Projekt 1065. Alan Gratz. 2016. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [Middle Grade, Young Adult Historical Fiction, World War II]
First sentence: It’s hard to smile when you’re having dinner with Nazis.
Premise/plot: Michael O’Shaunessey may be a boy, but he’s also a spy
from a family of spies. His father is the Irish ambassador to Germany,
and the family has lived in Berlin for over seven years. He belongs to
the Hitler Youth for one reason only, to help his cover and his parents’
cover. Michael is essential to his family’s work because he has a
photographic memory.
My thoughts: Thank you, Alan Gratz for your short chapters! Each chapter
left me wanting more, and because the next chapter was so short I could
keep going and going and going. This historical novel was compelling
and packed with action. The characters were developed well. It was
interesting to see Michael take an interest in the banned books and take
up reading mystery novels! Loved the Rex Stout Golden Spiders
reference. Simon was a memorable character as well. I’ll refrain from
elaborating because I don’t want to include spoilers. Fritz was an
interesting character as well. I am glad there was some complexity to
some of the boys in the Hitler Youth.
ETA: I reread this one in June 2023. I remember loving Alan Gratz’s work. I knew he wrote several set during the Second World War. This one was such a mighty (aka INTENSE) read. One thing I noticed in my reread were the details about books and the talk about banned books. One of my favorite scenes is when he’s talking with either Simon OR his father (maybe both???) about books. He’s challenged to rethink an issue. Michael’s family has a hidden stash of banned books that would be burned if discovered. There’s a certain risk if these books are discovered. Yet despite having access to books, Michael is not a reader. There’s a line like IF YOU AREN’T READING THESE BOOKS, if you’re not valuing these books, the contents of these books, they might as well be burned. I’m sure I got the scene a little wrong. Unlike Michael I don’t have a photographic memory. But it reminded me of Fahrenheit 451.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky’s Book Reviews
