Winter's Bullet

by William Osborne

A cinematic, thrilling, fictionalized, World War II adventure set in Amsterdam about a lock-picking boy caught between pleasing the Nazis to survive and loyalty to his countrymen. Tygo, a locksmith's son, is forced by the Nazis to loot abandoned Dutch homes for valuables. Known as "The Ferret," everyone despises him, but helping the Germans is the only way he can stay alive. When he discovers a girl with a diamond in a chimney, he refuses to give her up. Instead, he turns spy and uses the jewel to find out information about Hitler's ultimate weapon. He has one shot to stop the war. Can a ferret become a hero?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, War, Action, Novels, Teen, Survival

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2014

About the author

After graduating from Cambridge University, William Osborne became a lawyer, but his career took a sharp turn when he switched to screenwriting in Hollywood. He has worked on over 60 movies including Twins, Goldeneye and The Mummy. He lives in Norfolk, England with his wife and four children.

Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway

I enjoyed this story and I'm sure that Middle Graders that are interested in history would love it. The story is set in WWII Amsterdam during the Winter of Starvation. Mr. Osborne does a great job of accurately describing the situation and inserting his characters into it. Tygo is a teen whose father was a locksmith. He has been forced to work for the Germans as a lock-pick so that they can plunder the valuables of the city. This is the story of how he managed to live through the occupation.

I found a couple of events that I never knew happened. The Nazis used Spain as a meeting place to make deals to get to South America. The novel also introduced Eva Peron as a "deal maker" with the Nazis. Although this is not a long book, it is full of action and intrigue. I will be handing my copy to a teacher to recommend to students.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rating really should be 2.5, but Goodreads is still not into half stars. Since I gave book #1 a two star rating, I guess this one gets a three, but only begrudgingly. Although it doesn't have quite the shock factor of Hitler's Secret, I still labored through the story more than I thought I should have to. I'm thinking that I just don't click with Osborne's style.

At any rate, it had been a long time since I read Hitler's Secret and didn't retain the connection to its characters. This seemed of little importance because the action far outweighs the characters in both stories. In this one, Tygo and his sister have gone separate ways. He is caught between serving the Nazis, as he must to survive, and betraying them to the Resistance. Neither side accepts him, so he is literally safe nowhere. His boss is seeking a priceless jewel and while Tygo is tasked to search for it, he discovers a girl in hiding instead. Their fates become linked as danger grows. The end of the war hangs in the balance.

Once again, this book reads like a war film. For those who prefer action over character development, this will suit. It's just not for me.

[whataboutpadfoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know if this book was going to be a Do Not Finish for me or not. It was also one of those books that you didn't know if you would like or not. This book does say the D word and the H word a lot and there is a part where the main character is almost shot by a girl, so he takes the skates he has thrown around his shoulders, and digs them into the one girls neck. At that part I almost stopped reading the book. It was kind of descriptive and gruesome.
Then there was a suggestive part where the main character walks into a house and learns that his sister is having intimacy with another guy. I didn't know how I felt about that, like it was not very necessary for a book geared to my age. However, I continued to read and brushed that part out of my head. Defiantly book for ages 15 and up.
I did enjoy this book, though. One of my favorite books this year.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars? Maybe 4? Probably unlikely to recommend.
This was one of those books that was a freebie at a library book purging sale I went to. Honestly, if it were not free, I probably would never have chosen on my own to read it.
It wasn't bad, and the story line was interesting enough, which is what motivated me to at least finish the book. Clearly, it was aimed at a much younger audience than myself, so I can not comment without bias about the level of writing style and vocabulary used.
If you have a young child, particularly a young boy, maybe mid/late elementary or even middle school, who likes historical fiction, this might be a good book for them.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting, with a fast-paced and captivating plot, but I was disappointed that all the events were fabricated. All the details (about planes, cars, guns, etc.) were accurate, I guess, which was nice--and there were plenty of those. And a few characters were historical people, which was also good.

There were a couple instances of completely unnecessary swearing, a few scenes of non-graphic death and gore, and a superficial mention of belief/unbelief in God. But there was a healthy amount of German words and phrases, which I greatly enjoyed.

[Brogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way William Osborne drew Tygo's character as a fearful incident person scared for his life from two sides of the war. Until he meets this girl who captures him. The storyline the author used was very accurate with WWII timeline and the characters really fit the time frame. I liked this book and would recommend for anybody looking for a historical fiction book.

[Jack Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent this term reading this book alongside a group of kids and it’s been fun to explore the book with them and theorise what’s going to happen and what it all means.

It’s a great YA book that keeps readers engaged and will challenge some kids and also be a comfortable read for some.

Good book.

[Jett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really a just a harder I Survived but about a war. There was never a bad part i. the book but never a good either. I think it could have been 4 stars but to me it felt more like a 3 star book. I would recommend this but not that much

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ... not my style of book admittedly ... got it for the title ... just needed some more omph ...

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Swearing throughout and misuse of God's name by those who admit to not believing in God relegates them to a sad state of existence; lived out by ridiculously sorry behavior.

[Ava · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok

[Ashley]

Osborne’s second young adult novel concerning World War II takes place in 1945 as the war is ending. The protagonist,Tygo Winter, a 15-year-old locksmith, who is forced to work for the Nazis in occupied Amsterdam. His father, also a locksmith, had previously worked for the Nazi’s before he was executed by the Resistance for aiding the Germans. Tygo initially refused to replace his father because of rumors that the war is nearly over. As punishment for this his sister is sent on a guest worker train to Germany. With nothing left but his will to survive, Tygo accepts his fate as Frettchen or “ferret” for the Germans and begins working for the Amsterdam Sicherstellung or “safekeeping” department. In reality, however, this department otherwise known by the locals as the “plunder squad” is really only responsible for taking valuables such as gold, jewels, and works of art from their rightful owners. While helping the department leader who is looking for the fabled Red Queen diamond Tygo find’s something unexpected at an abandoned Italianatte villa. While searching a chimney Tygo discovers Willa the half-Jewish illegitimate daughter of the former owner of the mansion. He decides to try and help her despite the danger of capture and execution by the Resistance or a similar fate from the Germans for hiding her. The search for the Red Queen diamond by Tygo is also wrapped up in a much larger story concerning Operation Black Sun which would give the Nazis the atomic bomb, their last resort and best hope for victory as by this point the Nazis were losing the war.

This book was extremely interesting in part because Osborne does not paint Tygo as an entirely sympathetic or blameless character. Although, it is easy to have sympathy for his situation, he is not seen as a martyred or kindly figure. For example, his initial urge to help Willa is solely to retrieve the Red Queen diamond. He believes that his boss will follow through on his promise to help Tygo escape Amsterdam where his is actively hunted by the Resistance as a traitor if he finds the diamond. This book is appropriate for teens because although it is violent some of the more graphic aspects are glossed over. This book contains action, intrigue, and a tense ending. Osborne’s novel is extremely well written and I would readily recommend it to anyone who is a fan of alternative history and especially those who enjoy reading about WWII.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Tygo Winter has formed an uneasy alliance with a Nazi taskmaster who enlists his skills as a locksmith in his search for valuables in homes in Amsterdam. The man, Kruger, calls Tygo "Frettchen" or "Ferret" for his appearance and ability to slip in and out of tricky situations, but Tygo knows that Kruger and the other Nazis are not to be trusted. As Tygo tries to survive and not end up as his father and sister did, he also must contend with the anger of the local Resistance movement, members of which do not look kindly on anyone working for or with the Germans. On one of his scouting expeditions with Kruger as they search for a gem that plays a part in the Nazis' end of the war scenario, he discovers a girl hiding in the chimney of an empty mansion, and ends up befriending Willa. While I liked all the action and the risks that seem to lurk at every turn, some of the events in the book just struck me as too improbable such as his sister Alisa's secret involvement with the Resistance, revealed at just the right time, and the Nazis' plans to enlist nuclear weapons and destroy New York City or Tygo's ability to manipulate a machine gun efficiently while flying for the very first time. Still, I enjoyed the book because Tygo is forced to wrestle with several decisions with little guidance.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tygo's nickname is “The ferret"; a moniker given to him because of his ability to sneak in and out of places in search of treasure for the Nazis that threaten his life on a daily basis. After his locksmith father is murdered, Tygo knows that he has to stay alive no matter what it takes even if it means being despised by his fellow Dutch countrymen. When a particularly cruel high-ranking Gestapo commander seeks a priceless diamond called the Red Queen, it is Tygo who must locate it. Along the way, he meets Willa, a young Jewish girl who owns the jewel and the two soon become part of a much larger and more sinister plan being put into place by Hitler himself. The Fuhrer is laying the ground work for the ultimate weapon—a nuclear bomb that he plans to use on the United States. To fund his escape for himself and his chosen henchmen, Hitler must have a stockpile of wealth and cash to bribe Eva Duarte, nee Peron to allow them to escape to South America. Although the “what-if” plot is a bit far-fetched, it is an entertaining and exciting read and may entice reluctant readers to delve more into reading about WWII or heroes and villains of the time period.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy from This is Teen.

At the moment that I read this, I'm also binge watching X Company, a WWII spy drama by CBC. My standards before and after I started watching X Company for this book changed. Whoops.

Mostly I discovered that this book was for a younger audience than I was expecting. It's a skinny book, and the font is rather large.

When I think about the historical fiction books I read, there's always a bit of 'this could have happened'. Winter's Bullet was missing this aspect all together. I couldn't see the plot lines actually occurring.

It wasn't the story that I was looking for. And for a younger audience, it lacks some of the truths that I've been seeing in X Company (I apologize, it's really good).

The writing isn't bad, the characterization isn't bad, it just was not what I was looking for.

[Jayden Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a boy how was brave and didn't live with his family. He made this journey of his own. He didn't have much he only had one person to talk to. He only had a master to talk to. I gave this 5 stars because it took place during a war. This book was a great book and I really liked it. I thought I wasn't because the genre was historical fiction, but I gave it a chance. This book had a great background and had lots of action. This book reminded me of the wars we had. It reminded me of how these smart people had plans and they worked. It reminded me of how people can do anything when they try. I would recommend this book because it has lots of action, it has a plan to stop something that happens, and it has lots of stuff that would surprise you. It has all of these things that would make you happy and sad. This book makes me feel like I could read it over and over again.

[A.E. Conran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise in which Hitler is threatening to use a "wonder weapon" at the end of the war or escape Europe for South America with help from Eva Peron. Drawing on some historical fact and some speculation, it's one of a few books I've read recently which have this new movie thriller feel in a middle grade/tween. You can sense Osbourne's screenplay chops in the pacing and action, and the book has a slightly lighter action feel than traditional middle grades. I liked the fact that the protagonist is actually a collaborator, which introduced a more complex/realistic feel to the war setting. Certain scenes like the jeweller's with the taxidermied bear, the little mouse etc and the large chimney in the once opulent house were very vivid and stuck with me.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is loosely historical fiction as the events mentioned in the book are mostly fictional but it does give an idea of what life may have been like during this time. It's certainly an interesting idea of what could have been had the Nazi's been able to build their ultimate weapon. I like that it's a fairly light hearted look at what was such a horrendous period in time and would be a good book to introduce young teenagers to WWII. Although for me personally it's not a 4 star, probably more a 3-3.5, I've given it this rating as it would be a good read for the intended audience and I can appreciate it for what it is.

[Fletcher .O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tygo Winter came back to help a girl he didn't know and she couldn't help him in any way to finding the Red Queen jewel. "Really so there is no point in coming back." She said. "Well i'm coming back," I said firmly, " like it or lump it."when he said that it showed he just wanted to help the poor girl and not use her to get the Red Queen. The event shows Winter is a passionate, and caring person that isn't all self centered. He may be working for the Nazis but he is doing it to survive. He hates the things Nazis do but he will get shot if he doesn't cooperate with them. He has just met this girl but he is determined to help her get to safety.

[Nova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tygo is caught between a rock and a hard place. In Holland towards the close of WW2, his skills as a locksmith are highly-sought after by the Nazis. If he doesn't cooperate the consequences are death or a German work camp. However as he is a Dutch Citizen the resistance consider him a traitor and a price is put on his head.
While some characters, the setting and time period are real, Osborne does weave some what ifs to this novel: The Germans have the nuclear bomb and intend to blow up New York; the end of the war is dependant on one kid's actions.

[Kathy Wawer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story line and character development seemed awkward and not well thought out. The ending was totally implausible.
That said, Winter's Bullet takes place in the Netherlands during WWll, which is not well covered elsewhere. It is readable and moves along, and at times the descriptions make the atmosphere come alive.
It is good enough to be recommended to historical fiction, but not a stellar choice.

[Marybeth Buskirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was slow and boring. The characters were bland except the one girl who I loved to pieces but you never really got to see her all that often. To be fair though, I judge World War 2 books quite harshly because it is one of my favorite subjects to read about. The one plus though was the vivid world he managed to create and the accuracy of the fear that the Third Reich put into people.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't rush through this book, that's the beauty about it. This book is set in 1940's. It is about the war. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for ages 9-21 mainly because of the genre and the way it is written.

[Mrs. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, reads a lot like a movie, which made sense when I read that the author has been a screenwriter.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had an interesting storyline but the pages just didn't grip me in like I was hoping.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book, and I have one question...

What does ja mein fuhrer (or something) mean?

[Melinda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter's Bullet by William Osborne is a story that is written for middle school ages but is interesting enough for anyone who likes to learn about World War II. It is the story of Tygo is helping the Nazis by carrying on his father's job having being a locksmith at the age of 15. He tried to refuse to help the Nazis but the decision was rethought as it caused his sister to be transport to Germany. The Resistance is after him but he discovers a girl hiding in a mansion that the Nazis are searching and she may have information. This is a story about hard decisions and the consequences . William Osborne tells the story of how WWII affected teenagers and makes it easy to follow. I highly recommend this book for any age if you are interested in history, war , World War II and relationships during war.

I received a copy thru a multi-author giveaway.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

insane action near middle and end with great character development