Sixth-grader Glory Bea Bennett is thrilled when she hears of the special boxcar called the Merci train, a thank you gift from post-World War 2 France, will be making a stop in her hometown of Gladiola, Texas. Maybe her father, missing since D-Day, will make a surprise return. As Glory Bea awaits the train's arrival, she makes special preparations for her father. She tells only her best friend, Ruby Jane, of her plans. Ruby is too kind to dash Glory Bea's hopes.

In a poignant story of belief in the impossible, the author weaves a heartwarming tale of small town Texas in the years following World War 2. Glory Bea's neighbor, Ben, has a father suffering from as-yet-unnamed PTSD. Glory Bea's mother seems to be falling in love with a friend of Glory Bea's father. Nothing is working out as she had hoped. Will Glory Bea's father return? Will Glory Bea be able to move on is he doesn't? This sweet story would be an excellent addition to any midle grade fiction collection.

I adored Glory Bea who loves her father deeply. He never returned home from the front of France. Everyone has told her that he died a hero on Omaha Beach – deep down she’s convinced he’s alive and will make his appearance when the “Merci Train” comes to their town.

It’s been three long years, but Glory Bea believes in miracles. She gets excited about participating in their town’s celebration for the arrival of the train. I enjoyed getting to know Glory Bea’s family, the small town she lived in and how people learn to pick up the pieces of their lives and move on, discover how to live and love again.

I learned so much about this event in history I never knew happened. In author notes to reader she describes how this movement started and describes the celebrations individual states had upon arrival of these boxcars that still exist today. Some of them can be found in Texas. This would work well for a book club pick too. This is a sweet, moving story you won’t want to miss. This is the first novel I've read by this author it won't be the last.

This Middle-Grade WW2 novel most of all about the grief of people left on the homefront. Glory Bea Bennett is looking for a miracle. She believes her father could still come home three years after D Day and the battle on Omaha Beach. There is also a funny side plot containing the adventures of her Gram, the matchmaker which tempers the sadness that surrounds having to adjust your dreams to reality.

Blue Skies is a tender read that perfectly captures the belief that anything can happen if you put your mind to it. As a parent, I can see my own daughter mirrored in Glory Bea. Her determination. Her deep love. Her sense of injustice and feelings of hurt and sorrow. They all ring true.

Blue Skies is an exquisite mix of joy and mourning. Glory Bea’s friends are a bright, sensitive and quirky. And Glory Bea’s grandparents are a delight. It’s a book that will grab you at the beginning, and you won’t want to let go by the ending.

Link goes live 3/5/2020

This wonderful middle grade story is about Glory Bea, who lives her mother and grandparents in a small town in Texas. Glory Bea is desperately hoping that her father will return from World War 2, inspire of being listed as missing in action for over 4 years. When her dad's best friend comes for visit, Glory Bea does everything she can to discourage him from staying, because she expects her dad home. Glory Bea is also hoping to be a matchmaker, and fix up her best friend, Ruby Jean, with her next door neighbor, Ben. This is a lovely story about hope and reality and noticing the good things that are in front of you.

I loved Glory Bea Bennett. This book is still stuck with me and I can't wait to delve into this with my new book club! This is WW2 novel for children about loss and grief and hope. It's a book that I want to be able to read for the first time all over again. **And I love the cover!

I really enjoyed this book. It reminds me a lot of Patricia MacLachlan in that it has some drama but is still a very gentle story. The writing is good and I enjoyed the sprinkling of French throughout. Even though it takes place after WWII, I think kids today can relate to Glory Bea because many of them were born while America has been at war and continues to be so. I liked the romantic elements as well. The family dynamics were realistic and comforting. I'd hand this to a child who enjoys historical fiction that is character-driven without a lot of drama.

Blue Skies, by Anne Bustard, is a beautiful book that made my heart soar. I was cheering on Glory Bea as you will too! She has such determination and faith in the hope of the return of her father.

Glory Bea lives in a tiny town called Gladiola, Texas, and they are excitedly waiting for the gratitude train with care boxes from France, and she is sure that the Gratitude Train will have the ultimate gift aboard for her.

Glory Bea's father was lost at the Battle of Omaha. She is positive that her miracle is on its way with the Gratitude Train. She knows within her whole heart that he will be on that train, and she eagerly begins preparations to make his welcome home perfect. Gosh I was rooting for Glory Bea the whole time, but I knew there was possibility of her being let down.

I felt so much for her when the new relationship begins to blossom between her mother and her father's best army buddy. Glory Bea is determined to stop the relationship. She knows her father is returning home, and she will make sure absolutely nothing, or no one, gets in the way of her family reuniting once and for all.

This story will build you up and bring you so much hope but might also break your heart.

Blue Skies, by Anne Bustard, won my heart within the first few pages. It was just one of those books that you cannot put down.

In the story, Blue Skies, you will meet a spirited 10-year-old named Glory Bea Bennett. Glory Bea lives in a tiny town called Gladiola, Texas, and they are excitedly waiting for the gratitude train from France, and Glory Bea is sure that the Gratitude Train will have the ultimate gift aboard for her.

France is sending a train full of boxes cares to the United States. Each box care is full of gifts and tokens of gratitude to thank the people of America for their support of France in World War II.

Glory Bea's father was lost at the Battle of Omaha. She is positive that her miracle is on its way to the Gratitude Train. She knows within her whole heart that he will be on that train, and she eagerly begins preparations to make is welcome home the perfect even.

Trouble hits Glory Bea's plan when a new relationship begins to blossom between her mother and her father's best army buddy. Glory Bea is determined to stop the relationship. She knows her father is returning home, and she will make sure absolutely nothing, or no one, gets in the way of her family reuniting once and for all.

Blue Skies is a novel that will make your heart soar. You will cheer on Glory Bea as you will her determination and faith to be right with the returning of her father. Your heart will break in the knowledge of what we know and Glory Bea is fighting to not be true. For as history tells it, many men were forever lost of the beaches of Omaha, and one of those men just might be someone she knows.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful and moving story from Anne Bustard. It would pair well with The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins for a look at the after affects of war and the toll of families. I would also pair it with The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane for a study of father-daughter relationships.

As Glory Bea navigates through the anticipated days of the Merci train she still holds onto the hope of her father returning from WWII. Her father's friend comes for an extended visit and gets too comfortable in Glory Bea's opinion. What is a girl to do? She just wants her dad to return.
This is a sweet book that has some very real themes about war that will always hold true no matter the year. I did find a few things that were not historically correct and that distracted me, (her friend had braces) but overall it was an endearing book.

Thanks #netgalley for the advanced copy of #blueskies