One Boy's War by Nancy McDonald

One Boy's War

England, Summer 1940. Following a brush with death on the Irish Sea, ten-year-old Käfer Avigdor unexpectedly finds himself back in London. There, he stumbles upon a sinister Nazi plot which targets hundreds of people in Britain -- including the most powerful man in the country. The one person who might be ale to defeat Adolf Hitler. With the Germans threatening to invade England at any moment, Käfer musters all his courage and ingenuity in a valiant effort to thwart the Nazis. But will he succeed in time to save the day? One Boy's War, the sequel to Boy from Berlin, is inspired by real people and historical events.

Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10

Originality: 8 out of 10

Prose: 8 out of 10

Character/Execution: 9 out of 10

Overall: 8.25 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot: In a sequel to Boy from Berlin, McDonald delivers a fun, action-filled middle grade story with enough historical verisimilitude to meaningfully drive the narrative.

Prose: McDonald displays a strong sense for her target audience, effectively balancing dialogue, exposition, and action. Her central character, while faced with often nonstop conflict, is also afforded moments of introspection.

Originality: An adventure story with truly high stakes, this second in a series will capture readers while inviting further interest in historical circumstances.

Character/Execution: Young readers are unlikely to have encountered a hero like Käfer Avigdor. McDonald soundly develops the protagonist's historical setting, while providing him with a sense of agency and vulnerability.

Date Submitted: August 20, 2020

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