Reviews - Beneath A Scarlet Sky

Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan

2.87k reviews for:

I really enjoyed this book. Mainly because it taught me about an aspect of WWII history I knew nothing about. The writing is juvenile at best and the main character seems to be involved in every major event in the war. What really brought it to four stars was the descriptions of pointless violence. We tend to forget this happened, caught up in the Greatest Generation and ticker-tape parades. People turned on one another, and violence became a norm. I did love the ending as well, assholes who are smart always get their happy ending. It’s bitter and awful but believable. Wish someone who could actually write had told what was an interesting story.

pamchen's review against another edition

4.0

Really enjoyable, a tale worth hearing about.
I’m so curious- I wish there had been maps and photographs accompanying this story.

jessica_lorentzsmith's review against another edition

5.0

After all of the literature out there about WWII, I always enjoy reading a story that I haven't heard of before. This is one of those. I had no idea about the role that Italy played in this time period and Pino's story is remarkable. Just when you think things can't get any more glum, or that he can risk any more, then he finds himself in another terrible situation. This would be a fantastic way to teach this unit of history in a social studies class, as a whole class read or, like we use it in language arts, as a choice for the historical fiction unit.

kati_cannon's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

m_mccann2025's review against another edition

5.0

Amazing

tinyredhead's review against another edition

5.0

Remarkable

I loved this book. I'm not usually a huge fan of WWII novels as I feel too many of them over-romanticize the story too much and gloss over the horrors that happened, but this book didn't do that. Early on I was captivated, hooked by the story, and tried to stretch it out by taking breaks for other books.

There's plenty of action to keep you entertained, and enough background in the relationships to tie everything together. I never felt there was too much rambling, despite having so many details, scenes and people and their stories discussed.

Considering I haven't heard much about the war in Italy, I so appreciated hearing the story of Pino Lella and the friends, family, loves, allies and enemies.