A Troubled Peace

We were happy to receive this item earlier than the expected arrival date as my daughter needed it for school and it was unavailable at any of the local bookstores and our public libraries.

As a veteran high school teacher of Creative Writing, Honors English, and AP English Lit and Comp, as well as a variety of literature and writing courses designed for students who find reading and writing to be not the most exciting of academic (much less enjoyable) activities, I have found L.M. Elliott's works to be a godsend. From UNDER A WAR-TORN SKY to ANNIE: BETWEEN THE STATES and FLYING SOUTH, Ms. Elliott has never ceased to engage the interest and excitement of my students - from the most gifted to the most challenged. There is a comfort, a reassurance, for the reader in each of Ms. Elliott's works that the integrity of her historical fiction is intact - and that, even as the reader is being entertained literarily and educated historically, he is also being involved in the process of looking at and learning about the human condition . . . all with a remarkable respect for the very history that provides a backdrop to the fiction and for every individual who populates her pages. The same holds true for Ms. Elliott's HUNTER AND STRIPEe children's series, which never fails to deliver valuable life's lessons about fairness while bringing joy and laughter and warmth into the reader's heart. A TROUBLED PEACE not only continues Ms. Elliott's streak of excellence, it elevates dramatically the level of her willingness to reach into our hearts as well as engage our minds. My best, most advanced students love Peace, because "it's not pretentious; it speaks to us like we matter." A TROUBLED PEACE is not WAR AND PEACE, nor does it pretend to be; it is written, after all, for the intermediate reader . . . but, as does any great literature, it appeals to readers of all ages because it is superbly crafted and because it involves the reader. It's exciting to read about Henry after the trauma and drama of his Word War II experiences - and it brings homes, as WAR -TORN brought Henry home, a positive message that lifts the human heart. Life does go on, even after the misery and folly of war, and that life is populated with positivism and people who better our lives just for being a part of them - and for letting us be a part of theirs. L.M. Elliott has chosen, through her historical fiction and children's stories, to make our lives better for her having visited them; and she does so with an elegance and intelligence that transcend the tawdry tomes that try to pass themselves off as literature these days. A TROUBLED PEACE is more than worth your time as a reader; it is worth your engagement as a believer in the intrinsic goodness of the human heart.

I've waited a long time to find out what happened to all my favorite characters and I was not disappointed. "A Troubled Peace" was just as interesting and exciting as "Under a War Torn Sky" -- I could hardly put it down. Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally answering all my questions. We are currently learning about WWII in school and unfortunately, the sad realities that millions of French people faced trying to rebuild their lives has not been part of the discussion. I can't wait to give it to my friends!

It was nice to find out what happened to all of the characters in "War Torn", but too neat and tidy and a bit unbelievable that he could find out about everyone (even FIND most of them). Nevertheless, my 5th grader loved it, as she is an L.M. Elliot fan and addicted to sequels. Some of my 8th grade students also read it, but we all liked "War Torn" better.

Peace at the end of a war-peace for whom? Peace provides no easy "peace of mind" or comfort for those who have been involved in war. This book takes the reader into the troubled mind of Henry, an American pilot who was shot down over occupied France during World War II. In Under a War Torn Sky(first book), he was hunted by the Germans and lived through many adventures as he sought to get to safety. At the beginning of this book Henry is back at his home in Virginia but he faces post-traumatic stress syndrome and can't seem to find peace. His solution is to return to France to find the people who had helped him survive. While America is celebrating peace Henry finds a world turned upside down. This book would be a great book for history teachers to use to illustrate the dicotomy of war and peace. I can see a parallel to the "peace" in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other similar "areas of unrest." This should be a "must read" for students of history, military strategy, and policy making. This book is recommended for middle and high school readers. I think younger readers would need some support to understand all the intricate details provided in this adventure.