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Heroes on the Home Front Mysteries #2
Friends in Strange Places: Heroes on the Home Front Mysteries #2
Every dog needs a good home. And Riley and Noah are on a road trip with Grandma Suzie to meet a fluff ball perfect for their grandma. But when they visit and fall in love with the adorable pooch, will their hopes get unexpectedly dashed? What’s more, the kids’ quest for a canine companion takes a turn when they make a discovery. The town they’re visiting once included a camp for prisoners of war . . . and it’s gearing up for a reunion. Army guards, former German prisoners, and townsfolk together again? Maybe that’s not such a good idea. When suspicion and sabotage begin to take place, the kids, along with a new friend, are on the case. But after they track one suspect into a corn maze, they realize the danger is as high at the corn stalks. Will the friends make it out in time to confirm their suspicions? What began as the best road trip ever is quickly becoming an adventure in trusting God through disappointment and danger—and the kids just might find a surprise ending after all.
- GenresMystery
208 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2025
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Nell Carter Branum
9 books4 followersNELL BRANUM is a former editor and elementary school librarian who is the daughter of both a World War II paratrooper and a Rosie the Riveter and believes God still uses lessons from history. She was married for 43 amazing years to her minister husband, and now she writes from a small town near Birmingham, Alabama, where she keeps chickens in the backyard, likes to go on adventures with her grown kids and their families (including nine grandkids), and enjoys watching sunsets on her front porch while drinking blueberry-flavored coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 11, 2025
4 stars, personally ⭐️ Christian Fiction - Middle-Grade Mystery
About this book:
“Every dog needs a good home. And Riley and Noah are on a road trip with Grandma Suzie to meet a fluff ball perfect for their grandma. But when they visit and fall in love with the adorable pooch, will their hopes get unexpectedly dashed? What’s more, the kids’ quest for a canine companion takes a turn when they make a discovery. The town they’re visiting once included a camp for prisoners of war . . . and it’s gearing up for a reunion. Army guards, former German prisoners, and townsfolk together again? Maybe that’s not such a good idea. When suspicion and sabotage begin to take place, the kids, along with a new friend, are on the case. But after they track one suspect into a corn maze, they realize the danger is as high as the corn stalks. Will the friends make it out in time to confirm their suspicions? What began as the best road trip ever is quickly becoming an adventure in trusting God through disappointment and danger—and the kids just might find a surprise ending after all.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Heroes on the Homefront Mysteries” series. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & talked about; Prayers; Talks about God, Jesus, & loving out enemies; ’H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; Mentions of God, Jesus, & trusting Him; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches/chapels, church going, church events, & Sunday school class; A couple mentions of a man saying he hasn’t thought much about God or praying for a while, but will think about it; A couple mentions of Jewish people;
*Note: Mentions of aliens & alien invasions (Noah is planning to make a movie about this and films clips for it on the trip).
Negative Content- Being trapped in a corn maze that seems to be on fire; A bit of sarcasm (from a side character); Because of Riley wanting to stop a man from adopting the dog she wants, she tries to find out why he is so suspicious & keeps her eye on him and his surly attitude (this includes one time with her asking him a pointed question and him getting close to her which makes her nervous; *Spoiler*); Riley disappears to snoop and tells her brother to tell their grandma that she’s looking for the bathroom (and truly does look for one when snooping to keep it from being a lie); Riley goes to eavesdrop on adults’ conversation, but because they are yelling, she doesn’t think of it as eavesdropping; Later, she eavesdrops on another conversation; A side character around Riley’s age gets annoyed when her mom makes her to something (she groans and seems annoyed by it); Riley’s father is in the Army and deployed months prior to places her and her family don’t know & she misses him greatly; Riley’s dog passed away a year before the book starts and she misses him as well (barely-above-not-detailed); All about many mentions of World War II, Prisoners of War, prisons where the POWs were kept (including being shot at if they tried to escape), fighting, & deaths (including Riley and a side character not being sure about a reunion of both the POWs and the guards being a good idea which leads to a discussion about it with her grandma; barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of an event being sabotaged (such as vandalism and break-ins, reservations being messed with, items going missing or being stolen, and posters destroyed), crime scenes, & the culprit; Mentions of deaths & grief (including for a great-grandma); Mentions of fires, someone being called a “fire bug” (someone who likes to play with fire), & bombs; A few mentions of guns & shooting; A few mentions of the Great Depression; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of other wars; A couple mentions of the possibilities of burying a body; A couple mentions of the death of a beloved pet dog & grief; A mention of a mob possibly killing their enemies (this is what a POW thought would happen to him); A mention of being concerned about a man being mean to a dog;
*Note: When Riley talks to her grandma about the reunion of the German POWs and their American guards giving her the creeps and not understanding why there should be a museum about the awful things that happened during World War II, her grandma tells her that “Museums help us remember what happened in the past, the good and the bad, even greed and hate. And if we remember, we might not make as many terrible mistakes in the future. It’s a museum’s job to show us the truth.”; Mentions of a car brand; A few mentions of The Wizard of Oz & fictional characters; A couple mentions of brand names (Frisbee, Monopoly); A mention of Steven Spielberg; A mention of goat yoga; A mention of Noah walking “zombie-style”.
Sexual Content- A couple mentions of a couple breaking up (adults); A mention of a man staring at a young woman like “she was a shiny new bicycle on Christmas morning”;
*Note: A couple mentions of underwear.
-Riley Abercrombie, sixth grade
1st person P.O.V. of Riley
197 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
After greatly enjoying the first book in this series, “Keep ‘Em Flying”, I’ve been looking forward to reading this second book!
At first, I did think that Riley jumped to conclusions a bit more in this book compared to the prior story, but there was a lesson in that for her by the end about doing such things and thinking the worst about people you want to think the worst about. There’s also a really neat perspective about POWs and their guards having friendly reunions, which I had never heard about or even thought about happening. I was a little concerned going into this book with it discussing POWs, but the author kept it very clean and safe for middle-grade readers for sure.
As a note for parents, Riley and her brother (who is a grade younger) both have their own phones.
I can’t wait to see what the next book in this series will be!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Every dog needs a good home. And Riley and Noah are on a road trip with Grandma Suzie to meet a fluff ball perfect for their grandma. But when they visit and fall in love with the adorable pooch, will their hopes get unexpectedly dashed? What’s more, the kids’ quest for a canine companion takes a turn when they make a discovery. The town they’re visiting once included a camp for prisoners of war . . . and it’s gearing up for a reunion. Army guards, former German prisoners, and townsfolk together again? Maybe that’s not such a good idea. When suspicion and sabotage begin to take place, the kids, along with a new friend, are on the case. But after they track one suspect into a corn maze, they realize the danger is as high as the corn stalks. Will the friends make it out in time to confirm their suspicions? What began as the best road trip ever is quickly becoming an adventure in trusting God through disappointment and danger—and the kids just might find a surprise ending after all.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Heroes on the Homefront Mysteries” series. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & talked about; Prayers; Talks about God, Jesus, & loving out enemies; ’H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; Mentions of God, Jesus, & trusting Him; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches/chapels, church going, church events, & Sunday school class; A couple mentions of a man saying he hasn’t thought much about God or praying for a while, but will think about it; A couple mentions of Jewish people;
*Note: Mentions of aliens & alien invasions (Noah is planning to make a movie about this and films clips for it on the trip).
Negative Content- Being trapped in a corn maze that seems to be on fire; A bit of sarcasm (from a side character); Because of Riley wanting to stop a man from adopting the dog she wants, she tries to find out why he is so suspicious & keeps her eye on him and his surly attitude (this includes one time with her asking him a pointed question and him getting close to her which makes her nervous; *Spoiler*); Riley disappears to snoop and tells her brother to tell their grandma that she’s looking for the bathroom (and truly does look for one when snooping to keep it from being a lie); Riley goes to eavesdrop on adults’ conversation, but because they are yelling, she doesn’t think of it as eavesdropping; Later, she eavesdrops on another conversation; A side character around Riley’s age gets annoyed when her mom makes her to something (she groans and seems annoyed by it); Riley’s father is in the Army and deployed months prior to places her and her family don’t know & she misses him greatly; Riley’s dog passed away a year before the book starts and she misses him as well (barely-above-not-detailed); All about many mentions of World War II, Prisoners of War, prisons where the POWs were kept (including being shot at if they tried to escape), fighting, & deaths (including Riley and a side character not being sure about a reunion of both the POWs and the guards being a good idea which leads to a discussion about it with her grandma; barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of an event being sabotaged (such as vandalism and break-ins, reservations being messed with, items going missing or being stolen, and posters destroyed), crime scenes, & the culprit; Mentions of deaths & grief (including for a great-grandma); Mentions of fires, someone being called a “fire bug” (someone who likes to play with fire), & bombs; A few mentions of guns & shooting; A few mentions of the Great Depression; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of other wars; A couple mentions of the possibilities of burying a body; A couple mentions of the death of a beloved pet dog & grief; A mention of a mob possibly killing their enemies (this is what a POW thought would happen to him); A mention of being concerned about a man being mean to a dog;
*Note: When Riley talks to her grandma about the reunion of the German POWs and their American guards giving her the creeps and not understanding why there should be a museum about the awful things that happened during World War II, her grandma tells her that “Museums help us remember what happened in the past, the good and the bad, even greed and hate. And if we remember, we might not make as many terrible mistakes in the future. It’s a museum’s job to show us the truth.”; Mentions of a car brand; A few mentions of The Wizard of Oz & fictional characters; A couple mentions of brand names (Frisbee, Monopoly); A mention of Steven Spielberg; A mention of goat yoga; A mention of Noah walking “zombie-style”.
Sexual Content- A couple mentions of a couple breaking up (adults); A mention of a man staring at a young woman like “she was a shiny new bicycle on Christmas morning”;
*Note: A couple mentions of underwear.
-Riley Abercrombie, sixth grade
1st person P.O.V. of Riley
197 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
After greatly enjoying the first book in this series, “Keep ‘Em Flying”, I’ve been looking forward to reading this second book!
At first, I did think that Riley jumped to conclusions a bit more in this book compared to the prior story, but there was a lesson in that for her by the end about doing such things and thinking the worst about people you want to think the worst about. There’s also a really neat perspective about POWs and their guards having friendly reunions, which I had never heard about or even thought about happening. I was a little concerned going into this book with it discussing POWs, but the author kept it very clean and safe for middle-grade readers for sure.
As a note for parents, Riley and her brother (who is a grade younger) both have their own phones.
I can’t wait to see what the next book in this series will be!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
September 6, 2025
This middle-grade mystery is the second installment in the Heroes on the Home Front series. Although it is a contemporary story, the main character loves World War II history, and each book includes historical facts related to the war. In this story, Riley and her brother are on a trip with their grandmother to adopt a dog, and then they end up getting sucked into a mystery. The town they are visiting was the former site of a World War II prisoner of war camp, and the town is about to host a reunion for former German prisoners, Army guards, and townspeople. Someone is trying to sabotage the reunion, and since Riley believes she knows who the culprit is, she seeks evidence to support her suspicions.
This story is entertaining and suspenseful, and it includes illustrations and fun fact sidebars that will appeal to the target audience. This also has good messages about not jumping to conclusions, and about the importance of showing love and forgiving our enemies. Some aspects of the ending felt rushed, especially with Riley suddenly bonding with the person she had suspected for the whole book, but the plot as a whole has solid pacing, and it will keep kids turning pages.
This book will appeal to kids who enjoy mysteries, especially if they share the main character's interest in World War II. This story also has enough depth to appeal to adults, and it can make a great family read-aloud. People can also start with the first book, or jump straight into this one. This sequel includes a few references to the previous story, but it doesn't spoil any plot details from it, and the book introduces the characters and story world to anyone who is unfamiliar with it. This works as a sequel or a standalone, and I look forward to reading future books in the series as well.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This story is entertaining and suspenseful, and it includes illustrations and fun fact sidebars that will appeal to the target audience. This also has good messages about not jumping to conclusions, and about the importance of showing love and forgiving our enemies. Some aspects of the ending felt rushed, especially with Riley suddenly bonding with the person she had suspected for the whole book, but the plot as a whole has solid pacing, and it will keep kids turning pages.
This book will appeal to kids who enjoy mysteries, especially if they share the main character's interest in World War II. This story also has enough depth to appeal to adults, and it can make a great family read-aloud. People can also start with the first book, or jump straight into this one. This sequel includes a few references to the previous story, but it doesn't spoil any plot details from it, and the book introduces the characters and story world to anyone who is unfamiliar with it. This works as a sequel or a standalone, and I look forward to reading future books in the series as well.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 6, 2025
🕵️♀️🌽The second instalment in the ‘Heroes on the Home Front Mysteries’ follows sixth‑grader Riley and her younger brother Noah on what starts as a road trip but soon becomes a suspense‑filled historical mystery. Grandmother Suzie hopes to find the perfect dog, but when they arrive in a small town hosting a reunion honoring former German POWs from WWII, they encounter sabotage, local tension, and secrets in unexpected places.
🥇 As sabotage threatens a community festival, Riley and Noah become sleuths in action—tracking clues from a suspicious diner patron to a corn maze chase. Along the way, they wrestle with assumptions, encounter former POWs and guards showing dignity and grace, and learn how faith, courage, and compassion intersect—even amid chaos .
⭐ Why families and kids will love this book:
* It brings a little‑known WWII homefront story to life, blending mystery and history in a middle‑grade adventure
* The characters are relatable and real—Riley’s notes and observations sprinkled through the narrative offer historical insights in a kid‑friendly way
* It encourages empathy, challenging stereotypes and showing how grace can break through fear
* Encourages spiritual reflection without being preachy—kids see faith lived out in small actions and decisions, and covers themes of forgiveness, grace and trust in God’s perfect plan.
📘 Perfect for ages 8–12, especially for families looking to spark conversation about justice, forgiveness, and God‑centered courage.
🔎 A smart pick for readers who enjoyed Keep ’Em Flying (Book #1) or other historical mysteries with heart, faith, and real‑life inspiration.
Thanks to @moodypublishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
🥇 As sabotage threatens a community festival, Riley and Noah become sleuths in action—tracking clues from a suspicious diner patron to a corn maze chase. Along the way, they wrestle with assumptions, encounter former POWs and guards showing dignity and grace, and learn how faith, courage, and compassion intersect—even amid chaos .
⭐ Why families and kids will love this book:
* It brings a little‑known WWII homefront story to life, blending mystery and history in a middle‑grade adventure
* The characters are relatable and real—Riley’s notes and observations sprinkled through the narrative offer historical insights in a kid‑friendly way
* It encourages empathy, challenging stereotypes and showing how grace can break through fear
* Encourages spiritual reflection without being preachy—kids see faith lived out in small actions and decisions, and covers themes of forgiveness, grace and trust in God’s perfect plan.
📘 Perfect for ages 8–12, especially for families looking to spark conversation about justice, forgiveness, and God‑centered courage.
🔎 A smart pick for readers who enjoyed Keep ’Em Flying (Book #1) or other historical mysteries with heart, faith, and real‑life inspiration.
Thanks to @moodypublishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2025
About the Book:
✨ The second book in the Heroes on the Home Front Mysteries series.
✨ Mystery, WWII history, and a mission to find the perfect pup.
✨ Themes of friendship, forgiveness, and faith.
Siblings Riley and Noah embark on a road trip with their Grandma Suzie to meet a special dog in need of a new home. But their mission to bring home the perfect pup doesn’t go to plan.
Riley and Noah discover that the town they are staying in once had a camp for prisoners of war, and a series of suspicious incidents begin to take place surrounding the camp’s upcoming reunion. Could bringing together former German prisoners, guards, and townspeople become a recipe for trouble?
🌾 My Thoughts:
This series has quickly become one of my favorites! This story is especially fascinating because it's rooted in the true story of an Alabama town with a POW camp during World War II, and the special reunions that followed. Readers get to enjoy the mystery and adventure of trying to find out who is sabotaging the reunion alongside Riley and Noah, while also learning captivating historical facts.
This story will inspire young readers by showing them what Christ-like friendship looks like and the power of choosing kindness over animosity.
There is also additional historical information about the town and reunion that inspired this story and links to further resources for exploration! 🌾🐶🔎
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✨ The second book in the Heroes on the Home Front Mysteries series.
✨ Mystery, WWII history, and a mission to find the perfect pup.
✨ Themes of friendship, forgiveness, and faith.
Siblings Riley and Noah embark on a road trip with their Grandma Suzie to meet a special dog in need of a new home. But their mission to bring home the perfect pup doesn’t go to plan.
Riley and Noah discover that the town they are staying in once had a camp for prisoners of war, and a series of suspicious incidents begin to take place surrounding the camp’s upcoming reunion. Could bringing together former German prisoners, guards, and townspeople become a recipe for trouble?
🌾 My Thoughts:
This series has quickly become one of my favorites! This story is especially fascinating because it's rooted in the true story of an Alabama town with a POW camp during World War II, and the special reunions that followed. Readers get to enjoy the mystery and adventure of trying to find out who is sabotaging the reunion alongside Riley and Noah, while also learning captivating historical facts.
This story will inspire young readers by showing them what Christ-like friendship looks like and the power of choosing kindness over animosity.
There is also additional historical information about the town and reunion that inspired this story and links to further resources for exploration! 🌾🐶🔎
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 3, 2025
Sixth-grade sleuth Riley returns with another fascinating mystery, this time enlisting the help of her younger brother Noah. A saboteur may be behind a small town's mayhem leading up to a reunion between American forces and their German captives from World War II. The siblings find clues quickly as author Nell Branum sheds light on a remarkable period of history when German prisoners of war were brought stateside and were surprised with a great measure of respect and dignity in their captivity. The cast shines with POW vets, based on real testimonies contributed by Branum from her meticulous research. Kids will not only be entertained but well-informed as young detective Riley's discoveries leave young readers with a newfound reason to be proud of America. It's a sparkling depiction of a little-known United States hour, when American men and women chose to love their enemies—a true patriotic experience, both educational and inspiring.
July 24, 2025
Great book for the tweens in your life!
What I liked about the book is the two main characters are very likable and because it’s both a boy and a girl. As a parent of more than one child it’s nice to know that both children can enjoy this book. I didn’t know how important that was until I had children but that is something they told me was important to them. Another reason to love this book is the themes of love and and understanding. When I first started reading this book I thought the event that the characters were participating in somewhat strange. I didn’t know that the event mentioned was something that really happened. But after further reading it connected with me. There are also some sweet moments of patriotism and learning not to jump to conclusions. Another positive part of the story is a sub character in the story is homeschooled and I thought they were represented well. Overall it was a fun mystery with great characters in a interesting setting.
What I liked about the book is the two main characters are very likable and because it’s both a boy and a girl. As a parent of more than one child it’s nice to know that both children can enjoy this book. I didn’t know how important that was until I had children but that is something they told me was important to them. Another reason to love this book is the themes of love and and understanding. When I first started reading this book I thought the event that the characters were participating in somewhat strange. I didn’t know that the event mentioned was something that really happened. But after further reading it connected with me. There are also some sweet moments of patriotism and learning not to jump to conclusions. Another positive part of the story is a sub character in the story is homeschooled and I thought they were represented well. Overall it was a fun mystery with great characters in a interesting setting.
November 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this fun, middle-school mystery. This book kept me engaged as it was filled with a memorable road trip, unlikely friendships, some great kids, a couple of dogs, a bit of history and of course, a mystery to solve.
Riley and Noah accompanied Grandma Suzie on a road trip to meet a sweet pup who had found himself in need of a new home. I loved Grandma Suzie. She had an infectious sense of adventure and she clearly loved her grandkids.
As they arrived in Longfield, they got a bit side-tracked. After all, there were new friends to make, a reunion to attend, history to learn, a mystery to solve and bad guys to catch. A very busy road trip, indeed!
This would be a great book for middle schoolers to read and it would also be a great book for families to read together.
I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.
Riley and Noah accompanied Grandma Suzie on a road trip to meet a sweet pup who had found himself in need of a new home. I loved Grandma Suzie. She had an infectious sense of adventure and she clearly loved her grandkids.
As they arrived in Longfield, they got a bit side-tracked. After all, there were new friends to make, a reunion to attend, history to learn, a mystery to solve and bad guys to catch. A very busy road trip, indeed!
This would be a great book for middle schoolers to read and it would also be a great book for families to read together.
I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.
October 14, 2025
Book Review: Friends in Strange Places by Nell Barnum
As always, I love a series that catches my attention and keeps me eagerly waiting for the next book! Historical fiction for 8–12-year-olds is such a valuable genre, and this story fills that gap beautifully. My favorite part is the Fact or Fictionsection at the end — it’s perfect for curious readers (like my daughter!) who always want to know which parts of the story are based on real history.
Riley and Noah make a great, relatable team — their friendship feels authentic and engaging, yet it’s written in a way that I, as a mom, feel completely comfortable sharing with my preteen. Overall, this series is heartwarming, fun, and grounded in the gentle, Godly focus I’ve come to appreciate from Moody Publishers.
As always, I love a series that catches my attention and keeps me eagerly waiting for the next book! Historical fiction for 8–12-year-olds is such a valuable genre, and this story fills that gap beautifully. My favorite part is the Fact or Fictionsection at the end — it’s perfect for curious readers (like my daughter!) who always want to know which parts of the story are based on real history.
Riley and Noah make a great, relatable team — their friendship feels authentic and engaging, yet it’s written in a way that I, as a mom, feel completely comfortable sharing with my preteen. Overall, this series is heartwarming, fun, and grounded in the gentle, Godly focus I’ve come to appreciate from Moody Publishers.
September 26, 2025
I read this book to preview for my 8 and 10-year-old children. It was an educational and interesting read. The mystery was not too easy to solve, and the lessons the characters learned along the way are ones I want my children to learn. I will encourage my children to read this book, and look into getting Nell Branum's other books for them as well.
January 12, 2026
Wholesome series for elementary age. Faith based. Modern kids with cell-phones a draw back for me.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews