The Bicycle Spy

September 12, 2016
A winning protagonist propels this WWII adventure, which is set in 1942 in a Nazi-occupied French village. Diminutive yet determined 12-year-old Marcel loves to ride his bicycle and adores the Tour de France, which has been suspended because of the war. Marcel imagines himself on the Tour as he delivers bread for his baker parents, slipping sweets to armed guards to win their cooperation. McDonough (Little Author in the Big Woods) effectively escalates the conflict as Marcel discovers coded messages inside the loaves and realizes that his parents are members of the Resistance. Marcel forms a fast friendship with Delphine, a clever girl who shares his love of biking, and later discovers her family's Jewish heritage, which puts them in grave danger. Some narrative elements feel rushed, such as how quickly Marcel and Delphine disclose their families' secrets to each other, but readers should be riveted as Marcel encourages his parents to help Delphine's family escape and helps put a daring rescue into action. This engrossing introduction to WWII also includes a glossary, historical notes, and reading suggestions. Ages 8â12. Agent: Judith Ehrlich, Judith Ehrlich Literary Management.

July 1, 2016
The Nazis have occupied France, and Marcel Christophe's world is suddenly full of mysteries. It's 1942, and 12-year-old Marcel and his parents hate the German Occupation and the changes it has brought to their little town of Aucoin--the presence of soldiers, rationing, and shortages of food and gas. Now, since the Nazis have invaded the Free Zone, the streets have even more soldiers, and as it turns out, Marcel's new friend, Delphine Gilette, and her family are in danger when it's discovered that they are Jewish. Marcel makes frequent bread deliveries from his parents' bakery on his bicycle, and when he discovers a note hidden in a loaf, he begins to realize that his parents are part of the Resistance. Their undercover work now must include helping Delphine and her family. "Why is your family doing all this?" she asks Marcel. "Because we have to. It's the right thing to do. We can't just give in to...them. We can't," he replies. McDonough's third-person narrative tells Marcel's story in simple, straightforward prose, seamlessly incorporating historical detail, including information about Marcel's passion, the Tour de France. A fine story of war, friendship, and taking a stand against injustice. (historical notes, glossary, further reading) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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June 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-It is 1942 in German-occupied France. The Tour de France has been cancelled for the last two years, and Marcel, a young French boy, must keep two very big secrets: his parents are part of the resistance, and the new girl in town, a friend and fellow bicycle enthusiast, tells him that she is Jewish. Marcel must decide if he will help his new friend, even if it means putting his life and the lives of his parents at risk. This story takes readers on a historical adventure as they follow Marcel, astride his trusty bicycle, along the streets of German-occupied France. History seamlessly meets fiction as readers learn about a snippet of life in World War II Europe. Marcel is often frightened when he has to go through various checkpoints, where soldiers question his every move. However, he uses his love for cycling to get him through these dangerous times. The brief histories provided at the end of the story and the glossary of terms offer additional background and support for students just learning about this time period. VERDICT This would be a great resource in a World War II unit. Students will become engrossed in Marcel's exploits as he attempts to save his family from an awful fate.-Elizabeth Anne Ragain, Springfield Public Schools, MO

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Grades 4-6 It's 1942, and German troops have recently occupied the small French town where Marcel lives with his parents, who run a bakery. Delivering bread one day, he finds a cryptic message inside a loaf and deduces that his parents are working with the Resistance. He befriends Delphine, a new classmate who shares his love of bicycles and the Tour de France. After discovering that she is Jewish and her family is in danger, Marcel begins a perilous journey on his bike to arrange for their escape. A glossary of terms (cornichons, Gestapo, ration cards), a time line of WWII France, and a brief history of the Tour de France are among the appended features. Clearly written, suspenseful, and accessible to a younger audience than most escape stories involving Jewish children during the war, this chapter book has classroom potential. An engaging story with an attractive jacket, this historical novel is a good companion book for Gregory Maguire's The Good Liar (1995) and Susan Lynn Meyer's Black Radishes (2010), which are also set in occupied France.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)