preview

Beneath The Scarlet Sky Essay

Decent Essays

Beneath A Scarlet Sky indulges into the life of a young man, whose life is ravaged by a war that was bestowed upon him.

Over the past week, I have been reading Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan. I have been reading young adult fiction, and wanted to incorporate more serious topics into my reading.

Retell:
Beneath A Scarlet Sky revolves around a boy named Pino Lella, a 17 year old Italian boy from Milan, Italy, who gets caught up in World War Two. After his house is bombed by the Allied Forces, his parents send him to Madesimo to stay safe and away from the harsh war. He adjusts to life, but when Priests around Italy begin aiding Italian Jews, Pino gets introduced to an entirely new society, secretly infiltrating and working against the country he stands upon. …show more content…

I found it odd, but I continued reading with that mental note until I either discovered why, or realized the sub-arc was not relevant to the main story line. After learning about the Priest's plan to smuggle Italian Jews to Switzerland, the hiking made sense. It also ignited a story arc and presumptions, as now there is an underlying suspense and fear of getting caught. I suspect Pino's actions will incite conflicts with the Germans after being seen helping the Jews.

Relate:
The novel is based off of a boy of the same name; Pino Lella. It discusses World War Two, alongside the progressing rebellion of the Churches.

Although I cannot relate to the plot or characters of this novel, there are other books that contain parallels. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr follows two children, Marie-Laure and Werner, who are caught in a war they do not want to be associated with. It gives perspective on the lives of a German prodigy who becomes haunted by the actions of his nation, and a blind French girl, having to readjust to life as the Germans invade her home.

Get Access