The stunning sequel to Under A War-Torn Sky World War II may be ending, but the conflict still rages for nineteen-year-old bomber pilot Henry Forester. After returning home to Virginia he is still reliving his struggles, and can’t stop worrying about the safety of those who helped him escape—most of all, one French boy, Pierre, who may have lost everything because of Henry. When he returns to France to find Pierre, Henry is staggered by the consequences of war. Amid starvation, cities devastated by Allied bombing, and the shocking return of concentration camp survivors, Henry must embark on a brave search for a lost boy and a fight to find his own peace. “Gasp-producing action, well developed characters...” - ALA Booklist “Vividly captures the turmoil, fear and hope of the times and the sense of trying to pick up the pieces and re-build.” - Association of Children's Literature “Filled with historical references and images of war-torn Europe, the story will appeal to adventure lovers and history enthusiasts…. moves along at a pace that will keep its audience’s attention.” - School Library Journal The stunning sequel to Under A War-Torn Sky World War II may be ending, but the conflict still rages for nineteen-year-old bomber pilot Henry Forester. After returning home to Virginia he is still reliving his struggles, and can’t stop worrying about the safety of those who helped him escape—most of all, one French boy, Pierre, who may have lost everything because of Henry. When he returns to France to find Pierre, Henry is staggered by the consequences of war. Amid starvation, cities devastated by Allied bombing, and the shocking return of concentration camp survivors, Henry must embark on a brave search for a lost boy and a fight to find his own peace. L. M. Elliott  is the New York Times bestselling author of Da Vinci’s Tiger; Under a War-Torn Sky; A Troubled Peace; Across a War-Tossed Sea; Annie, Between the States; Give Me Liberty; Flying South; and Hamilton and Peggy! She lives in Virginia with her family. You can visit her online at lmelliott.com. A Troubled Peace By L. Elliott HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2009 L. Elliott All right reserved. ISBN: 9780060744298 Chapter One March 1945 "Pull her up, Henry! Pull her up!" Henry gripped the plane's steering wheel as it crashed through sun-split clouds toward earth. He gritted his teeth and waited. Henry had cheated death a dozen times like this during bombing missions over France and Germany. Hurling a plane into a dive to put out an engine fire was the first survival trick pilots learned. They'd earned their manhood during flight training by yanking a plane up just before it smashed into trees or barracks, bragging on how long they'd waited, how close they'd come, how boys who flinched and pulled up early were chicken. Whoever stayed cool longest won bets for three-day passes away from base through such dares. Stupid stuff. Henry couldn't believe he was using the bullyboy tactic, and on Patsy, the person he loved most. But forcing a situation was the only battle strategy Henry knew since going to war. Never second-guess; force a shot-up plane to fly even though ditching was a better idea; charge in with guns blaring; do or die. "Henry, please. Pull the plane up." "Not until you say yes. Come on, Pats. Yes." Henry glanced over at Patsy's heart-shaped face. It had that stubborn, I'll-never-admit-to-being-scared look he'd seen countless times on their school playground. He'd always loved what a spitfire she was. But it sure wasn't helping him now. He calculated the distance to the horizon rushing toward him. He still had a good sixty seconds. He held to his bluff. "I'll pull up when you agree to marry me." The plane started to buck. Patsy braced herself. "No, Henry. I love you. But I can't." "Why not, Pats?" "I don't think you're ready, Henry." "Not ready? I spent all my Air Force back pay for the ring. I had a heck of a fight with my dad about buying it. I'd say I'm ready." His voice rattled like the plane. "Please, Pats. Thinking about you, about coming home, is what kept me walking across France, what kept me alive when the Gestapo near drowned me during interrogation. You're my copilot, my navigator. I can't fly straight without you." For a moment, Patsy wavered. Then she screamed: "Henry—look out!" Out of the lowering sun swarmed Nazi fighters—Junkers, Messerschmitts. Twelve-o'clock high—bogeys coming in, fast! Henry heard the voices of his crew shouting, calling out the flight path of the Luftwaffe killers streaking toward them. Someone radioed American fighters for help: Little friends, little friends, we've got a hornet's nest here. They're everywhere! Do something, Hank. I don't want to die! BANG-BANG-BANG. A gray-green Messerschmitt roared past the cockpit, its bullets ripping into Henry's plane, the German pilot's mocking face close enough to see. Did you really think I would allow you to escape? KA-BOOM