 Loading...  | War games Author: Gratz, Alan | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Twelve-year-old Evie travels to Berlin for the 1936 Olympics where she witnesses Hitler's terror on the German people and plans to steal from a Nazi bank with two fellow Olympic athletes.
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 07/21/2025 In a smartly plotted page-turner by Gratz (Resist: A Story of D-Day), young athletes competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics literally go for the gold upon becoming embroiled in a plot to rob the German national bank. Oklahoma gymnast Evie dreams of winning Olympic gold and pulling her family out of financial precarity. When she falls short of passing a qualifying round, she’s approached by unscrupulous, apparently British journalist Solomon, who proposes that Evie-alongside German weightlifter Karl and French diver Ursula-help him steal Nazi gold. Though their athletic capabilities seemingly guarantee they can overcome the Reichsbank’s security measures, the trio must first locate a secret tunnel beneath the Olympic stadium to facilitate the break-in, a task made harder by the watchful presence of Evie’s designated Youth Services Host Heinz, whom she believes is a Hitler Youth spy. Well-researched historical facts add tooth to this cinematic novel’s shocking twists and turns. Layered depictions of Nazi discrimination against Jewish, Black, and queer individuals-and how it impacts the story lines of Karl, who is gay, and biracial Ursula, who is Black and white-are a standout feature of this riveting adventure. An author’s note contextualizes included figures and events. Ages 9-12. (Oct.) - Copyright 2025
