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Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

In this moving and timeless story, award-winning author L. M. Elliott captures life on the U.S. homefront during World War II, weaving a rich portrait of a family reeling from loss and the chilling yet hopeful voyage of fighting for what matters, perfect for fans of The War That Saved My Life.

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.

* A Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book * CDE Recommended Reading 6th-8th Grades * 2023 Capitol Choices * VLA Cardinal Cup for Historical Fiction * Bank Street College Best Book

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    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Elizabeth Wiley commendably introduces a WWII-era Virginia family that is coping with the little-known phenomenon of U-boats bombing watercraft on the U.S. coast. Listeners meet 12-year-old Louisa June Wallace, who is brokenhearted after her family's tugboat is attacked, an act that kills her brother, Butler. Wiley ebulliently paints country life; family book discussions; Daddy's gentleness, especially to his severely depressed wife; and feisty Louisa, who is determined to do her bit for the war to honor Butler. Radio broadcasts, including Eleanor Roosevelt's pep talks, add atmosphere. Wiley produces astonishing sound effects of animals, birds, and sea life, which enhance the superlative text. Most unforgettable is eccentric cousin Belle, whose shrill yet authoritative voice is appropriately comical. This unforgettable listen includes worthwhile historical tidbits. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

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  • English

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