The Bletchley Riddle
* New York Times Bestseller* Five starred reviews * #1 Indie Next Pick* ALA Notable Book This thrilling WWII mystery--a collaboration between award-winning and bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin--is now in paperback! Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act... Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister, Lizzie, share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they're living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amid one of the greatest secrets of World War II--Britain's eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley's top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother. The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler's invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues that unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?
Faraway Home
Karl and Rosa's family watch in horror as Hitler's troops parade down the streets of their home city -- Vienna. It has become very dangerous to be a Jew in Austria, and after their uncle is sent to Dachau, Karl and Rosa's parents decide to send the children out of the country on a Kindertransport, one of the many ships carrying refugee children away from Nazi danger.Isolated and homesick, Karl ends up in Millisle, a run-down farm in Ards in Northern Ireland, which has become a Jewish refugee centre, while Rosa is fostered by a local family.Hard work on the farm keeps Karl occupied, although he still waits desperately for any news from home. Then he makes friends with locals Peewee and Wee Billy, and also with the girls from neutral Dublin who come to help on the farm, especially Judy. But Northern Ireland is in the war too, with rationing and air-raid warnings, and, in April 1941 the bombs of the Belfast Blitz bring the reality of war right to their doorstep.And for Karl and Rosa and the other refugees there is the constant fear that they may never see their parents again.Based on a true story -- there was a refugee farm at Millisle and among its occupants was a young boy called Karl.
Lucky Dog Comes Home
The story of one mailman, a few dogs, and the power to bring joy back to a grieving community--inspired by a celebrated WWII veteran. George lives a peaceful life on his family farm in Indiana until he is recruited for the US army for WWII. While George longed to go back home throughout the war, home is a very different place when he returns. His family farm has been sold and George must find a new job. Though he swore he would never wear a uniform again, George becomes a letter carrier. Then, something unexpected and miraculous happens--friendly neighborhood dogs begin following him on his daily route. As the parade of dogs quickly grows each day, so too does the joy spread in a community still healing from loss. John Spray's stepfather is the inspiration behind the character George, who was a celebrated WWII veteran and post-war letter carrier--loved by both the people and dogs in his small town, Lafayette, Indiana. Scot Ritchie illustrates with powerful depth and humor. .
Can You Keep a Secret?
Set in a rural town in South West France from 1940 to 1944, Can You Keep a Secret? examines the effect of the German occupation on the community, as seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old child. Living with a teenage brother and parents who own a caf矇 in the market square, the child regularly escapes to a secret world in the forests to play with friends. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the town progressively darkens, and the caf矇 becomes central to the operation of the local black market and the growing resistance movement. The child's curiosity is later aroused by the arrival of a mysterious female guest who takes a room above the caf矇, and soon the adult world of a secret agent and the child's world of secret hideouts become inextricably entangled. Intended for young readers, the good vs. evil tale in this book illustrates the importance of honesty, reliability, and trustworthiness against the backdrop of wartime resistance in occupied France.
Halloween on the Butterfield Trail
It's Halloween in 1860, wolves are howling, and bats are flying across the face of the moon. Eleven-year-old Bird and his twin brother are on a Butterfield stage headed across the Red River into Texas. Even though their father is the driver, the next several miles will be scary. Night has fallen, and the dark woods may be full of spooks, ghost bells, glowing tombstones, headless horsemen, wandering spirits, and forked-tail terrors.When the brothers meet up with Zeb, an enslaved boy, they face the woods' chilling possibilities as they set out for buried treasure that could buy Zeb his freedom. Even if they find it, who would drive the stagecoach if no one else is able? What would happen if the stage escaped the woods, only to get caught in a buffalo stampede? And what would the boys do if they learn that the treasure was stolen from hardworking folks?Even as the three boys forge a friendship, Bird grapples with a central question: Why can't he and Zeb just be boys around one other? Instead, adults require Zeb to call him Massa Bird, an example of the deference an enslaved person is expected to pay even a fellow youngster.A closing chapter tells the history and folklore (personally collected by the author) behind the story and suggests books for further reading.
My Backyard Used to Be
My backyard is where we play and learn, but it wasn't always my backyard... Hit rewind on the view out your backdoor as this story zips back in time, showing readers how people, lifestyles, and land have changed over time. My Backyard Used to Be makes history feel current and accessible to young readers--and encourages them to discover what their own backyard used to be.
Out of the Dark
Kathleen Thomas is a twelve-year-old girl living in occupied Denmark during World War II. When she falls into a mysterious hole in the woods near her adopted aunts' house, she loses her beloved Bible and meets a boy named Jack, the first of many compelling strangers to stumble into her life. A teenage Nazi, a baker's apprentice with a tragic past, and a little girl forced to hide in a closet-all are connected, but how? When Jack's friend is captured by the Nazis, Kathleen takes action and finds herself plunged into danger. But light can be found in the darkest places, and as friends emerge from the shadows, Kathleen makes discoveries that change her forever: loving one's enemies and embracing the family God grants us.
We Bury Nothing
In 1943, German soldier Erich Stein is captured by the Allies and imprisoned at Camp 43 in Canada, where he begins to question everything he once believed about what it means to be "a good German." In present day, Keira Martin lands a summer internship at the museum built atop Camp 43 to work on a historical true crime research project: solving the murder of Erich Stein in 1945. But when a fellow intern drowns under suspicious circumstances, Keira unveils a potential connection between the two deaths involving the Hoppers, a politically powerful family on the museum board pushing anti-2SLGBTQ+ policies. The Hopper Scholarship is Keira's only hope to afford her dream university, but the more secrets she digs up from the past, the less certain she is about her own future ...
The Spy in the Museum
This riveting, "visually stunning" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) picture book biography tells the true story of Rose Valland's valiant efforts to save thousands of works of art during World War II by becoming a spy in her own museum. Rose Valland loved art. When the Nazis invaded Paris during World War II and took over her beloved museum, Rose could have fled. But who would save the artwork? So, Rose remained and saw how she was underestimated by the soldiers for being a quiet, unassuming woman. She knew it was the time to act. And Rose had a secret weapon: she could speak German. She listened, kept track of all the stolen art, and saved what she could. Rose became a spy. And in the end, she saved thousands of works of art.
Reach for the Sky: How Two Brothers Built an Airplane in Chinatown
As the Great Depression brought families and cities to their knees, fifteen-year-old Robert Shun Wong and his eleven-year-old brother Tommy, dreamed of flying. Money was tight, racial discrimination was high and times were tough. But in the heart of Vancouver's Chinatown, Robert and Tommy built a single-seat plane - a Pietenpol Sky Scout. Pushing the boundaries of their world, the two brothers were soon flying beyond their wildest dreams! This inspiring true story, lovingly crafted by Robert's daughter Evelyn Sue Wong and beautifully illustrated by artist Sarah Ang, will dare young readers to test their limits, set their eyes beyond the horizon and reach for the sky.
The hunters of Puno
One fateful day 9000 years ago in the high Andes Mountains, Warawara and Phaxsi successfully hunted two adult vicu簽a with their atlatls (spear throwers)--but they also inadvertently orphaned a baby vicu簽a. Wiskachita, their young daughter, pleaded to spare the cr穩a's life, but the small community of five families desperately needed the clothing and food it could provide. That night in their ichu grass house, Warawara and Phaxsi hatched a plan. They sheared the animal's fine wool and wove it into a baby's hat. The next morning, they presented the hat to a family in need and convinced the community to work together in caring for the cr穩a. In that moment, a little vicu簽a became a community member and the first vicu簽a in a herd that would grow to provide the community with warm clothing for life in the cold mountains. The story of Warawara, Phaxsi, Wiskachita, and their community was co-created by members of the Peruvian Aymara community of Mulla Fasiri and archaeologists from Peru and the US. It is based on traditional Aymara knowledge and archaeological excavations at the 9000-year-old site of Wilamaya Patjxa. Not only is this a story of a strong, innovative family, but it is also the story of a strong Aymara culture whose innovations have enhanced the modern world. In order to make the story accessible to different audiences, we tell the story in three languages-Aymara, Spanish, and English.
Ethan's Challenge
Gather the family for an exciting read about Paul's first missionary journey! Thirteen-year-old Ethan is happiest when he's hiding between sacks of grain in his mother's storeroom. There, he's safe from the world and doesn't have to be brave or clever like his grandfather Jotham or his father, Amon. But with his famous relatives, Ethan seems destined--or maybe doomed--for adventure. Before long, Ethan is hundreds of miles from home on a journey with the most famous Christian missionary, running from an angry mob wielding clubs and axes and wanting to kill them. How in the world did he end up here? As a reluctant Ethan travels with Paul, Barnabas, and Mark, he begins to learn the importance of courage in the face of trials and of sharing the good news of Jesus. Readers of all ages will enjoy the real events and places of Acts 13-15 from the relatable perspective of thirteen-year-old Ethan, who is the descendant of the beloved characters from Arnold Ytreeide's hugely popular Christmas and Easter series. This is the perfect read for families at any time of the year.
The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle
From the author of the My Weird School books, an adventure story that spans centuries and continents. In Central Park, New York, stands Cleopatra's Needle. But what do you know about? Did you know that thousands of people worked in 1461 BCE to build it? Then hundreds more moved it, and erected it in Alexandria, where it stood for 3,000 years? So how did a monolith weighing over 200 tons get moved all the way to New York City--and in the 19th Century, no less? In this historical fiction account by bestselling author Dan Gutman, five kids who watched the Needle at each phase of its history recount the daring story of how something that seemed to be impossible -and that nearly ended in disaster--finally succeeded against all odds. Including photos, diagrams, and illustrations, this book will leave history lovers and fans of problem solving astounded at all that was accomplished. And best of all, it will leave middle grade readers feeling they've just watched a really good movie--they'll hardly even realize they were reading. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Shroud of Ice
Guided only by the stars and the memory of Mara's eyes, Ankwar's village pariah Gaspare forges paths over desolate mountains and raging rapids to find his way back to his village. If he loses his focus or abandons his nerve, he will never know the freedom and power of being Ankwar's destined redeemer. Yet if he succeeds, Gaspare risks losing forever his chance at happiness with the one whose eyes haunt him and lead him home. Gaspare's greatest fear becomes his looming reality as he claims his calling and risks losing Mara once again. Based on the real life of ?tzi the Iceman, murdered over 5,000 years ago, the historical fiction Shroud of Ice searches for answers to the haunting echoes of will we ever be enough. Gaspare in the role of ?tzi is a call to stand one last time against the darkness because not all who are dead are silent.
Freckles the Fawn - The Story of a Friendship
A unique true story of a friendship between an orphaned antelope fawn and a girl. Set in Tanganyika (East Africa) in 1951, he becomes her shadow and is accepted by the dogs and cats. He takes a fancy to the African cook Hamisi who features strongly through the story, won't tolerate the socks knitted by the girl to prevent slipping on polished floors and solves the problem by crossing on his knees, falls into a deep hole while a marauding leopard attacks the cattle boma and mauls a young calf, "rides" bareback with the girl on Snuff, the girl's white pony, is mistaken for a dog and given a plate of raw meat by a hotel waiter, has several swims in the pool with the girl, loves a bath and eats the soap. On reaching maturity, he uses his sharp four-inch horns effectively when playfully butting the dogs and the girl. Becomes more aggressive occasionally and, as a yearling, gradually goes wild and inevitably finds a mate and returns to his natural habitat. Valerie Helps was born in London and grew up in East Africa. Widely travelled she has lived in Australia, Greece and France where she established herself as a successful non-fiction writer and illustrator. Her short stories, poetry and children's books have been published in major newspapers and journals worldwide. She now lives in Sydney close to her family.
La grosse vague
L'Association des centres de la petite enfance francophones de l'?le-du-Prince-?douard (ACPEF?P?) en partenariat avec Lynn Gaudet, auteure et illustratrice, ont collabor矇e sur ce premier livre 'Les aventures du petit hibou acadien - Acadicus - La grosse vague'. Ce livre, premier d'une s矇rie, est en partie fictif et raconte l'histoire simplifi矇e de la d矇portation des Acadiens pour les enfants d'璽ge pr矇scolaire et scolaire.Acadicus et son grand ami Wajiga, le corbeau Mi'kmaq, partagent des aventures pleines de d矇fis et de joie, tout en c矇l矇brant l'identit矇 culturelle de chacun.En plus, pour aider les 矇ducateurs/矇ducatrices et les parents ? mieux conna簾tre les traditions et la culture acadienne, l'association a inclus un lexique acadien, des ressources et des activit矇s suppl矇mentaires ? la fin du livre.Ce projet a 矇t矇 rendu possible gr璽ce aux contributions de Patrimoine canadien et de l'ACPEF?P?.
Before I Lived Here
Journey backward in time through all the layers of history that led up to your neighborhood's existence. The building you live in has probably been around longer than you, so you may think it's been there forever. But no matter where you live, a whole lot happened before your home was built. In Before I Lived Here, a boy peels away each layer of the history of the land his house sits on. Follow along from the construction of the neighborhood back to the planning of it; from the ranchers and log cabins that predated it, back to the region's Indigenous people and their eviction from the land . . . all the way back to the time of the dinosaurs. Before I Lived Here reminds us that history isn't something that happens far away, to other people--it's in our own backyards. Debut author Stacy S. Jensen makes the learning readily digestible. There's something here for every reader--from the irresistible depiction of construction sites for vehicle fans, to the somber facts of indigenous displacement recounted without flinching, making for a great family conversation starter on many different levels.
