Book 7: Across a War-Tossed Sea by L. M. Elliott

As promised--a book that is a new genre!  Across a War-Tossed Sea by L. M. Elliott is a historical fiction set during World War II in 1943.  This book is considered a companion book to Under a War-Torn Sky.  You don't need to read both for the story to make sense.  Under a War-Torn Sky takes place in the same time setting and the main character, Henry, has a connection to the characters in Across a War-Tossed Sea.  He isn't in this book, but his name is mentioned, making the books connected in a companion format.

I read this book as part of a YA book club I am in with other teachers.  See--I do as I teach!  When I ask my students to participate in certain components within the classroom, I am often doing something similar, possibly even exactly the same, so that I know what my students are feeling.  For this book club, I have been asked to read three books over the summer before our very first meeting in September.

I have to make an admission...I do not usually enjoy historical fiction.  The underlying reason is due to my lack of definitive knowledge relating to history.  It seems to me that the authors of historical fiction expect their readers to have a decent knowledge base revolving the event depicted in the story.  I find myself feeling as if I am missing important details and questioning my background information about those events.  This feeling leads to my lack of interest in the genre.

I did enjoy Across a War-Tossed Sea.  I do know a good bit about World War II, so the holes in my knowledge didn't dissuade me as I read.  Even so, I never really knew about the British children and German POWs being sent to America.  I think this was an interesting element, because most of what we learn and know is focused on Europe.

Reading this story actually gave me new knowledge about this time period in our history.  It drove me to research what was presented in the story and kept the learning going!  That's when I know that I have connected with a historical fiction book--it piques my curiosity.

The story examines the lives of two British boys sent to live with a family in Virginia in order to escape the attacks in Great Britain.  They have to work through a lot of painful emotions as the book unfolds, deciding who they are becoming and what they will stand for in life.  The focus flips between both boys, who are very different from one another.

This is the type of book that would be a great connection to both Virginia studies and US history.  I would absolutely recommend Across a War-Tossed Sea to middle school students.