Mission Telemark

by Amanda Mitchison

Norway, December 1942. Following the German occupation of the power plant at Vemork in southern Norway, the British government has become aware that Hitler is trying to find a way to use the heavy water it produces to make a nuclear weapon. One mission to destroy the power plant has already failed and time is running out. Now the Allies' fate rests in the hands of four teenagers – Jakob, Freddie, Ase and Lars – who must survive for weeks in the freezing conditions of the Hardanger Plateau before they launch a sabotage attempt that will decide the course of the war. Stuck-in paper inserts bring to life the wartime experiences of these special Special Agents, from digging snow holes and butchering reindeer, to combat knives and behaviour under torture.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Young Adult, Historical, Adventure

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2010

Reviews

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in 1942, four young teens are recruited for their individual skills to perform a mission that may prove to be fatal. But this is a mission no adult will be able to conquer. Ase is small and quick and trained in explosives, Lars is an excellent outdoorsman, Frederick is adept at languages and very clever academically and Jakob is the leader of the mission. The germans have been working on making an atomic bomb in a factory in Norway. The four have to sabotage this factory and escape back to Sweden without help from any adults.
They suffer the bitter cold of the Hardanger mountains, injuries, hunger and fear, but complete their mission and make it out alive.
These characters are all fictional but the events this story was based on are true.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hardly ever read these kind of books, I really don't like them. But after a slow start, this surprised me. Its actually a really good book, a bit confusing at times with the different characters and narratives but it was just really good and I couldn't stop reading it.

[k · Rating 4 out of 5]

never knew I needed a comedic relief character like fred so much. frankly, apart from that horrid linkage between jakob's dad and lars, it was a great book - I mean I have enjoyed it since the 5th grade have i not x

[Raul Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Really captures the bravery in ww2
The book drags into its pages
Perfect for me
One of the best books I have read

[Haimi Parmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of this book is very biased because though I understand it’s an unrealistic concept, written kind of badly, I still love it.
I probably wouldn’t recommend it, but it’s become one of my comfort books, even though it’s about war, that I can rely on whenever I have nothing to read.
I did steal it from my primary school library and I’m very glad I did.
I love that it has the leaflets and the illustrations are incredible.
Have read multiple times, would read again.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book: Mission Telemark. The characters: Ase, Fred, Jakob and Lars. The year: 1942. The plot: Four fluent Norweigan speaking teens are recruited by a senior officer in the British Army to complete a secret mission. Chance of survival: Minimal.

Mission Telemark had me gripped from the very first page. I became completely absorbed reading Ase and Jakob's log of their mission. The story is told from their two perspectives. Ase is a champion gymnast and her small physique is perfect for sneaking into Nazi strongholds undetected. Her account in the log is comical and kept making me giggle. Jakob is the leader of the mission. His character is outwardly calm and controlled and he is very intuitive. Jakob's parts of the story are interspersed with his drawings which are the most beautiful illustrations and really add something special to the fabulous narrative.

I must not leave out Fred and Lars. Clumsy, uncoordinated but extraordinarily intelligent, Fred is physically the weakest member of the group. However, he is vital to the mission because he has a photographic memory and has the role of communicator with HQ. Lars is a very insular character. He has witnessed dark events in the war and his story slowly unfolds throughout Jakob and Ase's account.

The four recruits must pull together to complete the vital task they have been set. Their mission is fraught with danger both from the Nazis and from the environment which they have to navigate. They experience true hardship and the author does not try to make trivialise the hellish conditions faced by our soldiers during the Second World War. Instead she lightens the story with thoughts of chocolate and the natural joys of childhood.

The book was full of fascinating details about the war, about the equipment the soldiers were issued with and about the chemistry behind the weapons. There are no James Bond gadgets here. The author stayed true to the time period and I felt like I journeyed into the life of a British spy by reading this book.

I surprised myself by how much I loved Mission Telemark. I am not into spy novels but I do love historical fiction. There was just so much to enjoy through the characterisation and the format of the book. This book will appeal to all ages. It will appeal to fans of war stories, of historical fiction and of spy stories. It will appeal to those who just love a good adventure. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. I've already ordered a copy for the school library because I know some boys who will love it just as much as I do. A fabulous wartime adventure!

[Rhondda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mission Telemark by Amanda Mitchison tells the story of four teenagers trained as Special Operations agents, by the British in the Second World war, for a dangerous sabotage mission in Norway. Each of the teenage characters has different strengths and all are fully described and easy to identify with. All the teenagers have Norwegian backgrounds. Jakob, is a dependable boy who is a natural leader, Ase, the only girl is small but strong, having trained as a gymnast and Fred is physically weak and clumsy but has an encyclopaedic knowledge and a photographic memory. These three are training together in Scotland when they are joined by the last member of the team, Lars, who is a solitary and silent figure but is their outdoor survival expert.
Their mission is fraught with danger, from the environment when they go back to Norway and have to survive for weeks in the freezing conditions of the Hardanger Plateau and then from the Nazis when they finally launch their sabotage attempt on the Norsk power station at Vermok, where the Germans are making heavy water. They are not expected to survive.
The story is told from two perspectives, as Jakob and Asa fill in a journal keeping track of their days in training and then on the mission. It is a great story for anyone who likes war stories, historical fiction or spy stories.
The well-researched story incorporated many fascinating real details about the Second World War, including the equipment issued to soldiers, SOE advice about survival and an accurate description of the terrain.
There is an interesting interview with the author about the book at this site http://www.thebookette.co.uk/2010/04/... and a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvU--...

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Based on a true story, this is an action-packed book about sabotage, war and a dangerous mission. Written in alternating voices and a 'diary' format, it runs from action point to action point with good pace. Threading between it all is the mystery of Lars' history and Jakob's father's whereabouts. Touch and go at certain points in the book, this is perfect for fans of Hitler's Angel or similar. Y9 action fans, apply here. :)

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rattling good read, excellent for young adults from the age of 10 and up. Great characterisation, fast paced. Based on a true event- the sabotage of a power plant in Norway ( though totally fictionalised characters -as teenagers).

[Justin Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

For prepubescent boys.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have EVER read!!! A 'Must-Read'!
I love the adventure. After living in Scandinavia, this book really means something to me.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Famous five (three really) go to war' Touch of the Enid Blytons in this tale, probably good for teenagers but not me.

[Sharon Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't think I would like this, thought it looked like a boy book. One of my monitors asked me to read it as he had enjoyed. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Alexis Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved every page of it! Worth the read and definitely well written and the story is touching yet humorous and sometimes peculiar but its amazing. One of my faves

[CLM]

Highly recommended for my nephew by a lovely bookseller in Wadhurst, England - he found us a copy hidden in his back room

[Kiah Singhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is too good.
it sounds realistic but again it doesn't
the thought, the story line and everything about the book is just amazing..