Book Review: Beneath a Scarlet Sky

Book Review: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
book cover of Beaneath a Scarlet Sky - mountains dark with a red cloudy sky above and yellow lettering
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Categories: ,
Published: 2018-05
ISBN13: 9781503902374
Page Count: 439
Soon to be a major television event from Pascal Pictures, starring Tom Holland. Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man's incredible courage and resilience during one of history's darkest hours. Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He's a normal Italian teenager--obsessed with music, food, and girls--but…

 Beneath a Scarlet Sky

This remarkable story takes place in Milan, Italy, from June 1943 – May 1945.  It is based on the true life events of Pino Lenna, a normal Italian teenager who is focused on girls, food, and music. But he wants nothing to do with the war. Pino meets the woman of his dreams, Anna just before Nazi bombs fall on Milan. He cannot get her out of his mind. As a result of the war, he is sent north to Casa Alpina, where under the direction of Father Re he leads Jews over the Alps into neutral Switzerland as they try to escape the Nazis.

When Pino visits his parents, just before he turns 18, his father convinces him to join the German Army. If he does not join, he certainly will be drafted and sent to the front where his future is most likely short-lived. He reluctantly joins the Nazis and by happenstance, becomes the driver and translator for General Leyers, a Nazi general with close ties to Hitler. However, Pino becomes a traitor, relaying information to the Italian resistance.

And he does finally reconnect with his beautiful Anna. Nonetheless, in the end, we see him broken by the horrors of war.

The author, Mark Sullivan, did a fantastic job researching for this book. As a result, the book gives us amazing insight into the closing months of the war in Italy. We feel the atrocities as they happen. It is a strong and fascinating story that I recommend everyone read.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

https://marksullivanbooks.com/

https://www.bookreporter.com/authors/mark-sullivan/news/talk-050317

Discussion Questions:

https://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/fiction/10985-beneath-scarlet-sky-sullivan?start=3

Published Reviews:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-5039-4337-7

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/beneath-a-scarlet-sky

 

  • Another book you may enjoy is The Taster, by V. S. Alexander.


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