Tamar [suggested by Chris Cooper]
In 1944, two spies are sent deep within Nazi-occupied Holland. Their mission – to help those involved with the Dutch resistance movement. Both men are trained to send, receive, and translate coded messages. These messages contain valuable information concerning the movements of the Nazi army. Even though these men face death at every turn, they are committed to stopping the evil that is associated with the Nazi regime.
In 1995, Tamar is dealing with the suicide of her grandfather. He has left Tamar a box full of clues that she cannot decipher. She decides that it is one of his elaborate puzzles; one that Tamar may not be able to solve. After enlisting the help of her cousin, Yoyo, Tamar sets off on a journey to discover why her grandfather left her these treasures, and what they mean to her family.
Mal Peet has created a novel that intertwines the story of a young girl’s journey of self-discovery and a young soldier’s fight to stay alive. It is a beautifully written novel that contains secrets within secrets. Peet leads the reader on an adventure that is both intriguing and frightening. Readers may be left speechless once the truth unfolds. [Amazon Review by LadyJay (Teens Read Too)]
Wikipedia entry for the novel.
About the Author
Wikipedia entry.
Author’s biog (on his website).
Shortlisted for this month
Proposers can bring up to three books for consideration, Chris’s other choices were:
Maggot Moon
Narrated against the backdrop of a ruthless regime determined to beat its enemies in the race to the moon, MAGGOT MOON is the stunning new novel from award-winning author Sally Gardner. When his best friend Hector is suddenly taken away, Standish Treadwell realises that it is up to him, his grandfather and a small band of rebels to confront and defeat the ever-present oppressive forces of the Motherland. It is impossible not to be moved by MAGGOT MOON’s utterly original, powerful story and the unforgettable heroism of Standish. [Product description from Amazon]
The book has its own website.
About the Author
Wikipedia entry.
Author’s website.
The Postman
He was a survivor:
a wanderer who traded tales for food and shelter in the dark and savage aftermath of a devastating war.
But when he borrows the jacket of a long-dead postal worker, his life changes for ever. As he journeys from one isolated community to the next, the old, worn uniform becomes far more than a protection against the unrelenting cold: it’s a reminder of how things were before the world collapsed – and a symbol for how things might be again.
His story is one of a lie becoming the most important kind of truth. [Product description from the author’s website]
Wikipedia entries for the novel and the film adaptation.
About the Author
Wikipedia entry.
Author’s biog (on his website).