Across a War-Tossed Sea

Aftershock

Finding Junie Kim

Call of the Titanic

The Lost Crown

Izzy at the End of the World

Killer Flood (Red Rhino) (Red Rhino Books)

Paulo's Wall

Author L. M. Elliott captures life on the U.S. home front during World War II, weaving a portrait of a family reeling from loss and the voyage of fighting for what matters.

Days after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hitler declared war on the U.S., unleashing U-boat submarines to attack American ships. Suddenly, the waves outside Louisa June's farm aren't for eel-fishing or marveling at wild swans or learning to skull her family's boat--they're dangerous, swarming with hidden enemies.

Her oldest brothers' ships risk coming face-to-face with U-boats. Her sister leaves home to weld Liberty Boat hulls. And then her daddy, a tugboat captain, and her dearest brother, Butler, are caught in the crossfire.

Her mama has always swum in a sea of melancholy, but now she really needs Louisa June to find moments of beauty or inspiration to buoy her. Like sunshine-yellow daffodils, good books, or news accounts of daring rescues of torpedoed passengers.

Determined to help her Mama and aching to combat Nazis herself, Louisa June turns to her quirky friend Emmett and the indomitable Cousin Belle, who has her own war stories--and a herd of cats--to share. In the end, after a perilous sail, Louisa June learns the greatest lifeline is love.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Across a War-Tossed Sea

L.M. Elliott, 2014

Aftershock

Bernard Ashley, 2011

Finding Junie Kim

Ellen Oh, 2021

Call of the Titanic

Lindsay Galvin, 2023

The Lost Crown

Sarah Miller, 2011

Izzy at the End of the World

K.A. Reynolds, 2023

Killer Flood (Red Rhino) (Red Rhino Books)

Jeff Gottesfeld, 2014

Paulo's Wall

Rachelle Desimone, 2002