The Girl in the Sky is another impressive WW2 novel from Suzanne Fortin with a strong female lead. Fitz is determined, daring and fearless in the air. She is a talented pilot who loves to fly and enjoys the freedom, adrenaline rush and control it gives her. When the war breaks out Fitz gets noticed for her abilities and signs up with the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) to ferry planes. During her time of training, she loses a friend in an accident and learns quickly how fleeting life can be during the war. Also, during this time she meets American Flight Officer Sam Carter and love awakens in her heart. This frightens her for many reasons: first, it is not the time to have a relationship with a fellow officer. Putting her heart out there means getting hurt for what if he goes off on a mission and never returns? She also does not want to become distracted and fail her missions. So, she turns her back on love and this man who adores her and focuses on doing something that contributes to winning the war.
In a short space of time, she gets promoted to work as a SOE (Specialist Ops Exec) partly due to the fact Fitz has excellent foreign language skills. When she is asked to take part in a secret mission in France, she steps up to the task. Here she must plunge head on into the battlefield, must constantly think on her feet and be vigilant of danger at all times. From the moment the drop off plane lands, they are in trouble for the Germans are waiting for them. Fitz manages to escape. She encounters some wicked challenges while working with the Resistance and it is a scary time. During her travels she rescues a dog she calls Scout and a child named Yvette who has survived a terrible attack. Taking them with her on her mission alters her plans immensely. But she soldiers on when she encounters the obstacles. This next part of the story captured my full attention as I could not pull away. The rest of the plot is fast paced and riveting and there are some very intense scenes with the Germans. But there are joyous encounters, too, with some good-hearted French citizens willing to help her.
Fitz is a very likeable character with a kind heart. She has grown up in a house of love and privilege. But she lost her mother when she was young, her father remarried within the year and she found it hard to cope with all these changes including her stepmother. I liked the fact that over the course of the novel her relationship with Camilla grows and she comes to understand this woman and her intentions and actions. And as secrets are revealed, it gives Fitz a whole new perspective.
I read The Girl in the Sky in one day and enjoyed it very much. Fitz and Sam are a well suited couple fighting the war with courage and dedication. This novel provides a heart breaking picture of the suffering experienced when resistant persons were caught. The dangers they faced and the courage they exhibited. It was lovely getting to know Fitz’s family, other female pilots, brave citizens who hid and helped the resistance, the dog and Yvette plus those who took care of the safe houses. This novel has a wonderful cast of characters that kept me on the edge of my seat and cheering for them. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Embla Books and Netgalley for my review copy.
