BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: An Unlikely Spy (available here)
Author: Terry Dreary
Publisher: Bloomsbury Education
Publication Date: July 2019
Most Suitable For: Upper KS2
Reviewed by: Natasha Kendrick, Year 6 Teacher
It is Sunday 3rd September 1939. When Britain declares war with Germany, Brigit Furst’s life changes. With a French mother and a German father, living in Castle Bromwich becomes difficult. As the country prepares for the German attacks, Brigit’s father is sent to an internment camp and her mother is sent to train in Churchill’s SOE (Special Operations Executive) training camp, while Brigit herself is evacuated to Wales along with a host of bullies who hate her for being part German.
As Brigit arrives at the train station, she decides to take matters into her own hands and evacuates herself with a new identity. When she is later uncovered, she escapes from her host home, finds her mother and is soon the latest recruit of the SOE group, flying to France to halt Hitler’s advances. But what happens when they find a spy in their midst uncovering their secret identity?
It was refreshing to read a book around the topic of World War 2 where the main character faces prejudice and is part of the war itself. The story is exciting and keeps the reader gripped, hoping that the SOE group will succeed in their challenges. I enjoyed that the book kept me engaged with the story and the plot twists were unexpected.
This book would fit well with a World War 2 topic and would lead to some opportunities for writing for upper KS2 children.
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You can order An Unlikely Spy online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Review Panel member Natasha for reviewing it.