Written by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Meg Kenyon is a 12 year-old French girl living in Nazi-occupied France. The year is 1942 and Meg’s family has been split apart by the war. She hasn’t seen her father for two years when he left to fight with the Allies. Now, Meg has learned that her father has been captured by the Nazis. The young girl is distraught by the news, but then an unexpected opportunity to rescue her father arises with the arrival of an injured British spy Meg finds hiding in her family’s barn.
The badly injured Captain Stewart tells Meg of a family of German refugees who must be guided through the mountains to neighboring Spain. The young girl reluctantly agrees to the dangerous mission only because one of the refugees promises to help her free her father. Armed only with the British soldier’s backpack filled with an odd assortment of supplies and a final secret coded message from her father, Meg sets out on the seemingly impossible journey.
What happens next is a thrilling roller-coaster ride of espionage, disloyal friends and unexpected danger at every turn. This book of historical fiction is a tense and riveting World War II story with a courageous and dedicated young heroine that the reader will root for until the very last chapter. I highly recommend this for ages 12 and up.
Reviewed by Lynda H. Wilson, Media Clerk, David Gourley Elementary School Library
Review shared in November 2021
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grade 6 and up
Rescue is a book based in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. A young girl hasn’t seen her father in nearly two years, since he left to serve in the war. One day she discovers an injured British soldier and this sets into motion her discovery of what her parents have secretly been up to, needing to help strangers escape, and her need to use the skills her father taught her on how to crack codes in order to save herself, new friends, and her family.
I loved this book; it is well written, it is captivating, and hard to put down. This book would be great for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It is best suited for upper elementary students on up to adult. It was a very enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Emily Jex, Media Clerk, Fox Hills Elementary School Library
Review shared in September 2021
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-9
Rescue
Written by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Scholastic Press
387 pages
Release Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 9781338620993
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
