Village of Scoundrels

Starred review from December 2, 2019
Preus’s WWII novel, based on historical accounts, takes place in a remote village in southeastern France where Jewish teenagers rescued from concentration camps are hiding in plain sight. Housed, fed, and educated by the residents, the teens become actively engaged in their secret missions to help other Jews escape—conveying
messages, forging papers, smuggling people across the border. Because of its isolation, the plateau village escapes notice as a hotbed of Resistance activity until its students write a letter to Vichy’s Minister of Youth declaring their intention to shield the Jews among them. Soon after, a French policeman arrives, followed by convalescing German troops, bringing the villagers’ activities under increasing scrutiny. Preus (The Bamboo Sword) weaves the teens’ backstories and individual dreams into the mounting dangers each faces and poignantly renders the quietly courageous and supportive community, including a precocious 10-year-old who plays a key role in the dramatic climax. Featuring adolescent wartime activists, this is an inspiring narrative founded on a real-life community and individuals, as explained in the extensive epilogue that tells the detailed histories of the village and the people on whom the characters are based. Ages 10–14.

January 1, 2020

Gr 5-8-During World War II, several remote villages in Southern France were home to a community of resistance fighters. Farmers, educators, and clergy all played a part, but this story highlights the daring work of young men and women who forged documents, moved supplies and passed along coded information. For example, one teen created documents that secured his mother's release from an internment camp. One young woman bicycled for miles to deliver messages and contraband. Some used their Boy Scout training in outdoor survival to spirit refugees, sometimes disguised as troop members, to safe houses or through the arduous journey out of France and into Switzerland. This fascinating story is inspired by actual people and events. It highlights an interesting piece of history but is weakened by the narrative structure. It bounces around various plotlines, robbing each one of the tension that starts to build and causing the story to lose momentum. Extensive back matter helps compensate with information about the people, places, and missions that form the novel's basis, as well as a comprehensive bibliography including books, documentaries, and links to museum exhibits. There is also a pronunciation guide to the names of the French characters and locations. VERDICT Overall, this book does a decent job of honoring these young people who stood up and made a difference. An additional historical fiction purchase for libraries serving middle graders.-Carla Riemer, Albany High School, CA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2019
The inhabitants of a village in the mountains of Vichy France quietly carry out clandestine activities as they rescue and hide Jews. Adults, teens, and even younger children work independently and in carefully constructed networks of established residents and Jewish refugees. "Everyone in this town had secrets." Refugees are hidden on outlying farms. Youngsters attend school and live in boardinghouses. All are given beautifully forged identification papers, many made by Jean-Paul, who has forged several versions of his own papers. Some have joined the Maquis, disguised as Boy Scouts. Céleste conveys secret messages; Philippe leads refugees to safe houses and to the Swiss border while others create diversions that lead authorities astray. Ten-year-old Jules notices and remembers everything. He maintains an odd, provocative relationship with the French policeman Perdant, openly questioning him about the morality of his insistence on following the orders and laws of the Nazi overseers. The knowledge he gains allows him to provide the others with key information, warnings, and time to get to safety. Each character's backstory is woven seamlessly into the action. Preus builds suspense and drama by following these brave souls as they take on dangerous tasks, facing arrest, deportation, and, very likely, death if they are caught by the Nazis. Named as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, these characters are based on real people from the village of Le Chambon sur Lignon, and Preus tells their afterstories in a well-researched, comprehensive epilogue. Deeply emotional, intense, and thought-provoking. (pronunciation guide, list of characters, photos, documents, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 10-18)

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December 1, 2019
Grades 5-8 Preus' latest, being about a community of equally interesting characters, lacks a central hero or heroine, yet the many parts nevertheless make for a fascinating whole of historical facts about the real-life village of Le Chambon (here fictionalized as Les Lauzes) and how it managed to save an amazing number of Jews from the Nazis in WWII France. Inspector Perdant, eager to catch the titular scoundrels opposing the Germans, ties together the narratives of a group of children and teens who risk their lives by forging documents, supplying the French Underground, and escorting the endangered to the Swiss border. The stories all come together on a memorable night when Jules, the youngest rebel, leads Perdant on a wild goose chase in order to keep safe the others, who have met up with a band of partisans at a deserted ch�teau. An epilogue covers the nonfictional stories of those who inspired Preus' characters. Readers inspired by communities making a difference?and in WWII and Holocaust history?will find much of interest here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)