Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves

Evocatively threaded with the scents and sounds of Tidewater Virginia coastal communities, this story presents a fascinating, lesser-known aspect of the war told from a young girl's perspective. Successfully tackling the devastation of depression on family relationships, the bitter cost of war, and the uplifting strength of no-nonsense friendship, this story has impressive depth. Superb.

Elliott weaves a deeply moving historical tale, including small but significant details that flesh out the situations and characters, even the secondary ones. The extensive and fact-filled backstory in the author's note gives readers even more context. An excellent middle-grade read that balances adventure, emotions, and family.

Gr 4-6--Middle grade lovers of World War II historical fiction will find this title engrossing. Thirteen-year-old Louisa June lives along the coast of Virginia at the start of American involvement in World War II, as Hitler begins sending U-boats to attack U.S. ships. Her father and brothers work on boats, and will soon be signing up to help with the war effort. Louisa June's family is directly affected by a torpedo, sent into a tailspin after her father's tugboat is sunk by the Nazis. Her parents deal with their grief, while she figures out her place in the war and how a teenage girl can be of any help like her older siblings. Cousin Belle proves to be a bellwether figure to the family and an advocate for Louisa June while her mother suffers from depression and debilitating anxiety. Many readers will be surprised to learn about German U-boats torpedoing the East Coast of the United States after Pearl Harbor. Elliot's story delivers facts and a thoughtful approach to characters experiencing grief and depression, while adding some maritime adventure in a segment where the family comes together to rescue a British sailor. The conclusion happens swiftly, possibly leaving readers disappointed in not knowing what happens next to Louisa June and her loved ones after the daring rescue. Elliot provides a thorough author's note to dispel any doubts about the authenticity of the events written about in the course of the novel. Main characters are cued as white. VERDICT A must-have for all middle grade historical fiction collections. Recommend to those who enjoyed Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life and Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's Making Bombs for Hitler.--Kim Gardner

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

An infrequently explored aspect of WWII history--German submarines torpedoing U.S. cargo ships along America's East Coast--underpins Elliott's (Walls) well-crafted novel narrated by 13-year-old Louisa June, youngest of five in a loving, cued-white family in coastal Tidewater Virginia. The story begins in March 1942, soon after America's entry into WWII, as the Chesapeake Bay and waters off Tidewater become the submarines' "favorite hunting grounds" (though local civilians are unaware). Louisa's three oldest siblings depart to help the war effort, leaving her to monitor Mama's "melancholy," a frequently contained depression. When Louisa's beloved college-bound brother is killed by a German submarine's fire on the family's tugboat, and her father is injured, then overtaken by guilt and grief, her mother falls into a deep depression, laced with anger and blame. Louisa, also bereft, struggles to keep the household afloat and care for them. Welcome help comes from elderly, worldly, and spirited cousin Belle, who offers no-nonsense emotional support, plus food, books, and kittens. Louisa's growing understanding of the devastation that the German submarines are causing propels her to find a way to join the war effort. Evocative descriptions of the region's natural life--"egrets and blue herons wading through the feathery inlets"--ground this realistic depiction of one family's efforts to withstand depression and personal tragedy during wartime. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Poignant. Elliott is a descriptive writer and beautifully evokes the coastal Tidewater backdrop [and] offers a sensitive portrayal of a family grappling with depression. — Buffalo News

From the very first page of Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves, you'll know you're in the hands of a skilled storyteller. Vividly and lyrically told, L.M. Elliott captures the drama and heartbreak of the U-boat attacks on the Eastern U.S. coast during WWII. — Elisa Carbone, author of Blood on the River: James Town 1607

A stunning story about a little-known chapter of our history. Elliott's impeccable research of the history, setting, and more bring this story to life. The writing is superb, the characters are rich and complex, and the story is very, very compelling. This book is not to be missed. — Seattle Book Review