Awards
Selected, ALA Notable Book
Winner, ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Winner, Bulletin Blue Ribbon
“After his trilogy of sea adventures (The Wreckers ; The Smugglers ; The Buccaneers), Lawrence turns to the skies to bring readers a gritty, unglorified picture of what it was like to be a fighter pilot during WWII. The story, as meticulously researched as the author’s previous novels, is powerful enough to make audience members re-evaluate their concepts of war and courage.” *Starred Review*
— Publishers Weekly
“Just as he did so masterfully in Lord of the Nutcracker Men (Delacorte, 2001), Lawrence captures the eagerness and idealism of the new recruit slowly turning to disillusionment and horror as he experiences the grim realities of battle and death. This is a lyrical coming-of-age novel and a fascinating bit of aviation history.”
— School Library Journal
“A sure hit for fans of war stories and adventures.”
— Kirkus Reviews
”Set during the spring of 1943, Lawrence’s novel is a harrowing account of combat told from the perspective of 16-year-old Kak. In Kak’s young, raw voice, Lawrence writes a gripping, affecting story about the thrill of flying, the terrifying realities of war, and the agony of reconciling personal fears and ideals with duty and bravery.”
— Booklist