I just finished one of the most amazing historical fiction books I have ever read.
A friend of mine gave me the book after she bought it and read it.
It's a story that is real. These things in the book really did happen. Yet here in America we haven't known about this Italian war hero and his role in WWII. This book is so well written and informative.
This book is based on the true story of a long forgotten war hero. Pino Lella doesn't want anything to do with Nazis or the war. He just wants to be a normal Italian teenager who is obsessed with music, girls and food.
His days of being an innocent teen are short however. His parents' home in Milan is destroyed by the Allied bombs. His parents send him to Casa Alpina, a school for boys run by the Catholic priest Father Re. It is where his younger brother Mimo is living, too. Soon Pino joins the underground railroad helping the Jews to escape over the Alps into Switzerland. He also falls in love with Anna, a young widow who is 6 years older than him.
After a few months, he has to return home to Milan and in order to protect him, Pino's parents force him to enlist in the German army. As a spy!! He is only 18 years old when he becomes the personal driver for Hitler's left hand man in Italy! That man's name is General Hans Leyers and he is one of the Third Reich's most mysterious and most powerful commanders. Or is he??
Pino now has the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside German High Command. It is here where he witnesses the horrors of World War II and what the Nazi's are doing to innocent people. Pino is a courageous young man whose love for Anna keeps him going. And then one day, all is lost.
Will he ever escape the horrors and tragedies?
Will the world ever know just what he has endured? Will Leyers ever get what he deserves??
MY THOUGHTS
The author actually met with the real Pino Lella before writing this book. He did extensive research and heard Pino's story.
This book has excellent character development and setting. The descriptions are vivid, brutal, beautiful, and haunting.
Pino Lello is a forgotten hero but after this book, he will be remembered!
The author has some end notes in the back of the back explaining exactly what happened with Pino and the other characters in the story (his parents, uncle, brother, friend Carletto, etc.).
Reading about WWII is one of my favorite things to do but I had never read fiction set in Italy during that time. This was quite an eye opener. Pino did speak with Mussolini and he did make it to America.
The real Pino never spoke about the war until the 1990s. Here is a quote:
"I've never told anyone about the war, Bob (speaking to Robert Dehlendorf). But someone very wise once told me that by opening our hearts, revealing our scars, we are made human and flawed and whole. I guess I'm ready to be whole." ~Pino Lello, pg 502 Beneath the Scarlet Sky, c. 2017~
Another good quote from Pino is found on page 508. He is talking to the author of the book at this point and says:
"Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always a drama, if not a tragedy. But after everything, and even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed. And we must have faith in God, an in the Universe, and in a better tomorrow, even if that faith is not always deserved." He was 89 years old when he said this.
I want to tell you so much about this book but my words won't do it justice.
I highly recommend this story of a very real hero.
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature content)
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.
2 comments:
This sounds good though I've never been big on historical fiction. The Royal Nanny made my head spin!!
Sounds very interesting.
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