This book is a perfect mix of historical fiction and adventure. It is emotional heartrending but also just a lot of fun.

The US has barely survived the Depression when Hitler starts a war in Europe, and his ally, Japan, attacks Pearl Harbor, thus unleashing Nazi u-boats on the East Coast to terrorize and sink the commercial fleet. From then on, families across the US, the Home Front, have one goal-- unite and work to defeat Fascism. Louisa June's Tidewater Virginia family does not hesitate to pitch in. Her older sister learns to weld hulls for Liberty boats and her oldest brother joins the Navy. Another brother is preparing to attend William and Mary College, but goes out on the family's tug with their Father, a tug boat captain. The tugs and fishing boats are asked to monitor secure radios and report suspicious u-boat activity to the Naval Operating Base in Norfolk, Virginia, which often places them in danger. Louisa June's Mother runs the 70 acre farm but is often handicapped by depression which leaves everyone on alert to avoid anything that might upset her. With everyone out of the house for the war effort, Louisa June is responsible for supporting her mother as best as possible, but she wants to do more. Elderly, but seriously feisty Cousin Belle offers an unforgettable support system for the family, as does Emmet, Louisa June's loyal friend and ally. The descriptions of the flora and fauna of the Tidewater and the frequent references to literature complete the backdrop. Extensive back matter is a fantastic resource for those who wish further information. One can read this as historical fiction or military fiction, but the mental health and grief themes are strong. I highly recommend this title to all middle grade/middle school students.
Thanks HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for the digital arc.

Overall I thought this book had a lot of things that middle grade readers will be drawn to: WWII era, a brother who was killed at sea, and a family coming to terms with grief and mental illness. I didn't like how flowery the language was and how "proper" everyone seemed to be. I thought it was interesting that this book was inspired by a true story, and I would have liked to hear more about Louisa June working as a civilian spy.

I would suggest Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson over this book if anyone is interested in a family living in the coastal south during WWII.

A well written historical fiction middle grades novel about events in World War II that have not really been written about much for children.

This charming, heartwarming story is about Louisa June, a 12 year living in Virginia during the early part of World War 2. She is the youngest of 4 children, each of whom has their own place in the family-Katie, a independent young woman, looking to make a difference, takes a job in factory making ships for the war effort, the poet-older brother Butler, who is headed to college but wants to make some extra money before he goes, and older brother Joe who is already working with their dad, a tugboat captain. When the war comes knocking at their door, each member of the family has to deal with the pain in their own way. This story is beautifully written and has lots of cultural connections to the era, which will send some readers scurrying to read or re-read books that are referenced.

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves follows Louisa June and her family along the Virginia coast during WWII as Nazi U-boats started systematically attacking US ships along the eastern coast of the US.

I always find it a good sign of a historical fiction novel if I leave with topics I want to research more. This story covers so many interesting aspects of WWII. Elliott does a great job showing how the east coast of the US, especially the boatmen, were affected during WWII. Characters in the story volunteer for different civil organizations focused on helping track Nazi boats and fend off possible land invasions. They also talk about how “Loose lips sunk ships,” a common refrain from the time. She also manages to flawlessly weave in a large variety of other topics, such as major women leaders during WWII like Lucile Atcherson Curtis and Madame Curie.

One of the things that I loved about this story was that Louisa June’s family was steeped in the literature of the time. Poems by William Butler Yeats were recited by characters. Louisa June reads some books by her namesake, Louisa May, including ones from outside the Little Women world. At one point, she is encouraged to read a recently released book about hobbits fighting an evil force to save the world (The Hobbit would have been released a few years before this story took place). It is clear that Elliot did her research on the time and place this story took place and does a great job immersing the reader in it.

Louisa June’s mom also suffers from depression. The portrayal is realistic and heartbreaking at times. The novel touches on the treatments that were given at this time and how barbaric they were. Her author’s note at the end does a great job of providing explanation for how depression used to be treated and how it is today.

I would highly recommend this book for any intermediate or middle school classroom, and especially for any kid who wants to learn more about WWII, especially how life back home was affected.

Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves is a triumph of a story that will appeal to middle grade readers, younger young adult readers, and even younger readers as a read-aloud book. L.M. Elliott has created a story of courage, endurance, and love with a spunky and relatable heroine. Louisa June is the baby of a big loving family. At twelve, she has grown up in a family that works hard, loves harder, and protects their mother. Mama is “melancholic,” suffering from deep bouts of depression, and her family protects her from events that could launch her into a deeper chasm of pain. But when World War II breaks out, There is little anyone can do to keep the fear at bay. German U- boats begin attacking ships off the Atlantic coast, and Daddy, as a tug boat captain, is at risk. Although he downplays the danger, when he takes Louisa June’s brother Butler out with him on a run, the worst happens. Daddy survives, but Butler does not, and Mama sinks into a depression no one can draw her out of. Daddy is hard at work recovering from his injuries, Mama won’t leave her room, and Louisa June has to do something with her grief before it sinks her too. When she and her eccentric cousin see a convoy of ships fired on, she finally finds her purpose, rescuing the injured survivors, and her purpose might be enough to rescue her family as well. .

Elliott is a masterful researcher, plotter, and character creator. Her novel is filled with tiny details that bring the era to life and give it the historical credibility that readers need. In Elliott’s work, accuracy is paramount, and the story grows out of the history, rather than altering or falsifying it to make a plot work. Her story is gentle and quiet, but the stakes are high and the conflicts are real and honest and raw. Best of all, her characters have real personalities, are flawed in honest, authentic ways, and grow into the best versions of themselves by the story’s end.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction will love reading about this often-ignored facet of WWII. Those who enjoy gutsy female protagonists will adore Louisa June. Perhaps more than anything, though, readers who have faced great and terrible grief will bask in the advice of Cousin Belle. I will remember her wisdom long after the plot points have faded in my memory, and I believe the same will be true for younger readers. L.M. Elliott has written a story that should become a classic — a story with role models, pain and healing, and rich guidance for navigating real life with its inevitable bumps and pains.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I've read a lot of World War 2 books, both fiction and non-fiction, and had never heard or read about U Boats attacking commercial vessels, so I found this book particularly interesting. I also liked the look at life in America during that time period. There are some tougher topics in the book, the melancholy of Louisa June's mother and a few tragic events, which I would keep in mind when recommending this to a student.

Note: I think this could also be used as a YA book, so I'd probably recommend this for upper MG.

Can be enjoyed as a YA book also..
Did you know there were ships torpedoed right off the coast of NC before the US got involved in WWII?
Told from the POV of a waterman's daughter, the dangers extended to even tugboat operators.

"Louise June and the Nazis in the Waves" by L.M. Elliott
Release Date: 3.22.2022

Louise June lives by the water. In December, 1941, Japan attacks the United States, and the water is no longer safe, filled with U-boat submarines to attack American ships. Her oldest brothers' ships risks running into U-boats. Her sister leaves home to weld Liberty Boat hulls. Her father and brother are caught in the action.

Louisa June turns to her friend, Emmett and her cousin, Belle and learns love will overcome it all.

This book focuses on World War II. Most books do not focus on the homefront and how it affected families, showing how regular people were able to make an impact for the war effort. Louisa June was brave and spunky. This is a wonderful story about family, loss, and finding yourself.


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E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus


Louisa lives in Tidewater Virginia with her father, who is a tugboat captain, mother, who runs the family's seventy acre farm, older sister Katie, who goes to Red Cross dances to socialize with soldiers and wants to go to welding school, Will, who joins up when the war effort needs men to work on ships, and Butler, who is in high school. The Depression has been hard on the family, especially on her mother, who suffers from melancholy. Despite the hardships they face, the family is very literary, and frequently quote lines from their favorite books by the likes of Alcott (hence, Louisa's name). The East Coast has been plagued by Nazi submarines, which are attacking all manner of sea going vessels. Despite this, Louisa's father has continued his work, even engaging Butler to help when Will joins up. When a tragedy occurs, Louisa's mother doesn't handle it well, but a caring relative, Cousin Belle, steps in to help Louisa deal with the situation. When Bell and Louisa are in town on an errand near Fort Monroe, they see two ships that are hit, and see that many men are in distress. They hurray back to the house and round up everyone to take their boat to the scene, where they manage to say a young British man from the water. Will this experience help the family to deal with their tragedy?
Strengths: The details of ordinary life are so well done in this, from the family growing tulips, to the Red Cross dances, to information about scarcity of certain food products. There's even a radio chat from Eleanor Roosevelt outlining household economies that families could implement. This also covers yet another topic from this era that hasn't gotten a lot of coverage in middle grade literature-- attacks on the US. I'm sure this is more common knowledge along the East Coast, but I'd never heard or read about U Boats attacking commercial vessels. The different activities of the family members, and their relationship to each other, is also nicely done. What a difficult time.
Weaknesses: I can understand why Elliott included the mother's mental health challenges, but wonder how widespread this sort of melancholy was during World War II.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Tunis' Silence Over Dunkerque (1962) in regards to the sea going rescue or Larson's Code Word Courage (2018) when it came to the homefront setting from the point of view of a young girl. I'm a huge fan of Elliott's work, but most of my readers who want WWII stories want ones set in Europe or the Pacific theater. If books like Cushman's War and Millie McGonigle or Bunting's Spying on Miss Mueller (1995) circulate well in your library, definitely look at this one. I'm also curious as to whether the cover design was made to deliberately echo the cover of Barton's Dazzle Ships (2017), although that was about World War I.

Thank you to #NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for allowing me the chance to read a digital ARC of Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves by L.M. Elliott. This middle grade historical fiction novel will be published March 22, 2022. All opinions are my own.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hitler declared war on the U.S. and began sending U-boats across the Atlantic to attack U.S. ships. Louisa's family relies on the waves along their coastal town. Her father is a tugboat captain and two of her older brothers also work on ships. When her brother, Butler, joins her father for a brief trip to earn money for his college textbooks, they are caught in the crossfire. Louisa's sister, Katie, leaves to build liberty ships and do her part leaving Louisa wondering what she can do to help. Louisa's mom has always had bouts of melancholia but following the attacks along the coast, she sinks deeper into her depression. Louisa is determined to help her mom find her way back while also finding a way she can combat the Nazis.

#LouisaJuneandtheNazisintheWaves is a stunning middle grade novel about the home front during WWII. It covers the topics of sudden loss, grief, family, and emotional health. Middle grade historical fiction is full of WWII stories, but they often focus on Europe, Japan or Pearl Harbor. It was interesting to find a story about the east coast of the U.S. during this time period. I really enjoyed Louisa's character, but my favorite character is probably Cousin Belle. She is a strong female who avoids falling into the stereotypes of her time period. Louisa and her family's pain is real and I liked that there was a discussion about mental health. Though there are attacks at sea, planes flying overhead, and more, this isn't an action-packed war story. This is an emotion-packed novel. If you're looking for insight into the home front and trials, tribulations, and pain they felt during the war then this book is an excellent choice.

What a delightful heartwarming story about a young girl grappling with the death of a beloved family member. Elliot brings World War II to the shores of the United States in a way that isn't overwhelming for young readers and treats the characters mental health struggles with an informed and approachable hand. Can't wait to share this story with other readers!

STUNNING WWII MG STORY

LOUISA JUNE AND THE NAZIS IN THE WAVES occurs off the American East Coast in 1942, when Nazi U-boats began to sink Allied ships heading to England. Made me feel the acute pain of losing loved ones as well as the grave uncertainty of the time.

I loved character Louisa June, so brave as she faces tragedy and the mental illness of her mother, and finds a supportive tribe that helps her carry on with courage. Poignant and inspiring. Out March 22.

Thanks for the ARC to author L.M. Elliott, HarperCollins Children's Books, and NetGalley. Opinions are mine.

Stories about the American home front during WWII usually revolve around the typical topics of women working, dealing with the war effort, and the sacrifices people made. While Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves fits that genre, it spins a story very different from the traditional narrative. The cover art and title almost lend itself to think of Elliott's work as a children's book or at least a YA novel but not quite. The tale of Louisa June and her family capture a story not really known in the massive trope of WWII novels--death by the Germans here in America.

Set in the early days of the war, Louisa June narrates the tale of her innocence lost when her family and community suffer a deadly tragedy. Nazi U-boats patrolling the waters off the Eastern seaboard shores target merchant ships and tugboats guiding ships to sea. Usually the backwater of the Carolina shores offer Louisa June and her family an idyllic life as those who make their lives from the sea. While the lives of fishermen, seamen, and sailors are fraught with ocean perils, the waters take an extra deadly turn during the war. When a torpedo shatters her father's boat, Louisa June and her family try to cope with the devastating loss, grief, and paralyzing guilt.

Elliot weaves a tragic tale of death on the home front that most Americans were spared as war ravaged across the globe. Based on the true story of the sinking of merchant ships along the Carolina coastline, Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves provides a different look at the war and its impact close to home. The focus on this small community far removed from the battlefields shows the horror of war can destroy a family. Louisa June as a perky adolescent tries to maneuver the minefield of emotions as her family falls apart. Rescued by her indulgent aunt, she slowly navigates a path to self survival and maturity. Tragedy strikes again, causing reverberations that shake their whole community.

Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves turned out to be much different read than I expected it to be. As I started the novel, I thought oh goodness, a teen age puberty angst story. Instead Elliott recreates a world anchored by the sea and destroyed by the sea. This is not a children's book but it could be a very good read for the teenage YA audience. So few books deal with this aspect of the war and often gloss over the toll grief and guilt of an untimely death. I'm just not crazy about the cover or the title.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a great historical fiction for the younger crowd and focused on the east coast home front during WWII. A great read!

I really enjoyed this book.! I appreciated the way in which the author presented what seemed like a perfect family at the beginning but revealed throughout the story the challenges that real families have.
Louisa Jane lives in the tidewaters of Virginia with her parents, 3 older brothers and older sister. World War II is raging overseas and the US has been pulled in further by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Rumors abound about German U-boats patrolling the East Coast sinking unsuspecting US freighters. Louisa Janes family is drawn further into the war when one brother says he has joined the Navy and the older sister goes of to Newport News to help build new ships for the war.. When tragedy strikes mental health issues which have been ignored come to a head . With the help of her amazing Cousin Belle, a very empowering character herself, Louisa Jane figures out how to move on with purpose..
The story of the U-boats off the east coast is an under told story, many people not even realizing the Germans were right at our door. The author does a wonderful job weaving together all the historical events happening at that time into a story that is fast paced and, ultimately, filled with optimism.

Louisa June is the youngest child in her family. When her father's tugboat is sunk by Nazi U-boats, Louisa June's life totally changes. Her beloved older brother is killed and she is determined to help in the war effort in any possible way. However, she must keep her desire to help in the war effort a secret since her father is not doing well after the loss of his son, and her mother, who suffers from mental illness, is barely functioning. Through a series of harrowing adventures with her friend Emmett and her Cousin Belle, Louisa June discovers that everyone can make a difference in their world if they only find the strength to keep trying.

Wonderful story about family, loss, and finding yourself. Very interesting elements of World War II discussed not found in other middle grade literature. Characters are well developed and real with mental illness appropriately addressed.

This was well written the characters were well developed. The book focus on a part of World War II that is not covered a lot (the sinking of merchant ships off the east coast of North America. ) This book also dealt with mental illness