LoveReading4Kids Says
Set in the aftermath of Berlin’s 1948 besiege, Robin Scott-Elliot’s Sweet Skies tells a top-notch story of struggle and survival, of courage and reaching for the skies, through eyes of Otto Hartmann, a boy whose home city has been rescued and blockaded.
With an undeniable knack for crafting gripping historic novels that bring periods to life through relatable characters, reading books by Robin Scott-Elliot might just inspire young readers to engage with history and big human issues in fresh, meaningful ways.
The story begins with American allies telling Otto and his friends “we’re the cavalry come to rescue you” because “Berlin’s surrounded. The Russkies have cut you off”. After learning that the Americans plan to build a “bridge of planes” to enable supplies to be brought in, one flash of a pilot’s whiter-than-white teeth leaves Otto feeling 12 feet tall, and longing to take to the skies himself.
Otto’s dreams are palpable, and so too are the harsh realities of life in 1948 Berlin. Devastated by war, and populated by struggling, hungry citizens, the city is the setting for heart-pounding betrayals and battles to survive.
Alive with atmosphere, action, dynamic dialogue, a gripping sense of Otto’s dilemmas and drive, Sweet Skies is 100% engaging, and illuminating with it.
Joanne Owen
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Sweet Skies Synopsis
A spine chilling story about survival, betrayal and self-discovery at the time of the Berlin air-lift.
Berlin, 1948. A city besieged. A boy reaches for the sky. Otto Hartmann would do anything to be a pilot. With Berlin blockaded by the Soviets, the Americans fly to the rescue and Otto's captivated by the matinee-idol pilots dropping chocolate for the city's hungry kids. But never mind the Hershey bars - he wants to be up there with them.
Now Otto has to choose between those he loves or flying from a ruined city where danger lurks around every corner. And nobody is who they seem, but children are battling to survive in a desperate war-torn city.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781911427322 |
| Publication date: |
6th July 2023 |
| Author: |
Robin Scott-Elliot |
| Publisher: |
Everything with Words |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
288 pages |
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About Robin Scott-Elliot
Robin Scott-Elliot has been a sports journalist for 25 years with the BBC, ITV, the Sunday Times, the Independent and the `i', covering every sport you can think of and a few you probably can't. He threw that all away to move home to Scotland and write, where his daughters persuaded him to write a story for them. He lives on the west coast with his wife and two children.
Hide and Seek was a Spectator Children’s Book of the Year for 2021. Robin's debut, The Tzar's Curious Runaways was a Telegraph Children’s Book of the Year for 2019. The Acrobats of Agra was one of the Observer’s Children’s Books of the Year for 2020.
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