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Shadow on the Mountain
Shadow on the Mountain recounts the adventures of a 14-year-old Norwegian boy named Espen during World War II. After Nazi Germany invades and occupies Norway, Espen and his friends are swept up in the Norwegian resistance movement. Espen gets his start by delivering illegal newspapers, then graduates to the role of courier and finally becomes a spy, dodging the Gestapo along the way. During five years under the Nazi regime, he gains—and loses—friends, falls in love, and makes one small mistake that threatens to catch up with him as he sets out to escape on skis over the mountains to Sweden.Preus incorporates archival photographs, maps, and other images to tell this story based on the real-life adventures of Norwegian Erling Storrusten, whom Preus interviewed in Norway.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
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2277 people want to read
About the author
Margi Preus
26 books190 followersMargi Preus is a children's writer. She is a 2011 Newbery Honor winner and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Heart of a Samurai.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
March 31, 2013
Margi Preus is a beautiful writer and this is a beautiful book. It was very interesting to read about the Nazi occupation of Norway, which I had not done since "Snow Treasure" one of my favorite books as a child. Espen, the main character is an unlikely hero who risks his life for what he believes is right. The story is quiet compared to many books out there today and I'm happy to see the range of choices for kids expand to include a book like this. It has depth and will be treasured by serious middle grade readers and those who love historical fiction.
May 1, 2021
I really liked this story from start to finish. "Shadow on the Mountain" by Margi Preus is a story based on actual events. I see it marked as "fiction" but to me it is more in the nonfiction genre. True names have been changed, which is often the case with these types of stories (spy) and some modifications to events had to be made for several reasons, but over all the stories told are true. The author includes at the end of the book a list of the events in the story that are real and the ones that never happened.
The story revolves around a young boy Espen (code name Odin) and how he becomes involved as a young boy in the resistance during the Nazi occupation of Norway. His climb up the ranks and the losses suffered during the occupation.
The story is much more than just another "occupation" story. It touches on many subjects such as conviction, doubts, commitment to ideals, family and commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
The story moves smoothly from start to finish and while it is not always an "action fest" the story holds your attention and makes turning the pages to see what comes next very easy.
The characters are diverse, imbued with depth both the occupied and occupiers. In the story Espen will ask his sister how she got away with a rather dangerous act (apparently having been seen by a guard) and her answer is food for thought.
The author includes a dictionary for some of the most repeated Norwegian words in the book. You will also find a timeline and a photo galley of the actual people the story is about.
A great story, that reads easily, can be enjoyed by anyone of any age. No triggers to worry about, although the harshness of the time is not shied away from.
The book jacket deserves mention as well, a display of a snow capped mountain with a skier coming down the mountain, but the cover has a faded tint, given it the look of a much older book that is very appealing and intriguing.
The story revolves around a young boy Espen (code name Odin) and how he becomes involved as a young boy in the resistance during the Nazi occupation of Norway. His climb up the ranks and the losses suffered during the occupation.
The story is much more than just another "occupation" story. It touches on many subjects such as conviction, doubts, commitment to ideals, family and commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
The story moves smoothly from start to finish and while it is not always an "action fest" the story holds your attention and makes turning the pages to see what comes next very easy.
The characters are diverse, imbued with depth both the occupied and occupiers. In the story Espen will ask his sister how she got away with a rather dangerous act (apparently having been seen by a guard) and her answer is food for thought.
The author includes a dictionary for some of the most repeated Norwegian words in the book. You will also find a timeline and a photo galley of the actual people the story is about.
A great story, that reads easily, can be enjoyed by anyone of any age. No triggers to worry about, although the harshness of the time is not shied away from.
The book jacket deserves mention as well, a display of a snow capped mountain with a skier coming down the mountain, but the cover has a faded tint, given it the look of a much older book that is very appealing and intriguing.
July 18, 2022
I’ve read a few stories about Norway during WWII, but not one that covered the full war. There was a lot of excitement and danger, but nothing ever felt too graphic or tense. Perhaps it was because I never felt too close to the main character as there’s not a lot of time to cover all the years. I might have liked it better if it had been more focused on a shorted amount of time, but it was still good.
It does have three different POVs but mostly they are from Espen. A few chapters are from his sister’s POV, and some are from his “enemy.”
One thing I really liked about the book was the Author’s Notes which told what parts of the story were based on real facts and events. And I enjoyed reading about the real person this book was inspired by.
This is not a Christian book so there are no prayers at all, which did seem a bit odd for the time and place. There was talk about the Norwegian folklore and fairy tales.
Someone gets shot, but it’s not graphic. And there are mentions of things the Nazis were doing, about prisoners who didn't have enough to eat, but again, nothing was graphic.
It does have three different POVs but mostly they are from Espen. A few chapters are from his sister’s POV, and some are from his “enemy.”
One thing I really liked about the book was the Author’s Notes which told what parts of the story were based on real facts and events. And I enjoyed reading about the real person this book was inspired by.
This is not a Christian book so there are no prayers at all, which did seem a bit odd for the time and place. There was talk about the Norwegian folklore and fairy tales.
Someone gets shot, but it’s not graphic. And there are mentions of things the Nazis were doing, about prisoners who didn't have enough to eat, but again, nothing was graphic.
January 29, 2019
Lately, I seem to come across quite a few stories about every day life, suffering and resistance in Nazi-occupied territories in World War II, like "White Rose, Black Forest" (Germany) and "Number the Stars" (Denmark). This is another very good one, set in Norway and based on a true story. It's written for younger readers, still, what characterises Scandinavians seems well captured. All sides are shown, too, even those who joined the Nazis for their own gain.
I should really revisit Norway's Resistance Museum in Oslo. :)
I should really revisit Norway's Resistance Museum in Oslo. :)
June 6, 2018
Not a very good book. I was bored throughout the book, there was some good parts but over all I didn't really like it.
February 12, 2015
Civil disobedience is a conscious effort to disobey laws that one disagrees with in society. The protagonist, Espen, lives in Norway when the Germans occupy his country and force the Norwegian King and government officials to flee. The Norwegians formed a Resistance group meant to undermine and protest the Nazi's, while other Norwegians decided to join the German Reich. Espen, along with many others in his town of Lilleby, choose civil disobedience in the form of nonviolent actions such as feeding prisoners of war, smuggling newspapers, acting as couriers, wearing paper clips or red hats to signify unity, or refusing to sit next to a German on public transportation. This form of resistance was a way to feel in control of what was clearly an uncontrollable situation, to instill national pride and counteract Nazi propaganda. Espen never hesitates to join the resistance although he does romanticize it at first. He pretends he is a hero or some important spy. As he gets more and more dangerous missions, he learns real fear and as a child, he still makes many mistakes endangering the life of himself and his family.
Margi Preus captures the culture and customs of Norway from the myths, food, and cross-country skiing to the language. The children's story of a troll splinter in the eye as a way to explain why some Norwegians chose to side with the Germans even though it was wrong reminded me of "The Snow Queen" fairy tale and the boy that sided with the evil Snow Queen because he got an evil glass splinter in his eye. When Preus describes cross-country skiing and scraping off wax, it brought back many memories of cross-country skiing in Minnesota. The day would warm up and the skis' wax would have to be scraped off and changed in order to get it to glide. Except Espen is not on a recreational ski trek, he is being hunted by the Gestapo and fleeing for his life; thus, adding tension during an exciting climax.
The plot has Espen playing soccer and bonding more closely with his teammates when the Gestapo decide to take over the team. In protest, the players quit. Espen's soccer captain is quite involved in the Resistance which is how Espen becomes involved in it. There are not too many twists and turns. In fact, it is easy to predict what the villain will do. What I liked best was the details on daily living and the friendships forged between characters. Preus creates some imagery with darkness and light from the blinding snow on a sunny day to the blinding blizzard in the dark of night. Both times involve major moral decisions by characters. The imagery is also tied into the theme when Espen's father says that people become "snow-blind to ...basic human decency, but behind the temporary blindness, ...they knew ...the right thing to do." Espen has learned from his parents that to turn away from human kindness is never right even if it means risking one's life.
The story is written in third person from Espen, Ingrid, and Askel's point of view. Some parts are slow, particularly Ingrid and her journal writing. I see how it was supposed to advance the story in an exciting climax, but it was slow getting there. Humor is balanced with dark elements. When Tante Marie tells Espen to get something in her drawer she wants to give him, he jokes: does she want to give him her false teeth or the compass? Askel, the Norwegian boy that joins the Germans, is a one-dimensional villain and flat; he is your typical Gestapo bully that uses the Nazi ideals as a platform to rationalize his need to use violence on other people. He puts down others to build himself up. His mother is his foil, but I would have preferred a look into why Askel was so full of hate. The suggestion is because his father died fighting in the war, but it isn't explored in depth. He's also too casual about his first kill. The other Norwegian boy that joined the Germans, Kjell, has more depth as he struggles with honoring his past friendship with Espen and adopting the violent methods of the Gestapo. The author tries to balance German soldiers that turned a blind eye, to those that were violent. The end has an interesting author's note, photos, timeline, and activities for code breaking and making invisible ink. A nice enjoyable story that will be hard for me to remember in the future.
Margi Preus captures the culture and customs of Norway from the myths, food, and cross-country skiing to the language. The children's story of a troll splinter in the eye as a way to explain why some Norwegians chose to side with the Germans even though it was wrong reminded me of "The Snow Queen" fairy tale and the boy that sided with the evil Snow Queen because he got an evil glass splinter in his eye. When Preus describes cross-country skiing and scraping off wax, it brought back many memories of cross-country skiing in Minnesota. The day would warm up and the skis' wax would have to be scraped off and changed in order to get it to glide. Except Espen is not on a recreational ski trek, he is being hunted by the Gestapo and fleeing for his life; thus, adding tension during an exciting climax.
The plot has Espen playing soccer and bonding more closely with his teammates when the Gestapo decide to take over the team. In protest, the players quit. Espen's soccer captain is quite involved in the Resistance which is how Espen becomes involved in it. There are not too many twists and turns. In fact, it is easy to predict what the villain will do. What I liked best was the details on daily living and the friendships forged between characters. Preus creates some imagery with darkness and light from the blinding snow on a sunny day to the blinding blizzard in the dark of night. Both times involve major moral decisions by characters. The imagery is also tied into the theme when Espen's father says that people become "snow-blind to ...basic human decency, but behind the temporary blindness, ...they knew ...the right thing to do." Espen has learned from his parents that to turn away from human kindness is never right even if it means risking one's life.
The story is written in third person from Espen, Ingrid, and Askel's point of view. Some parts are slow, particularly Ingrid and her journal writing. I see how it was supposed to advance the story in an exciting climax, but it was slow getting there. Humor is balanced with dark elements. When Tante Marie tells Espen to get something in her drawer she wants to give him, he jokes: does she want to give him her false teeth or the compass? Askel, the Norwegian boy that joins the Germans, is a one-dimensional villain and flat; he is your typical Gestapo bully that uses the Nazi ideals as a platform to rationalize his need to use violence on other people. He puts down others to build himself up. His mother is his foil, but I would have preferred a look into why Askel was so full of hate. The suggestion is because his father died fighting in the war, but it isn't explored in depth. He's also too casual about his first kill. The other Norwegian boy that joined the Germans, Kjell, has more depth as he struggles with honoring his past friendship with Espen and adopting the violent methods of the Gestapo. The author tries to balance German soldiers that turned a blind eye, to those that were violent. The end has an interesting author's note, photos, timeline, and activities for code breaking and making invisible ink. A nice enjoyable story that will be hard for me to remember in the future.
January 17, 2015
In “Shadow on the Mountain”, a Norwegian boy named Espen wants to help drive away the Nazis from Norway. The book begins with Espen, a fourteen-year-old boy, riding his bicycle to deliver some illegal newspapers. He delivers the newspapers to an old woman who is called “Tante Marie”. The woman finds out that this is Espen’s first mission for the Norwegian resistance, and tells him to make a code name. When Espen decides his code name, the woman tells Espen of the atrocities happening in Norway. Espen begins to spend more and more time working, and suddenly defeating the Nazis is his life. All of a sudden, the Nazis start to mistreat the Norwegians, and Espen has another role in the Resistance.
I would say that this book was written very well. The author had made the trips that Espen took very detailed which is appreciated, as most of the book is set during Espen’s work for the Resistance. The abundance of missions that Espen takes also adds to the notion that this book is amazing. When I read how Espen conducted each mission, I could see myself alongside him. I only issue I saw in this book is that there are some references to Espen’s past, which we as readers are oblivious to. The two main antagonists have very little information about them. One of these antagonists was especially complicated. The author provided some information, such as that this person works for the Nazis, but also shows that he warns Espen every time Nazis are near and may capture Espen. Over all, I would say that the pros of this book outnumber the cons. The plot is interesting and the characters are very detailed, leading me to say that this book dissevers the five stars I gave it.
I would say that this book was written very well. The author had made the trips that Espen took very detailed which is appreciated, as most of the book is set during Espen’s work for the Resistance. The abundance of missions that Espen takes also adds to the notion that this book is amazing. When I read how Espen conducted each mission, I could see myself alongside him. I only issue I saw in this book is that there are some references to Espen’s past, which we as readers are oblivious to. The two main antagonists have very little information about them. One of these antagonists was especially complicated. The author provided some information, such as that this person works for the Nazis, but also shows that he warns Espen every time Nazis are near and may capture Espen. Over all, I would say that the pros of this book outnumber the cons. The plot is interesting and the characters are very detailed, leading me to say that this book dissevers the five stars I gave it.
July 1, 2014
I thought the basic premise of this--Norwegian spies and resistance workers during the Nazi regime--was really interesting. It also did a good job of looking at why some people worked with the Nazis instead of fighting them. But overall, I found a lot of the dialogue quite stilted and the characterizations to be a bit shallow. Despite such a fascinating topic (based on an actual spy), I was never sucked into the story the way I wanted to be. It's not a bad book by any means, it just wasn't a book that resonated with me. I would recommend this to teens who love WWII or spy fiction.
April 26, 2020
I loved this! My favorite thing about the whole book was Espen’s relationship with his sister, Ingrid. <3 The writing style was very enjoyable, the plot moved quickly, and altogether this was an engaging and immensely enjoyable read! (So many similar situations to what I'm writing in my own WW2 novel, which made me happy!)
The only thing I disliked was several crude remarks. I mean, they weren't that bad, just unnecessary. 😜
The only thing I disliked was several crude remarks. I mean, they weren't that bad, just unnecessary. 😜
April 19, 2018
Shadow on the Mountain is based on the true story of a WWII teen spy. It's a fast-paced page turner. The 10-year-old and I really enjoyed this one. Two thumbs up.
September 16, 2013
I did enjoy reading this book. Some parts were very intense, which set the tone for the whole book. You were constantly worried about Espen, and what was going to happen next. Espen was a WW2 spy, and delivered messages, ad illegal newspapers. Just about anything could get you arrested at this time in history, and if Espen gets caught, he could ruin his family's life. In fact, everyone in his family is doing something to help the Norwegian resistance movement, no matter how small.
I really enjoyed how the author made the whole book come alive. I absolutely loved how the author showed you a perspective that you don't normally see. The description in this book was pretty good, but it certainly could of been better. The part that I didn't like was the ending. It was almost kind of sad, how the author pretty much said he never looked back. I hated the ending, probably one of the worst endings I have ever read. The book as a whole was pretty good, even the ending pages. Just the ending page wasn't good at all. I wish it was written differently.
I really enjoyed how the author made the whole book come alive. I absolutely loved how the author showed you a perspective that you don't normally see. The description in this book was pretty good, but it certainly could of been better. The part that I didn't like was the ending. It was almost kind of sad, how the author pretty much said he never looked back. I hated the ending, probably one of the worst endings I have ever read. The book as a whole was pretty good, even the ending pages. Just the ending page wasn't good at all. I wish it was written differently.
December 9, 2012
A real page-turner, this historical fiction tween novel is based on the true story of teen resistance fighters in Norway in World War II. Espen and his sister Ingrid do small things to combat the Nazi invasion of Norway, from giving potatoes to political prisoners, to delivering secret papers. Most people (adults and children) don't know about Norway's role in the war - their country was quickly overrun by Nazis yet many Norwegians joined the underground, blew up facilities related to bomb production, and more. The book concludes with photos and information on the real teens the story uses as its basis. Engaging but not overly violent, this might attract readers of adventure novels.
July 23, 2014
So much promise. Such a great true-life story. So little execution. I have never been more bored by a book about the Norwegian resistance in my life. Have mercy.
January 7, 2016
Quite an interesting read at first (despite some crude and rude things) but lacked punch by the end. SO much that a few months later I barely remembered the book!
November 24, 2017
Very educational, I never knew about the Norwegian Resistance. A very brave group of people who stood against the odds, utilizing their unique skills, and did not anticipate the allies to free them.
April 11, 2021
Showing the points of view from two Norwegian boys--Espen, who joined the Resistance, and Aksel, the Gestapo--history plays itself out through this account based on a real-life Norwegian man's boyhood experiences in occupied Norway.
I was at first unimpressed with the style of the narrrative; it took me quite awhile to really get into this book. Also, there were ample crass comments about bodily functions; these never fail to be off-putting to me.
However, the last half or so really picked up speed, and became a story that left me suspended in breathless curiosity. There is courage, danger, espionage, compassion, friendship, mercy, loyalty, love of family and country, and discussion of doing the right thing. The last half of the book pretty well redeemed the slow start and crassness of parts of the first. I had been going to rate this with 3 stars, but I think now, having finished it, I will give it 4, or at least 3.5. The best part for me was reading the author's note after the story ended and finding that most of the events in the story actually happened to a boy named Erling, and this was based on his real experiences.
Note: There were accounts of Gestapo brutality, murders, and torture tactics. A girl gets choked, a boy is shot to death. Starving prisoners in a concentration camp are described. There is a boy-girl element but is innocent, with the boy eventually realizing he loves her. Includes the aforementioned jokes and references to passing gas and urinating using rude language.
I was at first unimpressed with the style of the narrrative; it took me quite awhile to really get into this book. Also, there were ample crass comments about bodily functions; these never fail to be off-putting to me.
However, the last half or so really picked up speed, and became a story that left me suspended in breathless curiosity. There is courage, danger, espionage, compassion, friendship, mercy, loyalty, love of family and country, and discussion of doing the right thing. The last half of the book pretty well redeemed the slow start and crassness of parts of the first. I had been going to rate this with 3 stars, but I think now, having finished it, I will give it 4, or at least 3.5. The best part for me was reading the author's note after the story ended and finding that most of the events in the story actually happened to a boy named Erling, and this was based on his real experiences.
Note: There were accounts of Gestapo brutality, murders, and torture tactics. A girl gets choked, a boy is shot to death. Starving prisoners in a concentration camp are described. There is a boy-girl element but is innocent, with the boy eventually realizing he loves her. Includes the aforementioned jokes and references to passing gas and urinating using rude language.
January 21, 2021
Shadow on the Mountain was able to portray life during Hitler's oppression, especially over Europe, excellently. It was not only realistic but very informative. The story begins with the introduction of Espen. A young boy who would go on to not only evade his German pursuers but assist in bringing them down. Espen lived in Norway as a young boy during World War two along with his mother, father, and younger sister. Espen was a social kid and loved being with his best friend, Kjell. However, overtime as German's hold over Norway increased in the finally years of the war their friendship would fade. We got the impression that Kjell sided with the Germans as he would frequently talk about how much he admired them. Whereas Espen was loyal to his country and hated the Germans for invading it. What I love most is the authors way of showing how these two young boys who "chose different sides," if you will still interact with each other and show one another mercy throughout the story. Overall, Kjell's beliefs are not strong enough to change Espens and Espens are strong enough to change Kjells, this is where we see the friendship fade. Despite
all of this Espen still manages to rely messages back and forth to Norwegian leaders, then delivers important newspapers until he performs his final and arguably most important act of all, becoming a spy and gathering intel on the German compound.
Although I am not an avid reader I found not being able to stop reading once I started. Each time I stopped it felt like I had been left on a huge cliffhanger. A very exciting story which I admire in comparison to a book with no action. It also had a great amount of realistic information which I also appreciate. I gave this book three stars because I am not super interested in this time period. I loved the writing and story however am not overtaking by the overall setting. In all, I would most definitely recommended this book to someone who wants to learn more on what it what like to live under Hitler's oppression.
all of this Espen still manages to rely messages back and forth to Norwegian leaders, then delivers important newspapers until he performs his final and arguably most important act of all, becoming a spy and gathering intel on the German compound.
Although I am not an avid reader I found not being able to stop reading once I started. Each time I stopped it felt like I had been left on a huge cliffhanger. A very exciting story which I admire in comparison to a book with no action. It also had a great amount of realistic information which I also appreciate. I gave this book three stars because I am not super interested in this time period. I loved the writing and story however am not overtaking by the overall setting. In all, I would most definitely recommended this book to someone who wants to learn more on what it what like to live under Hitler's oppression.
March 9, 2018
I raced through this book. It was a fun and informative read. Margi Preus did a good job creating nuanced characters and she looks at tough situations in a way that is easy for kids to comprehend.
I think fans of survival, action and historical fiction books will enjoy this story of WWII resistance activities in Nazi occupied Norway.
I think fans of survival, action and historical fiction books will enjoy this story of WWII resistance activities in Nazi occupied Norway.
July 21, 2020
5 Stars.
Hardback.
Hardback.
May 7, 2022
This was a fascinating MG historic fiction read based on the true story of Erlig Storrusten who was a teenager in central Norway during the Nazi occupation and an undercover member of the Resistance. I was looking for some read-alikes for Projekt 1065 by Gratz that many of my students loved and this is a good rec for that. The notes, photos, and timeline at the end are very helpful. The beginning dragged a bit for me, but the pace picks up and the story grows quite suspenseful.
October 15, 2019
Excellent read, can't wait to share it with the kids. Soccer, skiing, and war, and history of a horrible time in our world's history. Just the right amount of realism for a young reader to learn more about WWII and set in a unique region as well. Definitely worth the read.
November 18, 2021
This was a good story and I liked it, but there was some material that I thought was not needed. It has some suspense and killing. I don't think anyone who hates killing would like this one.
September 4, 2018
Amazing and exciting. There should be a second about Eskel's adventures after the war.
October 7, 2016
On April 9th, 1940, Nazi Germany invaded Norway, a peace loving and neutral country of about only 3 million inhabitants. From there on out, Norwegians found that their lives had crucially changed, for the worse. One of these Norwegians was named Espen. Espen is fourteen years old, and, shortly after the occupation, initiated his spy career which only started with delivering newspapers. Espen isn’t the only one caught up in Norwegian resistance movements. In fact, his very own sister helps out by bringing potatoes to prisoners of war in a nearby camp. Throughout the five years told in the book, Espen sees how much has changed in his life: his spy career turned from delivering illegal newspapers to being a full fledged spy, his friends joining him in his resistance movements, even with their own lives at stake, the whole town being continually under Nazi surveillance, finally getting to be with his crush, and the choices that his childhood friend made to join the Nazis. Follow Espen as he fulfills his duties to stop Nazi regime with only the help of his friends and skis on his feet.
Overall, I thought this book was very entertaining and was perfect to keep my interest invested in the story without becoming distracted. I enjoyed the characters of the book, and really liked how the author gave different points of views throughout the story. Most of the book was told by Espen, the main character, but some parts were told by Aksel, one of Espen’s neighbors and classmates, who sided with the Nazis very early during the occupation. This point of view switch helped the reader get a different perspective of the motives drawing each individual Norwegian to join either side, the Nazi side or the Norwegian Resistance side. Although, I think some of the characters were very vague and didn’t get as much description as I would’ve liked. For example, Espen’s childhood friend, Kjell, sided with the Nazis very quickly after he had complained about them to Espen. Maybe it was a way to keep the mystery and the unknown facts in the town real, but I would’ve really enjoyed the story more if I could get more insight into Kjell, as well as other characters. I think the author wrote this book to teach the reader about different sides and stories about World War II. Most students and adults know the story of Anne Frank and her struggles with being Jewish in the heart of the war, but not a lot of people hear or learn stories from Nazi occupied Norway. The message of this book, or at least how I see it, is that no matter how old or how unexperienced you are, you can do anything, especially if that “anything” is to help the greater cause.
This book was a very good read and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in wars, or more specifically, World War II, in order to get a new perspective of the different sides of war and how it can affect any kind of person. I would rate this book 4.5 stars out of 5 because the book was missing some explanations and descriptions of characters that would’ve made the book more interesting and thought provoking. Although, I think the author did a wonderful job giving an unique story about an event not many people read about. A Shadow on the Mountain is a book that will always remind me that I can do anything to help out, even if it is just delivering newspapers.
Overall, I thought this book was very entertaining and was perfect to keep my interest invested in the story without becoming distracted. I enjoyed the characters of the book, and really liked how the author gave different points of views throughout the story. Most of the book was told by Espen, the main character, but some parts were told by Aksel, one of Espen’s neighbors and classmates, who sided with the Nazis very early during the occupation. This point of view switch helped the reader get a different perspective of the motives drawing each individual Norwegian to join either side, the Nazi side or the Norwegian Resistance side. Although, I think some of the characters were very vague and didn’t get as much description as I would’ve liked. For example, Espen’s childhood friend, Kjell, sided with the Nazis very quickly after he had complained about them to Espen. Maybe it was a way to keep the mystery and the unknown facts in the town real, but I would’ve really enjoyed the story more if I could get more insight into Kjell, as well as other characters. I think the author wrote this book to teach the reader about different sides and stories about World War II. Most students and adults know the story of Anne Frank and her struggles with being Jewish in the heart of the war, but not a lot of people hear or learn stories from Nazi occupied Norway. The message of this book, or at least how I see it, is that no matter how old or how unexperienced you are, you can do anything, especially if that “anything” is to help the greater cause.
This book was a very good read and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in wars, or more specifically, World War II, in order to get a new perspective of the different sides of war and how it can affect any kind of person. I would rate this book 4.5 stars out of 5 because the book was missing some explanations and descriptions of characters that would’ve made the book more interesting and thought provoking. Although, I think the author did a wonderful job giving an unique story about an event not many people read about. A Shadow on the Mountain is a book that will always remind me that I can do anything to help out, even if it is just delivering newspapers.
August 19, 2012
This is probably my third (or fourth?) WWII based book but from a different country’s perspective in under two months. I don’t know what it says about me; that I like to read people’s sufferings? Or that I just wanna know what people had to go through during those times? Or maybe I’m just a masochistic person who reads such books to intentionally feel sad. Whatever the reason be, I’m drawn to such books. I had been delaying reading Shadow on the Mountain because my hands were quite full with so many new releases and pending reads. I had another book in mind to read today and then I realized that it had been a real long time since I had received the ARC and had not picked it up after second, third and many more glances. It was about damn time.
I’m not really impressed. It was really a kid’s read and not meant for me. About 4-5 years were covered in the book showing the reign of Nazis in Norwegian ground. Espen’s story is really nothing incredible, just a glimpse of how life changed for teenagers during the World War. It all went on for me as a lesson in history with no emotions for any character at face value. The one character that I actually liked was Ingrid, Espen’s sister; even though it is flummoxing to think that a ten-year old girl can understand so well what’s going on in her country to write about it in her diary with impeccable English (or Norwegian). Many things were left unsaid in the end. Even if the book was okay, bland but okay, for me, the ending has left a real bad taste in my mouth. I feel like I would have made progress with that other long book that I was planning to read tonight. *sigh* It’s just one of those days I guess.
I would like to know what happened to Espen’s dad, what happened to his other friends who escaped to Sweden or were arrested, what happened to Klejh and why he chose the path he did. Klejh’s characterization was more intriguing than Espen. What has left me even more confused is that why did the author cover Espen’s spying to map the German compound if nothing else of the plan was to be executed? One might say that she just wanted us to touch the outer rims of the steaming cup without letting us taste the goodness within (or that’s what I gather).. I mean, why leave an opportunity to cover so many other better aspects in the book for something so plain? This book could have been better on so many levels but it really failed to catch my attention. I had to resort to skimming which I hardly like doing, to see if anything of importance would happen. Alas, nothing happened.
I really didn’t have high expectations so there is no room for disappointment as such. Espen’s character could have been much better and more remarkable. He just came out as a lucky kid out of everything. His behaving as a dumb person did come in handy but I don’t even know what he looks like after the book is even over. Infact I have no idea how most of the characters look like and there are mere stick figurines in my head. Oh well, no faces to the character does leave me disappointed. So, yeah, a 2 star read for me.
I’m not really impressed. It was really a kid’s read and not meant for me. About 4-5 years were covered in the book showing the reign of Nazis in Norwegian ground. Espen’s story is really nothing incredible, just a glimpse of how life changed for teenagers during the World War. It all went on for me as a lesson in history with no emotions for any character at face value. The one character that I actually liked was Ingrid, Espen’s sister; even though it is flummoxing to think that a ten-year old girl can understand so well what’s going on in her country to write about it in her diary with impeccable English (or Norwegian). Many things were left unsaid in the end. Even if the book was okay, bland but okay, for me, the ending has left a real bad taste in my mouth. I feel like I would have made progress with that other long book that I was planning to read tonight. *sigh* It’s just one of those days I guess.
I would like to know what happened to Espen’s dad, what happened to his other friends who escaped to Sweden or were arrested, what happened to Klejh and why he chose the path he did. Klejh’s characterization was more intriguing than Espen. What has left me even more confused is that why did the author cover Espen’s spying to map the German compound if nothing else of the plan was to be executed? One might say that she just wanted us to touch the outer rims of the steaming cup without letting us taste the goodness within (or that’s what I gather).. I mean, why leave an opportunity to cover so many other better aspects in the book for something so plain? This book could have been better on so many levels but it really failed to catch my attention. I had to resort to skimming which I hardly like doing, to see if anything of importance would happen. Alas, nothing happened.
I really didn’t have high expectations so there is no room for disappointment as such. Espen’s character could have been much better and more remarkable. He just came out as a lucky kid out of everything. His behaving as a dumb person did come in handy but I don’t even know what he looks like after the book is even over. Infact I have no idea how most of the characters look like and there are mere stick figurines in my head. Oh well, no faces to the character does leave me disappointed. So, yeah, a 2 star read for me.
December 1, 2012
There has been such a plethora of outstanding YA histoical fiction the last few years, including Margi Preus' Heart of a Samurai, that I had high hopes for Shadow on the Mountain. It did not live up to my expectations. It was okay, but not particularly memorable. There were some great elements such as the conversations between Espen and one of his best friends who is working with the Nazis. Both boys feel strongly that they are doing what is best for Norway. Their conversations provide some perspective on Nazi sympathizers of occupied countries. Readers will also enjoy learning how to create and use invisible ink (one of the tricks employed by the Norwegain Resistance) and the clever anti-Nazi jokes Espen and his friends make up to ease the tension of their dangerous work and the difficult conditions of life under the Nazi occupation. The history is inspirational. Norwegians were so united in their resistance, the Nazi occupiers never achieved the stronghold they wanted, not even after meager food rations, arrests and torture became the normal routine. The events and most of the characterization seem incomplete. That is partly because Espen does not know what he transporting for the Resistance. It is also because Espen is young, too trusting of his friends and neighbors, and not very aware of what is going on around him. His younger sister, Ingrid, is more observant and insightful when it comes to people than Espen is. Ingrid is also more interesting, but the reader learns little about her. Shadow on the Mountain is a good choice for fans of historical fiction, but probably won't hold the interest of reluctant readers or readers looking for more action or more suspense.
June 25, 2014
When the Nazis occupied Norway, they expected to be welcomed with open arms. The Norwegians were the Aryan ideal: tall, blond, and blue-eyed, but they were strangely resistant to being taken over by the Nazis... Almost immediately the most organized WWII resistance efforts began, with resistance organized into three branches: the civilians, military, and intelligence. Preus' book is based on the true story of a young teen who started as a courier carrying illegal newspapers and ended by being arrested as a spy. The book is well laid out and moves along at a roaring pace, with plenty of real information at the back. The problem I had with the fictionalized narrative (and it's just a small problem) is that at times it was almost too pedantic. Espen and his sister had an ongoing Nazi joke contest, but after they told a joke, they would then explain it. This is purely for the reader, as they clearly got the joke themselves, and I found it distracting. There were several instances of things that would have been common to them (jokes, ration cards, etc.) being over-explained for the readers' sakes, but overall this is a great book that depicts a part of WWII often neglected.
October 7, 2014
I should add the CD version for this, because I did listen to the audiobook. Very intriguing book that makes you think, "Why didn't I know about this before?" This would make an interesting companion book for Steve Sheinkin's nonfiction book Bomb. Before these two books, I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not know much about Norway's occupation and the resistance movement. There are many brave characters in the book, and I really appreciated the research Preus did, and the extensive notes with more information in the back of the book. I did indeed check some of it out when I finished the book (had to get print version to see it, although the audio included just about all of the notes)
My only quibble is that sometimes it did seem a bit off-putting that things were out of order; for instance, sometimes Espen would think about past events while he was skiing, some of them things I wondered about when the book jumped ahead a bit, then jumped back.
Kjell was such an intriguing, conflicted character. I would have liked to learn a bit more about Ingrid; she was such a brave girl. I liked that the book was a tribute and testimony to many dedicated Norwegian people.
My only quibble is that sometimes it did seem a bit off-putting that things were out of order; for instance, sometimes Espen would think about past events while he was skiing, some of them things I wondered about when the book jumped ahead a bit, then jumped back.
Kjell was such an intriguing, conflicted character. I would have liked to learn a bit more about Ingrid; she was such a brave girl. I liked that the book was a tribute and testimony to many dedicated Norwegian people.
January 26, 2021
I really enjoyed the concept of the book. Delving into the life of a teenage wartime spy in Nazi-occupied Norway was interesting to follow. I loved so many aspects of the story and the characters introduced. I rated it 3 stars because the last 50 pages or so were long and drawn out. I was waiting for some kind of a conclusion or ending that allowed for closure, but I didn’t get it. It ended abruptly and I turned the page expecting another chapter, and there wasn’t one. I wish it would have included his arrival to Sweden and/or his journey back to his home country. I did appreciate the Author’s note discussing the real man that Espen was based on. She did include further details about his life after his escape from Norway in that short excerpt. I do plan to read this to my kids when we start studying WW2, despite the disappointing ending.
November 10, 2014
Shadow on the Mountain takes place during WWII in Norway. The Nazis have occupied the country, and everyone's life has changed. Espen is 14-years-old when the Nazis first arrive. He plays soccer with his schoolmates and he's in the Boy Scouts. Soon, his scout uniform is confiscated by the Gestapo and soccer games are a thing of the past. Now, he uses his skills to carry secret papers and messages, on skis, bicycle, on foot, or by train. He risks much to fight for justice. Margi Preus based this YA novel on real events that took place in Norway during the war years. She did her research well. It is a fast-paced read filled with suspense, intrigue, and hope. I recommend it to anyone in middle school or older who loves stories of war time courage.
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