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From the Hardcover edition. A former teacher and museum historian, Shelley Pearsall is now a full-time author. Fans of Christopher Paul Curtis will fall right into line. Strong characterizations on all sides support the weighty story line. Buy the Audiobook Download: Apple Audible downpour eMusic audiobooks. Also by Shelley Pearsall. See all books by Shelley Pearsall. About Shelley Pearsall A former teacher and museum historian, Shelley Pearsall is now a full-time author. Inspired by Your Browsing History.
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Jump into the Sky
It's been years since I've read a Shelley Pearsall novel, but I remember really loving those that I've read in the past. I really liked Jump Into the Sky. I'm not sure that I absolutely loved it. But it was a really good read. I really loved his narrative voice, and I enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes. I enjoyed many of the characters, I especially liked Cal, Peaches, and baby Victory. I loved hearing their love story! I was so happy that t It's been years since I've read a Shelley Pearsall novel, but I remember really loving those that I've read in the past. I was so happy that this couple was able to open their hearts and home to Levi when he really needed someone--anyone--to care.
And I was pleased that Levi had the opportunity--at last--to get to know his father. The book was set during the last months of World War II, and it was an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about this historical period. I didn't know about the balloon bombs OR the African American paratroopers. So that was good.
I enjoyed the characters, the writing, the details great and small. Mar 30, David rated it it was amazing. Katherine read this to me on the road. The injustice of racism is clearly demonstrated, while the sacrifice made by those who served is highlighted. A GREAT read, very easy flowing book but one that will make you think and be very grateful for those who served ahead of us. The Paratrooper humor is well done! Apr 06, Nancy rated it it was amazing. This is a great historical novel.
I really love the endnote in which the author tells how the book was researched with interviews and which details were taken from real life. The book is based on a little known fact about WWII. A positive male African American character. Jan 02, Chris rated it really liked it Shelves: Historical fiction about a boy being sent to live with his father who is a member of the first African American paratroopers, the th Triple Nickles.
Very true to the time period and the events of the th. May 23, Chris rated it liked it Shelves: But it's , the war is nearly over, and Aunt Odella decides it's time for Levi to do some leaving of his own. Before he can blink, Levi finds hi Summary Amazon. After a hair- raising and eye opening trip into the Jim Crow South, Levi finds that he has arrived too late.
His father has been reassigned and shipped out the day before to Camp Pendleton Oregon with the rest of his troop. Levi and another trooper left behind in North Carolina to recuperate from a jumping accident, set by train to rejoin the others in Oregon. My Comments As a historic fiction book, I think Jump into the Sky does a great job of capturing the mood and feel of America during World War II and also the lives of blacks living and serving in a segregated country and military.
I did not know about either of these two things before reading Jump into the Sky. As a resident of Chicago, I loved the local setting and references to Union Station and Wrigley gum among others. This book would appeal to boys, history lovers and people of color — best for grades 5 and up. Apr 21, William rated it really liked it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Jump into the sky by Shelley Pearsall was a great historical fiction book. It take place during a kid named Levi Battle lives with his Aunt in Chicago.
When he was younger his mom Queen B. Walker left him and his father alone together. His father soon joined the army to fight against the Japaneses and to protect his country he was also part of the African American Paratroops. When Levi is at the age of 13 his aunt had had enough raising Levi and sent him off to North Carolina to find his fa Jump into the sky by Shelley Pearsall was a great historical fiction book.
When Levi is at the age of 13 his aunt had had enough raising Levi and sent him off to North Carolina to find his father. During his journey he runs into some difficult parts of the country where segregation is still happening. Levi has never witnessed segregation before. He see signs all over the place marked Colored and White. Meanwhile he also runs into some of his fathers friends.
A man named Cow was also part of the army but had a bad leg so he was taking a break and his wife named Peaches who was pregnant. Cow promises they will help him find his father. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read historical fiction books. Jan 18, Laura rated it really liked it Shelves: Text to Self- It was amazing to me read about the triple nickels and their impact on our country.
I had never heard about the troop and actually looked up information to make sure it was real. It was sad to hear the treatment of the troops were not equal as troops that were white.
Why did Levi have to leave Chicago? Explain why Levi had to sit in a separate section of the train once he entered the South? What questions would you ask the general store owner who attacked Levi? Why do you Text to Self- It was amazing to me read about the triple nickels and their impact on our country. Why do you think Cal and Peaches allowed Levi travel across country with them? What is your opinion with the author having one of the members of the triple nickels get killed during their last mission?
Apr 21, Sha'Niece rated it really liked it. Apr 08, Abby Johnson rated it it was ok. I like a little-known historical fiction story as much as the next person, but it was like I kept waiting for the story to get exciting and it kept ALMOST getting exciting, but then meandering away to something else. Levi's voice wasn't strong enough for me to enjoy the book on his character alone and the plot meandered too much to be compelling.
Part of my disappointment might be with the cover and title, both of which seem to promise a lot of wartime action, which is not necessarily the fault I like a little-known historical fiction story as much as the next person, but it was like I kept waiting for the story to get exciting and it kept ALMOST getting exciting, but then meandering away to something else. Part of my disappointment might be with the cover and title, both of which seem to promise a lot of wartime action, which is not necessarily the fault of the author, but I don't feel like the insides matched. I think teens who enjoy a more leisurely-paced historical fiction would probably like it, or anyone with a special interest in the lives of African Americans on the WWII homefront.
Feb 24, Gayle Dill rated it liked it. Levi experiences the Jim Crow south as he travels by train only to find his father's battalion has just shipped out to Pendleton, OR. Cal and Peaches take Levi under their wing, taking him along to OR when Cal gets orders to join his battalion. Levi become reacquainted with his father in OR and when the war ends, decide Middle School - Historical Fiction Levi Battle has lived with his aunt in Chicago for 3 yrs.
Shelley Pearsall
Levi become reacquainted with his father in OR and when the war ends, decides to make a life with his dad at the base in NC. Oct 14, Sandy Brehl rated it it was amazing Shelves: Heard of the Tuskegee Airmen? Most have, but few stories have been told of the segregated paratroop group, the "triple nickels", or th group who never made it off the continent into the war, despite training and excellence. The central character, Levi, is a thirteen year old Chicago kid who has been left behind all his life. He is launched into many rude awakenings as WWII nears its end and he finds himself leaving the familiar turf of his neighborhood, learning to deal with Jim Crow racism, Heard of the Tuskegee Airmen?
He is launched into many rude awakenings as WWII nears its end and he finds himself leaving the familiar turf of his neighborhood, learning to deal with Jim Crow racism, his absent father, sorting out truths from assumptions and stories, and finding out if he is even capable of trusting or believing anyone who matters. Apr 21, Darrien rated it really liked it. I think it was an OK book. I don't like this book because,it was so sad.
People where dying and one of the solders named Micky. This story is mainly about a boy named Levi got left by his mother Queen Bee Walker. His aunt bring him in and she raised him. He rod to Pendiltan from Chicago. He found his dad and it was a good moment. His Dad fount out about the japes made balloon bombs. And you haft to read the rest for the book. Apr 21, Kenneth Jackson rated it it was amazing. I think that jump into the sky is a good book I recommend this book to audiences. Even if you don't like historical fiction.
Oct 26, Robin rated it really liked it Shelves: I really liked this book. It was the story about the th in WWII. I was very impressed with Pearsall's historical narrative. Jul 13, Msjodi rated it it was amazing Shelves: An excellent story, made even better by the perfect narrator. Oct 14, Philip Guzman rated it it was amazing.
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I read books with my special needs son as part of our time together. We recently completed reading "Jump Into the Sky" and loved it.
It is a very special book which tracks the life journey of one young thirteen year old African American boy during the last year of World War II. From his home in Chicago, he travels about the country to reunite with this army father - first to the Jim Crow South where he experiences for the first time the hatred and bigotry that is, sadly, still found in the heart I read books with my special needs son as part of our time together.
From his home in Chicago, he travels about the country to reunite with this army father - first to the Jim Crow South where he experiences for the first time the hatred and bigotry that is, sadly, still found in the hearts of many today. His travels continue to the western part of the country, as do his life-changing experiences. It is a book about growing up, bonding with a missing parent, the heartaches of abandonment, bigotry in its truest and ugliest forms in the old South, and the ironies of serving your country and still being faced with the hatred of your fellow citizens.
The book masterfully blends these themes -- but not in a heavy-handed way -- but with much humor and sage thinking by a boy who is wise in the ways of the world well beyond his years. My son and I laughed and cried with the many wonderful characters who are encountered in this book. The book is listed for a "YA" reader, but I believe that it blends historical fiction, life-lessons, and humor and is so well-written that it should be considered splendid reading material for people of all ages, not simply young adults.
The book is especially relevant in today's times where hatred, bigotry, and the like are back in the news not that these themes have ever left us! Pick up this book! You will learn much, not only about the African-American Paratroop Division during World War II, but about family, and living together in harmony, as well. Aug 01, Erika Reynolds rated it did not like it Shelves: It made him feel out of touch. Apr 05, Jack rated it really liked it. Levi has been living with an aunt in Chicago since his mother left him and his father is in the army during in WWII. When his aunt is tired of having him, she sends him off to where his father is stationed.
She abruptly puts him on a train and sends him there. Levi is used to losing important people in his life. His jazz singer mother abandoned him at a few months old. Then his beloved grandmother died. Now his Aunt doesn't want him. Levi is anxious about the changes ahead. Levi hasn't seen his f Levi has been living with an aunt in Chicago since his mother left him and his father is in the army during in WWII.
Levi hasn't seen his father for a while which he is excited about. Unaware Levi's father isn't there when he arrives, so an injured soldier, Cal, and his pregnant wife take him in. Soon they hand to Oregon and Levi is reunited with his father. I personally think that this is a very well written book. I liked it and would recommenced it to anyone. Mar 15, Hugh Woodson rated it it was amazing. Giving the story from point of view of Levi Battle as he journeyed to find his father from Chicago to North Carolina to Oregon then back to N.
Story have bit of interesting history sort of African Americans history. Great book with vividly detail, you know what I mean? May 04, Lavin Bendt rated it it was amazing. This book was very interesting. It was a good book to inform the readers on what was going on during this time frame. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about historical fiction. Sep 11, Alex not a dude Baugh rated it liked it Shelves: Imagine further that one morning, out of the blue, your aunt tells you it is time for you to see your father again and that afternoon, without even saying good-bye to your best friend, you find yourself on a train heading to Camp Mackall in North Carolina.
Sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it?
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Jump into the Sky begins in May The war has ended in Europe but not in the Pacific. And not in the south either, where Jim Crow stills reigns. Young Levi's first experience of that happens when he changes trains in Washington DC and is put in an almost empty car right behind the coal-burning engines.
There he meets an older man who gives him his first lesson in Jim Crow laws. Levi is astounded by what he hears, so much so he doesn't believe what he has been told until he finds himself looking down the barrel of a gun while trying to buy a Coke in a store at the end of his journey in Fayetteville. He manages to get out of the store alive, though not before experiencing a little more Jim Crow welcome.
Afraid and humiliated, Levi starts walking the miles to Camp Mackall, where is father is stationed. Along the way, he is picked up by a black soldier, but discovers that his father, Lieutenant Charles Battle and the rest of the th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the country's only all black unit in the Air Force, has been moved on to Oregon. Luckily for Levi, the one member of his father's Battalion still around because of an injury finds Levi and takes him home, where he ends up living for the first part of the summer.
Cal and his wife Peaches both know Levi's father, so there is some comfort in that. And as soon as Cal's injury is healed, he gets his orders to head to Oregon, too. What a surprise when they find that th's assignment is to fight fires along the west coast.
In Oregon, the story begins to diverge. On the one hand, Levi and his father had been separated for three years and both have changed a great deal. Now, they must get to know each other and for Levi that means learning to trust his father as well as himself. Levi has a history of people leaving him, including his father and his mother.
And now he has an aunt who no longer wants to take care of him. Can things work out somehow so that he and his father can get along and live together? On the other hand, there is the historical aspect of this novel. Pearsall, who I was surprised to discover is not African American, has managed to convey the scathing hatred most whites had towards blacks in the south. The fact that Levi was so naive about the rules and mores makes his time spent there all the more poignant. Twice I felt myself getting angry and scared for Levi as he went through his baptism by fire. And there is the other historical aspect - the heroes of the th Parachute Infantry Battalion.
No one back in Chicago really believed that his father was really doing what he said he was doing for the war but it turned out to be true, much to Levi's surprise.
Jump Into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall
In Oregon, the th were assigned to fight the fires resulting from fire balloons the Japanese were sending over. These balloon bombs carried incendiary devices meant to explode and start fires wherever they landed. Most people really didn't believe this was happening including the men of the th, and Pearsall realistically portrays the frustration these men must have really felt after all their elite training and knowing they were being laughed by people. Jump into the Sky is a nice coming of age adventure story with well developed characters and realistic settings.