A Troubled Peace
Encyclopedia
A Troubled Peace is the sequel to the historical fiction
novel Under a War-Torn Sky
, written by Virginia author L.M. Elliott
.
may be ending, but for 19-year-old bomber pilot, Henry Forester, the conflict still rages on. Shot down over France
, Henry endured a dangerous trek to freedom, relying on civilians and French 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
. Henry worries about the safety of those who helped him escape—especially the young French boy, Pierre, who may have lost everything in his efforts to save Henry.
When Henry returns to France to find Pierre, he is stunned by the brutal aftermath of combat: widespread starvation, cities shattered by Allied bombing, and the return of survivors from the concentration camps. His efforts to find and secure the safety of Pierre help him to resolve the deep inner conflict he experiences at the beginning of the novel.
He returns to Virginia, after his attempt to finding Paige Brigham, who had betrayed Henry's trust by having "it" with Nam Vo.
"Under a War-Torn Sky," the author's first novel, tells the story of Henry Forester, a young pilot flying bombing missions in World War II. In the novel, Henry is trapped behind enemy lines; with the aid of resistance fighters (the Maquis
) as well as a host of brave French citizens, he is eventually reunited with Allied forces. Elliott drew inspiration for the novel from the experiences of her own father, who served as a bomber pilot in World War II and had to rely on the courage of everyday French people to reach freedom.
This novel and the sequel, "A Troubled Peace," are works of historical fiction
. The characters, dialog, and plot twists created by the author are crafted as believable, authentic representations. The author's first-hand research, including travel to sites in France described in the books, allows for specific references to actual geography and historical events; extensive secondary research (using rare print sources as well as actual artifacts) provides a level of historical detail that is not common in the genre. The author creates added texture with references to literature and music popular in the times described. (British novelist and critic George Orwell
appears in one scene of the novel, and the work of Albert Camus
is referred to.)
The author's works are noted for creating believable "coming of age
" novels which make extensive use of the conflicts experienced by military personnel as well as civilians who have been swept up into war. Books by the author appear in school curricula throughout the United States and are popular on summer reading lists.
General information on the author and specific information for students, teachers, and media center specialists can be found on the author's website.
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
novel Under a War-Torn Sky
Under a War-Torn Sky
Under a War-Torn Sky is a young adult war novel about a young man flying a B-24 in World War II. When his plane is shot down and he is trapped behind enemy lines, he is helped by kind French citizens to escape and get back to his home. Written by American author L.M. Elliott, the novel was first...
, written by Virginia author L.M. Elliott
L.M. Elliott
L. M. Elliott is the award-winning author of young adult novels, including Under a War-Torn Sky , Flying South , Annie Between the States , Give Me Liberty , and A Troubled Peace , the sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky.The author, who lives in Virginia, appears frequently at middle schools and high...
.
Summary
World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
may be ending, but for 19-year-old bomber pilot, Henry Forester, the conflict still rages on. Shot down over France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Henry endured a dangerous trek to freedom, relying on civilians and French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
fighters to stay alive. But back home in Virginia, Henry is still reliving air battles with Hitler’s Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and his torture by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. Henry worries about the safety of those who helped him escape—especially the young French boy, Pierre, who may have lost everything in his efforts to save Henry.
When Henry returns to France to find Pierre, he is stunned by the brutal aftermath of combat: widespread starvation, cities shattered by Allied bombing, and the return of survivors from the concentration camps. His efforts to find and secure the safety of Pierre help him to resolve the deep inner conflict he experiences at the beginning of the novel.
He returns to Virginia, after his attempt to finding Paige Brigham, who had betrayed Henry's trust by having "it" with Nam Vo.
Relevance to other works by L.M. Elliott
Elliott is the author of novels for young adults, including "Annie, Between the States," a Civil War story which tracks how the upheaval of that conflict changes the life of the young heroine. Another work, "Give Me Liberty," recreates the rise of revolutionary fervor in 1776 through the eyes of a young indentured servant who participates in one of the first battles of the war."Under a War-Torn Sky," the author's first novel, tells the story of Henry Forester, a young pilot flying bombing missions in World War II. In the novel, Henry is trapped behind enemy lines; with the aid of resistance fighters (the Maquis
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
) as well as a host of brave French citizens, he is eventually reunited with Allied forces. Elliott drew inspiration for the novel from the experiences of her own father, who served as a bomber pilot in World War II and had to rely on the courage of everyday French people to reach freedom.
This novel and the sequel, "A Troubled Peace," are works of historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
. The characters, dialog, and plot twists created by the author are crafted as believable, authentic representations. The author's first-hand research, including travel to sites in France described in the books, allows for specific references to actual geography and historical events; extensive secondary research (using rare print sources as well as actual artifacts) provides a level of historical detail that is not common in the genre. The author creates added texture with references to literature and music popular in the times described. (British novelist and critic George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
appears in one scene of the novel, and the work of Albert Camus
Albert Camus
Albert Camus was a French author, journalist, and key philosopher of the 20th century. In 1949, Camus founded the Group for International Liaisons within the Revolutionary Union Movement, which was opposed to some tendencies of the Surrealist movement of André Breton.Camus was awarded the 1957...
is referred to.)
The author's works are noted for creating believable "coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
" novels which make extensive use of the conflicts experienced by military personnel as well as civilians who have been swept up into war. Books by the author appear in school curricula throughout the United States and are popular on summer reading lists.
General information on the author and specific information for students, teachers, and media center specialists can be found on the author's website.
External links
- Website for author L. M. Elliott
- "Fall for the Book" (2009) for educators and students featuring "A Troubled Peace"
- Article in the ALAN Review (Summer 2009) by Linda Rice, "Writing and Teaching Historic Fiction"
- Article in the ALAN Review (Winter 2006) by Diane P. Tuccillo, "Quiet Voices with a Big Message"
- Profile of the author by Shelia Egan appearing in Childrenslit.com (from the author's website
- Washington Post Book of the Week, "Under a War-torn Sky"