The Bicycle Spy

Kids, students, and life-long readers,

We have another edition to the continually growing genre of historical fiction that takes place during World War 2.  The setting for this selection is in Nazi-controlled France where our main character, Marcel, has a love of biking with the dream to some day in the Tour de France.  But there are two events that will alter his semi-normal life.  One is the discovery that the bread he is delivering for his parents each day holds more than just flour and water, but secrets and information for the better of France.  The second is a friendship that grows with the new girl in town, Delphine, who seems to be a bit different from what Marcel expected.  There are many tense and suspenseful moments where one wrong move, the slightest move, the incorrect turn, or a misguided statement can lead to ruin and hardship not only for Marcel but for his friends and family as well.

Author: Yona Zeldis McDonough

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade Level: 5th-8th Grade

Lincoln's Spymaster

Kids, students, and life-long readers,

Allan Pinkerton - Does the name ring a bell?  Unless you are a historian or just a lover of American history you probably don't recognize this name.  Started the secret service, stopped an assassination plot against Lincoln on his way to his inauguration, led a network of espionage to aid the Union during the Civil War, are a small sample of his accomplishments.  This non-fiction book tells the tale of one of America's most fascinating men during the 19th and 20th century.  The first part of this selection will highlight his espionage work during the Civil War and the start of his private investigation firm that eventually became a national program. The second half focuses his work as an outlaw hunter.  The use of trains was exploding during this era, along with the rise of outlaws that tried to rob these trains. Pinkerton Detective Agency hunted down some of the most notorious criminals including the Reno gang and Jesse James.

I had a hard time putting this book down once I started.  There wasn't much down time or dullness in the life of Allan Pinkerton.  If you've been looking for a non-fiction book to try out, I would highly recommend this book.

This Side of Wild

Alright kids, students, and readers for life,

Our beloved adventure/survivalist author of Hatchet and Dogsong is back with this nonfiction novel to share how his interactions with animals changed his life.  This short 118-page book has only five chapters, but each one has a very different narrative in the life of Paulsen.  There are unique stories like one of a poodle that became his protector when he decided to move to Alaska and was always watching his back even when bears happen to be present.  Or a dog that became his listener during his time at atomic bomb school. My personal favorite was his recollection of the birds and the bees attacking an over-crowded rest stop. This Side of the Wild shares a look into his uncommon interactions with animals and helps the reader find and rekindle a love of animals.

Author: Gary Paulsen

Genre: Non-Fiction / Animals

Grade Level: 5th-8th grade