries of Europe that he had to travel, trusting strangers with his life, and becoming vulnerable to not only the Nazis, but the ever prowling scavenger that searches to feed on the nightmares of this trouble minded soldier; or what we like to call, fear.
Although Henry has returned safe and sound to his small farm in Virginia, he is still haunted by the memories of war and his last bombing, he is now as vulnerable to his still prowling fear as ever, which searches to devour him at his weakest moments. As he goes on with his life, he faces more loss, regret, guilt, fear, doubts and second thoughts everywhere he turns, especially on his journey to France. Many of these thoughts keep on referring to a certain eight year old boy that had lost his whole family, because of Henry; and his name is Pierre.
On a such desperate quest to find, and help the boy who had helped him, Henry experiences more loss, however much more painful than if he had experienced it while he was on the run; yet he also experiences joy, happiness, pain, and of course, more fear. Meeting and losing old friends, running into old enemies, making new friends, as well as enemies.
Throughout this book you will notice that Henry has trouble figuring out what is real, and what are his fear, memories, and imagination playing with him. Also you will see how much more pain, hurt, sadness, and loss Henry can take before he does the unspeakable. Even though World War II has ended and peace had been declared, in this book Henry has to, yet to declare peace within himself. Once again he faces danger, and also becomes vulnerable to his frequent flashbacks that send his mind and world spinning until he can find some way of fixing them, making this, indeed, a troubled peace.
February 1, 2013
Henry Forester is back once again in this beloved sequel to, “Under a War Torn Sky”. After returning home from being a pilot in World War two, Henry is being affected by the then unknown disease PTWS, or Post Traumatic War Syndrome. The memories from his war experience are giving him nightmares, causing flashbacks, and changing him overall. His girlfriend Patsy refuses to marry him because she thinks that he expects her to fix him, but he is too broken for her to fix.
Henry finally decides that he needs to go back to France and settle his problem by knowing the fate of his old companion Pierre. But, when he arrives, Henry is shocked to find the ruins of the magnificent city he once knew. The holocaust victims are sickening to look at and the buildings are nothing but rubble. The black market is the only way to get the items you need. But, working with what little information he has, Hank manages to find Pierre, who’s mother’s death has left him distraught and scarred for life. Pierre is living on the street in a cardboard tent. Henry takes him home to America, where Henry is sure to inform America about the horrible conditions in, “The city of love”.
The book is called, “A Troubled Peace” because of an encounter Henry has with a very smart man. After France is liberated, Hank thinks that the country is at peace and their problems are over. But, the man disagrees. The people are fighting each other and the economy and cities will take years to fix. So, France now has, “A Troubled Peace”.
I thought this was an amazing book. The author backed it up with history that fit well into the story. It was very clever and well written. The book is a very good WWll book because all though the holocaust was an important part of WWll, most books let it overpower the novel. Elliot, however, balanced both World War two and the holocaust perfectly. The book kept me interested and wanting more.
There were very few flaws in this book. I did see a couple, though. My main problem was that the book is mainly set in France, and many of the French phrases are not translated, making it difficult to understand at times. Also, when I first started reading it, I thought the story was very dull. It was not until later that I became interested. Finally, there should have been an epilogue. I don’t think a third book would be convenient, but the ending was not good enough to be a really nice cliffhanger, but it was just enough for more to be needed.
Well, overall, “A Troubled Peace” was not a disappointment. If you liked the first book, you’ll definitely like this one. I would recommend the first book (sentence 1) to historical fiction, holocaust, and WWll interests. I would recommend this to boys and girls ages 12-14. I hope the story pleases you, and grabs you in to the life of Henry Forester, just as it did to me.
Henry finally decides that he needs to go back to France and settle his problem by knowing the fate of his old companion Pierre. But, when he arrives, Henry is shocked to find the ruins of the magnificent city he once knew. The holocaust victims are sickening to look at and the buildings are nothing but rubble. The black market is the only way to get the items you need. But, working with what little information he has, Hank manages to find Pierre, who’s mother’s death has left him distraught and scarred for life. Pierre is living on the street in a cardboard tent. Henry takes him home to America, where Henry is sure to inform America about the horrible conditions in, “The city of love”.
The book is called, “A Troubled Peace” because of an encounter Henry has with a very smart man. After France is liberated, Hank thinks that the country is at peace and their problems are over. But, the man disagrees. The people are fighting each other and the economy and cities will take years to fix. So, France now has, “A Troubled Peace”.
I thought this was an amazing book. The author backed it up with history that fit well into the story. It was very clever and well written. The book is a very good WWll book because all though the holocaust was an important part of WWll, most books let it overpower the novel. Elliot, however, balanced both World War two and the holocaust perfectly. The book kept me interested and wanting more.
There were very few flaws in this book. I did see a couple, though. My main problem was that the book is mainly set in France, and many of the French phrases are not translated, making it difficult to understand at times. Also, when I first started reading it, I thought the story was very dull. It was not until later that I became interested. Finally, there should have been an epilogue. I don’t think a third book would be convenient, but the ending was not good enough to be a really nice cliffhanger, but it was just enough for more to be needed.
Well, overall, “A Troubled Peace” was not a disappointment. If you liked the first book, you’ll definitely like this one. I would recommend the first book (sentence 1) to historical fiction, holocaust, and WWll interests. I would recommend this to boys and girls ages 12-14. I hope the story pleases you, and grabs you in to the life of Henry Forester, just as it did to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 20, 2017“Sometimes you get back on your feet better when you're helping someone else stand in the process. The last thing in the world I want is for you to go away again. But i don't think you'll rest easy until you know about that little boy. Maybe… maybe you need to go back to France and find Pierre” (Elliot, Chapter 4). A Troubled Peace, by L.M. Elliot is a sequel to World War 2 thriller Under a Worn Torn Sky. Henry Forester has come back from Europe, and has everything he wanted when he was running from the Nazis and Gestapo. The only thing wrong with Henry though was the fact that everything he saw in France and wondering what happened to the people that helped him haunted him. Suffering from PTSD, Henry decides to go back to France to look for the boy that helped him. When arriving in France, Henry could not sleep because he would dream of the Nazis that tortured him. The author, Elliot, tries to show the effect of war on the populous that is caught in the middle. Throughout the book, Henry Forrester met knew people that had been decimated by the war and lost everyone and everything that they knew. The people, uncomfortable with Henry’s presence grew a fondness of him and found his appearance of a kind of closer for the people that they lost because the Americans did not come in time to help them. During Henry's escapade, he found the women that had helped smuggle him out of France, remembering her as a strong beautiful lady, he found her frail and deathly because of the cruel things that the Nazis had done to her. Even though she found it hard to find happiness because of everything that she had lost, Henry noticed that her morals and strong beliefs were still intact. Throughout the book Henry slowly got better with coping with his PTSD of the war because he had lost nothing compared to the people of France. Elliot uses many historical events to make his novels come more alive to his target audience. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed Under a War-Torn Sky and anyone that enjoys books that relate to historical events.
January 3, 2014
The sequel to L.M. Elliott's first novel, Under a War Torn Sky, this story follows Henry as he returns to France in an attempt to heal from the effects of the dramatic nightmares he suffers after returning home to Virginia. Many of the characters from the first novel are in this story as well including Claudette and Madame Gaulloise. Henry's main mission on his return to France is to look for Pierre, the boy that he left in the care of a priest after Pierre's grandfather was killed and the mother was arrested by the Germans. Along the way, Henry learns that even though France has been liberated, the war has not ended for the French people. The war is literally still going on in various parts of Europe, and VE Day (Victory in Europe) happens while Henry is still in France, but the French have huge issues. There is enormous distrust of Allied soldiers, specifically American GIs, as well as issues between the French people themselves. Who collaborated with the Germans? Who resisted them? Who resisted them but appeared to be collaborating. What will France do to rebuild? How will it re-establish its presence in Europe? Besides the physical rebuilding, what will the government of France be? Who will get control? Who will be able to vote and lead the way? So many questions for France to answer after the war, this novel does an excellent job of portraying these difficult issues and the lack of awareness of Americans of these issues, until Henry sees them for himself. Clearly, L.M. Elliott did an enormous amount of research in writing this story. Excellent.
November 10, 2012
I'm conflicted about this book and would probably give it a 3.5 if I could.
I first heard about A Troubled Peace when I was reading The Book Thief. It has won awards and gotten recognition for being an ideal middle grade historical reader about World War II. It is hyper accurate. I can't complain about Elliott's research. I actually learned some interesting details about the peace process for the people of France in the spring/summer of 1945.
However, it has two key problems - 1. lack of a storyline 2. an unclear sense of who the audience should be.
1. The middle of the book, rather than telling a good story, moves from location to location in which the author throws an information dump of everything relevant and important to understand about France in the summer of 1945. Conveniently Henry meets George Orwell and Albert Camus, comes across a protest of women suffragettes, and witnesses pretty much every historical event of the era.
2. The story is written simply enough for a young(er)? reader but I don't know that a young reader would relate to the character very well (an 18 year old American pilot who had been captured by the Nazis in the first book and has just proposed to his Virginia girlfriend). Yet an older reader who could better relate to the character might feel the story was overly sanitized based on the reality of Paris 1945.
I first heard about A Troubled Peace when I was reading The Book Thief. It has won awards and gotten recognition for being an ideal middle grade historical reader about World War II. It is hyper accurate. I can't complain about Elliott's research. I actually learned some interesting details about the peace process for the people of France in the spring/summer of 1945.
However, it has two key problems - 1. lack of a storyline 2. an unclear sense of who the audience should be.
1. The middle of the book, rather than telling a good story, moves from location to location in which the author throws an information dump of everything relevant and important to understand about France in the summer of 1945. Conveniently Henry meets George Orwell and Albert Camus, comes across a protest of women suffragettes, and witnesses pretty much every historical event of the era.
2. The story is written simply enough for a young(er)? reader but I don't know that a young reader would relate to the character very well (an 18 year old American pilot who had been captured by the Nazis in the first book and has just proposed to his Virginia girlfriend). Yet an older reader who could better relate to the character might feel the story was overly sanitized based on the reality of Paris 1945.
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