Lucas is a virtuous orphan, even though he’s tired of being
bossed around. The other boys in the orphanage treat him unkindly, and the
Nazis patrolling the streets look down on him, too. Lucas displays his courage
when he keeps two large orphanage bullies from drowning five kittens. He hides
them in an abandoned barn, only to have a wealthy girl tell him to leave and
never come back. However, Lucas is persistent, and he eventually befriends
Alice. Lucas delivers groceries to a hospital for expectant mothers, and one
day he snatches a coded message to save a matron, Mme. Garnier, from Nazi
soldiers. Lucas decides he's tired of Germans invading his country and
convinces her to let him join the Resistance.
Readers know about Nazi concentration camps where millions
of men, women, and children were executed. Characters mention a couple of
people who are taken to a camp, and they know the chances of survival are slim.
Nazis in the streets, night and day, are constant reminders of how quickly
characters might be arrested and disappear forever. Spying is a dangerous
business, and Lucas risks his life every time he carries a message. Mme.
Garnier and Father Gustave are reluctant to let a young boy help the
Resistance, but Lucas is in a perfect position to transport coded messages.
Young readers will enjoy the mystique of spy work, and the plot maintains
constant tension.
The story offers a different perspective on World War II, as
the events focus on French citizens. Lucas and Alice talk about the possibility
of allied nations saving the country, and they are skeptical that America is
truly the land of opportunity. People do questionable things in order to
survive, and Alice’s father trains racehorses for the Germans. Mme. Garnier is
the only French person working at the hospital where the babies of the pregnant
women will become members of the Aryan nation. The author introduces Claire, a
French woman carrying a German soldier’s baby. She knows her child will be
taken away and adopted by a family in Germany. However, Claire dreams of being
reunited with her baby after the war, even though she’s told that won’t happen.
What didn’t work as well:
Various characters speak three languages in the story: French,
German, and English. However, the narrative doesn’t differentiate between the
languages very well, so readers will mostly read English. Lucas is supposed to
speak French, but readers won’t get a sense that he’s speaking anything other
than English.
The final verdict:
Readers will root for Lucas as he tries to make a difference
during the Second World War. The author assures readers that everything mentioned
about the war is true, so they’ll get a compelling look at France during this
time in history. The plot takes a dramatic turn when Lucas makes a rash, daring
decision, leading to an exciting climax. I recommend you give this book a try.
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