2026 Book Review #2, #1
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of stories from the World War II time period. I’m not entirely sure why. Is it the tragedy of a world at war? Is it because people I knew and loved lived it? Is it because many of these stories illustrate that even in the midst of evil, good goes on and in fact prevails. Perhaps it’s all of the above and more. I’m also aware that being two generations removed from the events (my parents are boomers – the good kind, mom!), I tend to romanticize what my grandfather and his buddies refused to discuss.
Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan blurs the lines between a novel and historical non-fiction. The characters were real people. They walked the earth as we do. The events may or may not have happened. There is much discussion online about the truth of this book. My suggestion? Ignore all of that and simply enjoy the book.
Pino Lella is a typical Italian teen boy or any boy for that matter. He’s interested in music, cars, food, and girls. However, our hero’s life is dramatically changed as the Allies begin bombing Milan.
Concerned for his safety, Pino’s parents send him the mountains to stay with Father Re and other boys. Father Re recruits Pino to help with the underground railroad escorting Jews across the Alps to the safety of Switzerland.
Recalled to Milan by his parents as he turns 18 he parents force him to enlist as a German soldier thus protecting him from being sent to the front lines in Russia. In a strange turn of events, Pino becomes the driver for Adolph Hitler’s commander in Italy, General Hans Leyers and thus has the dangerous opportunity to act as a spy for the resistance and the Allies.
If you are searching for a page turner, if you want a story that intertwines the beauty of love, the horrors of war, and the ever-present danger of certain death, Beneath A Scarlet Sky is the book.
Even though I knew Pino survived (he died in 2025), I could not help but be on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I wrung my hands in anguish with every close call, every risk taken, and every confrontation with the Nazi leaders.
I highly recommend reading this book. It’s a wonderful example of men and women doing the right thing even when the odds are stacked against them. Although the name Pino Lella may not be a household name, his contributions to saving lives and ending the war are beyond measure.
If you are even somewhat interested in reading the book, take a minute to read this essay by Michael Lella, Pino’s son. It’s brief overview of Pino’s life and a good introduction to the book. My Father’s Role in the Fall of Facism.
Other WWII books I’d recommend: The Battle of Midway, Code Name: Lise, Killing Rommel, American Prometheus, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
James M. Hahn, Author 