Official Review: Tracking the Skies for Lacy

[Alys Sterk]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tracking the Skies for Lacy" by Steve Gladish.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Luke and Lacy fall in love and spend their adolescence enjoying their budding romance in Illinois. Although they share common principles and interests, there is friction because the two are from different social classes and her family does not approve. Over time, the two reconnect, trying to rekindle their romance, but they are hindered by pressures from Lacy’s family. In the military, Luke is thrilled to be assigned to units that conduct atmospheric testing and later becomes a helicopter pilot, but he still misses Lacy. Half a world away in the jungles of Vietnam, he still reminisces over what could have been. Luke meets other people, but he is unfulfilled. Nothing seems to satisfy the yearning in his soul for Lacy.

The best part of this book are the underlying themes that tie the story together. The driving force in this narrative is the disparity in social classes. The two characters have similar levels of ambition, faith, and intellect, but they cannot overcome the overwhelming tides of social pressure they find in the attitudes of Lacy’s family. This is reflected in our society today and is a subject to which many readers can relate. Another prominent theme here is fulfillment; the drive to succeed and acceptance from others is woven throughout each chapter. This can be felt as Luke rides to a schoolhouse to warn them of an approaching tornado, in the training facilities of the military’s most aggressive training units, and at the controls of a Huey. In Tracking the Skies for Lacy, author Steve Gladish takes readers on an emotional roller coaster as the characters find themselves, then drift apart over and over again like a magnet in perpetual motion.

The use of characterization is nothing short of dynamic here. Although the characters seem to have it all at the beginning of the story, there are no heroes and no miracles. There are no quick-fixes, and no magic. Even the tertiary characters have stories, with each one contributing to the plot; a father teaches his young son to sing and perform, an officer bends the rules for an inquisitive soldier, a farmer provides a life-saving gift.

This book is rich in imagery. While I do appreciate sensory details and descriptive writing, I felt like this technique may have been overused in this story. Ravished cornfields depicted as “rows and rows of skinny golden soldiers” that “held hands and bit the dust” are clever metaphors, but these descriptions seemed to go on for paragraphs and delayed the plot from unfolding. Sometimes it can be just as effective to provide a shorter description and let the reader’s imagination take it from there. Because of the rather lengthy details, I deducted one star from the rating and give this book 3 out of 4 stars. Otherwise, this is a remarkable story with all the elements of good writing.

This narrative is professionally edited. The few errors I found were barely discernible and did not impede the flow of the story. I recommend Tracking the Skies for Lacy to all readers, especially for those who like romance, historical fiction, or those looking to be immersed in sensory descriptions and imagery. There was mild profanity and some sexual content, so this may not be an appropriate choice for younger readers. Every reader who opens this novel will walk away with a better understanding of the human appetite for acceptance and love.

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Tracking the Skies for Lacy
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[Ngozi Onyibor]

I like that the book has relatable themes. Luke and Lacy's story is all too reminiscent of the society. I hope Luke finds joy and fulfillment. Amazing review.

[Helenbaysa_1975_12]

I love romantic story... Luke an lacy's reminds me of many love stories i read... How they find each other beyond distance and hard situations is very exciting tng to read...

[Adanna Inya]

Awwww, I love romantic stories. Did Luke and Lacy find their way back to each other? Would Lacy's family back down? It still happens in our society today, but love wins.

[JKO]

Like and Lacy's love seems to be a real one. I wonder if they find a way back to each other. I look forward to finding out. Thanks for the review.

[Nujudee]

I hope Luke and Lacy find a way to get back to each other.
I would really love to read this novel.
Thank you for your honest review.