Under a Sky on Fire: A gripping and utterly heartbreaking WW2 historical novel Paperback – October 9, 2020

A sweeping novel of WW2 Britain , and the ladies who braved Germany’s war machine, to save the Commenwealth .

This was written very well . Good insight into the blitz and what it was like for England with a story of 3 strong women supporting each other thru trying times

This book is about bonds of friendship that crosses all boundaries. It's about courage, love and devotion between people during one of worst times in history. It is almost impossible to put down!

Suzanne Kelman has a gift for creating characters one can care about. For me, that is one of the things I look for in historical fiction. Under a Sky on Fire does an excellent job of interweaving the historical reality of London during the horrific bombing by the German air force, which went on for nine months, with the lives of three young women living in London during this period. These women each takes on a challenging role in the war effort, and through their lives we gain insight into what it was like to live and work there, under near constant threat of death.Through Julia, a young mother of two, whose husband is off fighting, we see the work done by women in the secretarial pool supporting the war office of Winston Churchill. Diana has the formidable job of raising huge helium balloons, via wires, which serve as obstacles for enemy fighter planes. They were called barrage balloons. And Lizzie works in a radar tracking facility keeping track of incoming German planes so the British planes and can find them and hopefully bring them down. All of London is living under great tension, and the destruction of property and loss of life is unfathomable.Through a series of circumstances, the lives of these three admirable young women connect, and they form deep bonds which will last throughout their lives. I found myself believing in and caring about them and their children. It's powerful and important, I think, to see war from the viewpoint of women's lives. The Battle for Britain was being fought over their heads, as they rushed to bomb shelters wherever they were, including the one in the backyard of Julia's home, where they trembled in fear, while trying to comfort their children.A book like this is important because it makes real what it's like to live in a war zone, trying to survive and trying to keep others safe as well. We in the United States, haven't had war on our land since the Civil War, so it's perhaps it's easy to forget how devastating it is to those in the midst of war. If you find books about human beings and their experiences meaningful, I highly recommend this book.

I liked the historical information provided about London during the Blitz. I liked the beautiful descriptions of Scotland countryside, and parts of England/London. What I did not care for (as another reviewer stated) was the “Britgush”. It permeated most of the book, and the fiftieth description of how the women were doing their patriotic duties was, in my opinion, overkill. The women were interesting, their jobs fascinating, but I did not love them. Worth reading from an informational point of view, but not a great read.

This is a wonderful story about three women, complete strangers who became best friends, and their lives during WW2 in London.Lizzie, a young.Scottish lass, who after having a baby at 14 and giving her up for adoption, is trying to make a new life for herself. And Diana, an English girl who wants to do her part to help her country. Lizzie and Diana have both decided to join the women's auxiliary service. Then there is Julia! Julia is married with two children. She has to see her husband off to fight and worry about the safety of her children. Julia is a typist and has been chosen to work in the war room, with Churchill, himself.The three women become close friends and support each other during the Blitz. This story takes the reader through the horrors and heartbreak that was all part of life during war time.I think anyone who enjoys reading about history will love this book.

There are many books that are enjoyable while reading them but quickly forgettable. This is not one of them. Those of us in the US mostly have a very different understanding of the civilian experience in WW2 than those in the UK whose families lived through it. The generational impact of WW1 that people were still coping with, the division in the country over fighting or appeasing, the Blitz, rationing etc. This book brought it to life for me. This was one to settle down with and make friends with the characters. I appreciated the epilogue. A couple of things didn’t seem realistic but it is fiction so that was ok, one character seemed to be more a saint than anything where the others were mostly presented warts and all.

Each time I read another book about World War 2; I learn something new. This was no exception. I didn't know that women manned the huge balloons that were flown during bombing raids in Great Britian to try to mess up the bombers.It was a great book about the women and how hew were essential to the war effort.Two Questions I wish had been answered: 1, why didn't Lizzi give the ring back? 2, on Pg 147 a reference to Gowns in the basement of the theater being stored in Plastic bags? They were not invented for that purpose until 1960.Loved the book and others of hers though!