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Skylark and Wallcreeper
While helping her granny Collette evacuate to a makeshift shelter in Brooklyn during Superstorm Sandy, Lily uncovers secrets of her grandmother's past as a member of the French Resistance during WWII.
Queens, 2012.
Hurricane Sandy is flooding New York City, and Lily is at a nursing home with her grandmother, Collette. Lily visits Collette often, as she is beginning to lose her memories. When the National Guard shows up to evacuate the building and take them to safety at the Park Slope armory in Brooklyn, Lily's granny suddenly produces a red box she's hidden in a closet for years. Once they get to safety, Lily opens the box, where she finds an old, beautiful Montblanc pen. Granny tells Lily that the pen is very important and that she has to take care of it, as well as some letters written in French.
But Lily loses the pen in the course of helping other nursing home residents, and as she searches the city trying to find it, she learns more about her grandmother's past in France and begins to uncover the significance of the pen with the help of her best friend, a quirky pen expert, and a larger-than-life, off-Broadway understudy. Told in alternating sections (2012 and 1944), this engaging book explores a deep friendship during difficult times and the importance of family.
Queens, 2012.
Hurricane Sandy is flooding New York City, and Lily is at a nursing home with her grandmother, Collette. Lily visits Collette often, as she is beginning to lose her memories. When the National Guard shows up to evacuate the building and take them to safety at the Park Slope armory in Brooklyn, Lily's granny suddenly produces a red box she's hidden in a closet for years. Once they get to safety, Lily opens the box, where she finds an old, beautiful Montblanc pen. Granny tells Lily that the pen is very important and that she has to take care of it, as well as some letters written in French.
But Lily loses the pen in the course of helping other nursing home residents, and as she searches the city trying to find it, she learns more about her grandmother's past in France and begins to uncover the significance of the pen with the help of her best friend, a quirky pen expert, and a larger-than-life, off-Broadway understudy. Told in alternating sections (2012 and 1944), this engaging book explores a deep friendship during difficult times and the importance of family.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2018
19 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 5, 2020
This book was much too long, this could have been a 3 star read if it had been edited to a hundred pages rather than 416, so much needless detail, pages of descriptions abouts characters we will not meet again and do not play a big part in the plot.
Skylark and Wallcreeper are 12 yr old French girls working in the French resistance, their story alternates between their activities close to the end of the war and their lives in 2012 during events in Superstorm Sandy. There were some interesting stories and characters but nothing that I haven't read before and better. Ploughing through so many pages that just weren't interesting made me see finishing the book as something I couldn't wait to get over. Read as a read aloud it was exhausting. The end was to neatly tied up with everything and everybody turning up and coming together. There was a bizarre incident with a shop when Lily is Lots of details in the 2012 chapters seemed forced to echo past events.
I'm really surprised this gets such high ratings.
Skylark and Wallcreeper are 12 yr old French girls working in the French resistance, their story alternates between their activities close to the end of the war and their lives in 2012 during events in Superstorm Sandy. There were some interesting stories and characters but nothing that I haven't read before and better. Ploughing through so many pages that just weren't interesting made me see finishing the book as something I couldn't wait to get over. Read as a read aloud it was exhausting. The end was to neatly tied up with everything and everybody turning up and coming together. There was a bizarre incident with a shop when Lily is Lots of details in the 2012 chapters seemed forced to echo past events.
I'm really surprised this gets such high ratings.
February 15, 2019
Likes: The chapters alternate between 2012 and 1944. I like the historical chapters more than the modern ones. They have more action, higher stakes, and tenser relationships. Collette and Marguerite (codenamed Wallcreeper and Skylark) have a “girl power” friendship. I enjoyed watching them learn to trust each other and then work together to protect their town from a Nazi invasion. It shows that kids can accomplish huge tasks with teamwork.
My favorite part of the modern timeline is how Lily’s life parallels Collette’s. They’re both independent, responsible children with a strong drive to do what’s right. They’ve both proven that they can handle a crisis. Lily’s dedication to her grandmother is admirable. She puts herself in danger to make sure that her grandmother gets to safety during Hurricane Sandy. Lily’s panicky mother is relatable. I think a lot of kids wish their mothers would calm down and let them have more freedom.
Dislikes: I love historical fiction. It’s one of my favorite genres. According to my reading spreadsheets, it makes up a large percentage of what I read. When I compare this book to other WWII novels, I’m underwhelmed. It doesn’t feel fresh. I’ve seen this kids-resist-Nazis storyline infinity times before, and other authors have handled it more skillfully.
My biggest issue with the modern chapters is that they feel contrived. There are so many coincidences!
I think all of the characters in the historical chapters are underdeveloped. Parents are a huge part of a child’s life, but we don’t learn much about the kids’ families. Were Collette’s parents involved in the resistance? What did they do? Where are they?
I also noticed some weird head-hopping in the historical chapters. It occasionally isn’t clear if we are in Skylark or Wallcreeper’s point-of-view. We sometimes seem to be in both at once.
Would this book appeal to children? Maybe. I loved historical fiction as a young teen, so I probably would have picked it up, but I don’t think I would have liked it as much as Number The Stars (which I read about 1000 times when I was in middle school).
The Bottom Line: Not my favorite WWII book. The characters are underdeveloped, and the plot is contrived.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
My favorite part of the modern timeline is how Lily’s life parallels Collette’s. They’re both independent, responsible children with a strong drive to do what’s right. They’ve both proven that they can handle a crisis. Lily’s dedication to her grandmother is admirable. She puts herself in danger to make sure that her grandmother gets to safety during Hurricane Sandy. Lily’s panicky mother is relatable. I think a lot of kids wish their mothers would calm down and let them have more freedom.
Dislikes: I love historical fiction. It’s one of my favorite genres. According to my reading spreadsheets, it makes up a large percentage of what I read. When I compare this book to other WWII novels, I’m underwhelmed. It doesn’t feel fresh. I’ve seen this kids-resist-Nazis storyline infinity times before, and other authors have handled it more skillfully.
My biggest issue with the modern chapters is that they feel contrived. There are so many coincidences!
I think all of the characters in the historical chapters are underdeveloped. Parents are a huge part of a child’s life, but we don’t learn much about the kids’ families. Were Collette’s parents involved in the resistance? What did they do? Where are they?
I also noticed some weird head-hopping in the historical chapters. It occasionally isn’t clear if we are in Skylark or Wallcreeper’s point-of-view. We sometimes seem to be in both at once.
Would this book appeal to children? Maybe. I loved historical fiction as a young teen, so I probably would have picked it up, but I don’t think I would have liked it as much as Number The Stars (which I read about 1000 times when I was in middle school).
The Bottom Line: Not my favorite WWII book. The characters are underdeveloped, and the plot is contrived.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
March 29, 2018
Two stories unfold in this exciting novel, the first featuring twelve-year-old Lily, who’s looking after her grandmother, Collette, immediately following Hurricane Sandy. The Queens nursing home in which her grandmother is living has flooded and its occupants have been transferred to the Brooklyn Armory. Lily, who knows all the nursing home staff, stays with her grandmother to make sure she feels safe and also helps out the staff by finding food in the neighborhood when the emergency supply is late. It is in the midst of all this turmoil that Lily loses her grandmother’s pen, an old Mont Blanc in a red box. Lily is frantic because her grandmother seems to set great store by this pen, one that until now Lily had not known existed. It is her search for this pen that sends her over to Manhattan and then to Connecticut, unbeknownst to anyone but her best friend Johnny and the owners of a pen store.
The second story, told in alternating chapters, features a twelve-year-old Collette of Brume, France, who carries out secret missions for the French Resistance. Using the name Wallcreeper, she trades code words for signatures, and with another young resistance worker, derails a German train.
Lily, like her grandmother Collette, is a risk taker. Each has a worthy cause, sharp wit and determination, and it is in Lily’s seeking her grandmother’s pen that the reader begins to see the connection between these two stories.
Characterization is excellent. Lily’s friend Johnny works for his family’s restaurant and is often sharing his culinary concoctions, such as cookies made of “broccoli and spinach, with bacon and maple syrup frosting.” And readers will love Henry, the fast-talking owner of The Fountain Pen Emporium, and his would-be actress daughter Rosie.
A rich and fascinating read for middle-grade and up!
(Read ARC copy)
The second story, told in alternating chapters, features a twelve-year-old Collette of Brume, France, who carries out secret missions for the French Resistance. Using the name Wallcreeper, she trades code words for signatures, and with another young resistance worker, derails a German train.
Lily, like her grandmother Collette, is a risk taker. Each has a worthy cause, sharp wit and determination, and it is in Lily’s seeking her grandmother’s pen that the reader begins to see the connection between these two stories.
Characterization is excellent. Lily’s friend Johnny works for his family’s restaurant and is often sharing his culinary concoctions, such as cookies made of “broccoli and spinach, with bacon and maple syrup frosting.” And readers will love Henry, the fast-talking owner of The Fountain Pen Emporium, and his would-be actress daughter Rosie.
A rich and fascinating read for middle-grade and up!
(Read ARC copy)
February 9, 2019
3.75 stars for being all it was supposed to be : a solid children’s story for a pre teen audience. It tells a great parallel story and deals with the french resistance in the 40s and how two friends find one another again after a shared past.
It’s not gripping or exciting. But it tells a good story.
It’s not gripping or exciting. But it tells a good story.
May 28, 2019
A fascinating story told in two different time periods, weaved together well by author Anne O'Brien Carelli. The characters especially shine in this book, which explores family, courage and friendship. Loved it.
March 19, 2019
Lilly is a devoted granddaughter: taking care of her grandmother Colette during the evacuation of her old folks home in the midst of super storm Sandy. This is a fine book and there are some intriguing elements. The back and forth in time is effective, from present crisis: flooding, and finding food and getting a armoury's worth of displaced persons settled to the past: a cell of Resistance in a small French town during World War 2. I love the message of uncovering the exciting past lives of older people whom we wrongly assume have always been staid. What I didn't love, or rather don't feel were carried off with intention, were several odd story elements that never found a place to settle. Lily, searching for a keepsake of her grandmother's that she's lost, enters an antique shop where she is held captive by an older woman who berates her and throws plates and silverware at her. Why? The woman never reappears and nothing is made of the incident. Is this supposed to stand in for the odd things that can happen in Brooklyn? Both the daughter's of the adventurous Grandmothers we meet are obese and practically agoraphobic, neither owns a passport or are willing to leave their narrow neighborhoods. Are we supposed to make something of this? Were it one daughter nbd, but both starts to feel like a message. There is some subtext that adventurousness has skipped a generation. And on that subject- Lily is brave, especially during her work helping evacuated the nursing home, but repeatedly characters tell her how brave and incredible she is for traveling by Metroliner for 90 minutes from Grand Central to a Connecticut suburb! This is equated with the grandmothers' war work. That is odd and not equivalent. 90 minutes by train just not that big a deal, even for a 12 year old, though granted, doing it without letting your mother know, is not o.k. Finally there is an odd scene on the returning Metroliner where kids on the tracks cause a stoppage and one of the adventurous grandmothers insist they exit the train despite warnings to stay seated. I would have appreciated some context or asides from the grandmother about why- from her experience- it sometimes is important not to follow directions. Instead we get long descriptions of Lily hanging out with and taking selfies with a random group of kids. Oh why?
April 21, 2018
I was given an advance copy of Skylark and Wallcreeper because I am a Middle Grade Social Studies teacher. I found it a fast and compelling read. As I finished each chapter I was anxious to see what would happen next. Middle grade students will definitely enjoy it as the story moves smoothly between Manhattan and Brooklyn during Superstorm Sandy, and a town in Occupied France during World War II. A mystery unfolds, prompted by a vintage pen discovered during the hurricane evacuation. The main character, a determined twelve-year old girl named Lily, uncovers the remarkable story of her grandmother’s past. I was particularly taken by the relationship between Lily and her “Granny Collette.” Many of my students are close to their grandparents and would identify with the protective relationship that Lily has over her granny when they are evacuated to a shelter in the Brooklyn Armory. The friendship Collette established as a young girl in France is also quite heartwarming. The book is loaded with historical details and shows the history of women and children in the French Resistance. I would recommend this book to middle grade students (as early as 4th grade) and definitely during the study of World War II. Young adults interested in true stories of secrets and danger will also enjoy it.
July 25, 2018
As soon as my ARC review copy arrived, I was intrigued by the title and the concept of tying together the stories of two twelve-year old girls, one in 2012 Brooklyn and her grandmother (at age 12) in 1944 France. Both stories move at a brisk pace and are full of adventure that will surely appeal to middle grade readers. Lily's search for her grandmother's precious World War II memento in a post-Superstorm Sandy Manhattan and later, in Connecticut, requires courage, determination, and endurance. Her grandmother Collette's Resistance activities in southern France during the Nazi occupation demand the same qualities, but the settings and the life-threatening obstacles will be much less familiar to a young American reader. The author’s prose style and descriptions make the situation in France understandable to middle grade readers, who probably do not yet have much familiarity with WWII. The lead characters are well drawn, likable and engaging; the secondary ones, also deftly presented, move the plot forward nicely. The fact that the brave and adventurous twelve-year-olds are girls is an added plus. The elderly, who figure prominently in the plot and exhibit both physical frailty and a variety of idiosyncrasies, are treated with affection. I recommend the book highly.
December 30, 2018
I gave this book 5 stars. I loved the way Carelli gave the needed information for her novel. She weaved details and facts in and out of the story flawlessly. Sometimes, historical fiction either tries to hard to give all of the facts for the reader and sometimes not enough. This book had the perfect amount, in my opinion, for a younger reader to understand. I think it was a well-developed story and enjoyed reading it.
I received this book from the author as part of our ARC group, Lit Review Crew, in exchange for an honest review.
Read more about this book on my blog: http://www.mrsbookdragon.com/2018/10/...
I received this book from the author as part of our ARC group, Lit Review Crew, in exchange for an honest review.
Read more about this book on my blog: http://www.mrsbookdragon.com/2018/10/...
July 21, 2019
One of my favorite genres is historical fiction, especially about WWII. This had a unique angle using flashback and was easy to follow with the chapter headings. Middle elementary might be reluctant due to the apparent length of the book, but the font is large and well-spaced, so it reads quickly.
There were a few parts that did not ring true for me, such as when Lily is visiting Marguerite and the 90-minute trip is treated as if she was hours or days away. Who needs a ‘rest’ in their own room after a 90-minute ride? And they ate and ate and ate and it wasn’t even mealtime.
I also don’t understand why Lily didn’t just call Marguerite.
There were a few parts that did not ring true for me, such as when Lily is visiting Marguerite and the 90-minute trip is treated as if she was hours or days away. Who needs a ‘rest’ in their own room after a 90-minute ride? And they ate and ate and ate and it wasn’t even mealtime.
I also don’t understand why Lily didn’t just call Marguerite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2020
Overall, the story is nice. I was a bit underwhelmed by the story telling. I found it confusing to follow at times, especially how the voice of Skylar and Wallcreeper were somewhat muddled. Everything seemed a bit forced. The scene in the shop with the eldery woman was scary and out of place. I really did not enjoy it, and I felt that it was bizarre to include it. Regardless, I'd recommend to grades 5-6 students who I'm trying to convince to read HF if they are deeply entrenched in WWII NF.
December 27, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this lovely satisfying book. The inter-generational stories are cross cut, keeping an exciting pace that kids will appreciate, while digging deep into the characters.
September 25, 2018
It's August 2012 and Superstorm Sandy has hit New York City with all her force. With rising waters flooding the first floor of the Rockaway Manor Nursing Home in Queens, it's time to evacuate the residents. And that includes Lily, 12, and her 80-year-old grandma Collette, whom she happens to be visiting. But not before Granny insists Lily find and bring along a flat red box, and slips back into speaking her native French as soon as Lily asks what's inside.
Flashback to Nazi-occupied Brume, a small town in the south of France in the winter of 1944. A 12-year-old Collette, disguised as a young boy named Jean-Pierre, is working for the resistance. Her job is to deliver a package. In reality, it is a code for letting other resistance members know if their next operation against the Nazis is a go or not. The confirmation that the message was received is an X marked in her notebook with a Montblanc fountain pen. Collette's stealthiness and success at avoiding Nazis soon earn her a code name, Wallcreeper, and a place in the resistance group referred to by the Germans as Noah's Ark.
Back to 2012: once Superstorm Sandy has finally passed and her granny is settled in on a cot at the Brooklyn Armory, Lily is asked by one of the nurses if she would try to scrounge up some food - preferably free food. Before she leaves to do that, granny shows Lily what's in the red box - a very special Montblanc fountain pen with the initial F engraved on the side - and asks her to keep it safe for her. Lily manages to find free food, but in the process she loses the pen her granny asked her to safeguard.
Realizing that her granny will be upset if she learns that she has lost her special pen, Lily is determined to find it or one just like it. Armed with a packet of old letters written in French and addressed to her Granny, Lily's quest for the lost pen will take her to an odd little pen store in Manhattan, on a long train ride to Stratford, CT and a meeting with Skylark. Along the way, Lily will interact with a variety of interesting people, all willing to help her accomplish her pen quest. And it all unfolds without her frantic mother's knowledge (or permission).
As more surprising details about her granny's life unfolds, a life neither she nor her mother had any knowledge of, Lily learns the identity of Skylark and Wallcreeper - two young French girls working together in the Noah's Ark resistance where members only go by the names of animals in their quest to help defeat the Nazis.
Although Skylark and Wallcreeper is written in two time periods, it is not a time travel book. Lily stay firmly in 2012, it is Granny's story as a 12-year-old resistance worker in 1944 that is interspersed with the events of 2012 and Lily's story throughout the novel. Interestingly, the present is told in the first person by Lily, and the past is narrated in the third person, so there is no confusion.
Usually when I read a dual time setting novel, I end up wishing the author had just written two separate books instead of combining them. However, in this novel, I really thought it worked well. There was just enough of the past and present to satisfy. The chapters that take place in WWII always start at an appropriate point in Lily's story, so it is not a jarring jump into Nazi occupied France.
I found myself completely caught up in Lily and Granny's stories immediately. Lily, Granny, and Skylark are appealingly vivid characters, more well-rounded than the supporting characters around them. In German, there are these words called flavoring particles which add particular zest to a sentence and that's how I felt about the secondary characters in this novel. They really add a lot, but it remains Lily, Granny, and Skylark's story.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is a very satisfying, compelling novel that examines the importance of friendship, family relationships, courage and loyalty in the face of difficult and challenging times. There are a few peccadillos, but not so bad as to spoil the overall story and I would still highly recommend this book.
Do read the Author's Note to learn when elements of this novel are based in fact and what is based in fiction.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EBOOK provided to me by the publisher, Little Bee
Flashback to Nazi-occupied Brume, a small town in the south of France in the winter of 1944. A 12-year-old Collette, disguised as a young boy named Jean-Pierre, is working for the resistance. Her job is to deliver a package. In reality, it is a code for letting other resistance members know if their next operation against the Nazis is a go or not. The confirmation that the message was received is an X marked in her notebook with a Montblanc fountain pen. Collette's stealthiness and success at avoiding Nazis soon earn her a code name, Wallcreeper, and a place in the resistance group referred to by the Germans as Noah's Ark.
Back to 2012: once Superstorm Sandy has finally passed and her granny is settled in on a cot at the Brooklyn Armory, Lily is asked by one of the nurses if she would try to scrounge up some food - preferably free food. Before she leaves to do that, granny shows Lily what's in the red box - a very special Montblanc fountain pen with the initial F engraved on the side - and asks her to keep it safe for her. Lily manages to find free food, but in the process she loses the pen her granny asked her to safeguard.
Realizing that her granny will be upset if she learns that she has lost her special pen, Lily is determined to find it or one just like it. Armed with a packet of old letters written in French and addressed to her Granny, Lily's quest for the lost pen will take her to an odd little pen store in Manhattan, on a long train ride to Stratford, CT and a meeting with Skylark. Along the way, Lily will interact with a variety of interesting people, all willing to help her accomplish her pen quest. And it all unfolds without her frantic mother's knowledge (or permission).
As more surprising details about her granny's life unfolds, a life neither she nor her mother had any knowledge of, Lily learns the identity of Skylark and Wallcreeper - two young French girls working together in the Noah's Ark resistance where members only go by the names of animals in their quest to help defeat the Nazis.
Although Skylark and Wallcreeper is written in two time periods, it is not a time travel book. Lily stay firmly in 2012, it is Granny's story as a 12-year-old resistance worker in 1944 that is interspersed with the events of 2012 and Lily's story throughout the novel. Interestingly, the present is told in the first person by Lily, and the past is narrated in the third person, so there is no confusion.
Usually when I read a dual time setting novel, I end up wishing the author had just written two separate books instead of combining them. However, in this novel, I really thought it worked well. There was just enough of the past and present to satisfy. The chapters that take place in WWII always start at an appropriate point in Lily's story, so it is not a jarring jump into Nazi occupied France.
I found myself completely caught up in Lily and Granny's stories immediately. Lily, Granny, and Skylark are appealingly vivid characters, more well-rounded than the supporting characters around them. In German, there are these words called flavoring particles which add particular zest to a sentence and that's how I felt about the secondary characters in this novel. They really add a lot, but it remains Lily, Granny, and Skylark's story.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is a very satisfying, compelling novel that examines the importance of friendship, family relationships, courage and loyalty in the face of difficult and challenging times. There are a few peccadillos, but not so bad as to spoil the overall story and I would still highly recommend this book.
Do read the Author's Note to learn when elements of this novel are based in fact and what is based in fiction.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EBOOK provided to me by the publisher, Little Bee
April 16, 2019
It's November 2012 in Queens, New York and Lily, though just 12, is helping with the evacuation of her grandmother's retirement home as Hurricane Sandy causes waves to pound in through the 1st floor of the building. Relocated to the Armory in Brooklyn, Lily convinces her mom to let her stay and help her grandmother and the other residents. During the move her Granny handed her a fancy old pen and told her to keep it safe. The pen went missing while Lily went out looking for food for the residents, and now she's trying to track it down because her Granny keeps talking about it and saying it needs to go to Marguerite. But who is Marguerite? Meanwhile, flashbacks to Brume, France in 1944 share Granny's exploits as a 12 year old girl herself during WWII. She was recruited as a messenger for the French Resistance, dubbed Wallcreeper for her bird-like climbing skills, she was joined in her dangerous assignments by another girl, Marguerite, whose codename was Skylark.
The stories of three brave 12 year olds who rise to the occasion to help out their communities in times of trouble. I don't know of any other books that have been written about Hurricane Sandy yet. It was very interesting to have the book set there, and even more interesting that there really was a retirement home that had to be evacuated. I love Lily's relationship with her Granny. It is very sweet. Lily's also really patient and loving with the rest of the elderly people, and is a super great helper to the adults in charge of them. Her adventures in finding her Granny's lost pen and where that leads her should thrill kids who like reading about kids going on daring and slightly crazy adventures. There are lots of parallels between the historical stories and the present ones. Both girls meet a mixture of people, both those who are scary and those who are unexpectedly kind and generous. They both face serious situations, but the types of seriousness differ. And they both have elements of adventure. But despite the similarities, Carelli is able to write the two time periods with a good sense of a different feel for time and place. The historical sections are done just as well as the modern ones. They really transport you to Southern France in WWII from a tween's perspective. There's obvious dangers but it is not as stark as some WWII books, making this a good segue book into the genre for middle graders. In the end, something beautiful is brought out of the evacuation Sandy caused. I think the readers at my school who have loved The War That Saved My Life will eat this book up. Highly recommended for readers who are looking for a little lighter WWII stories, stories set in natural disasters, those who enjoy thrilling adventures had by tweens, and beautiful intergenerational family stories.
Notes on content: Only 1 minor swear word that I noticed. No sexual content. Wallcreeper knows that people have been killed in her town, but none happens on page. There's a train derailment that results in a injury (some blood described) and another explosion happens just off page with possible injuries. A child is burned on purpose with a smoldering stick at one point by Nazis. A lady with dementia throws a vase at someone.
The stories of three brave 12 year olds who rise to the occasion to help out their communities in times of trouble. I don't know of any other books that have been written about Hurricane Sandy yet. It was very interesting to have the book set there, and even more interesting that there really was a retirement home that had to be evacuated. I love Lily's relationship with her Granny. It is very sweet. Lily's also really patient and loving with the rest of the elderly people, and is a super great helper to the adults in charge of them. Her adventures in finding her Granny's lost pen and where that leads her should thrill kids who like reading about kids going on daring and slightly crazy adventures. There are lots of parallels between the historical stories and the present ones. Both girls meet a mixture of people, both those who are scary and those who are unexpectedly kind and generous. They both face serious situations, but the types of seriousness differ. And they both have elements of adventure. But despite the similarities, Carelli is able to write the two time periods with a good sense of a different feel for time and place. The historical sections are done just as well as the modern ones. They really transport you to Southern France in WWII from a tween's perspective. There's obvious dangers but it is not as stark as some WWII books, making this a good segue book into the genre for middle graders. In the end, something beautiful is brought out of the evacuation Sandy caused. I think the readers at my school who have loved The War That Saved My Life will eat this book up. Highly recommended for readers who are looking for a little lighter WWII stories, stories set in natural disasters, those who enjoy thrilling adventures had by tweens, and beautiful intergenerational family stories.
Notes on content: Only 1 minor swear word that I noticed. No sexual content. Wallcreeper knows that people have been killed in her town, but none happens on page. There's a train derailment that results in a injury (some blood described) and another explosion happens just off page with possible injuries. A child is burned on purpose with a smoldering stick at one point by Nazis. A lady with dementia throws a vase at someone.
January 28, 2024
While categorized as a YA book, this story is for all ages of readers. Based on actual events, the parallel plots are set in Queen’s, New York, 2012, and Brume, France, 1944. Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area in 2012. Lily happens to be at her grandmother’s nursing home when the storm strikes. She accompanies her grandmother and all the residents as they are evacuated to a makeshift shelter in an old Armory. Her granny begs Lily to take care of her few precious belongings including an old fountain pen.
In Brume, France, it is 1944. Nazis, Milice, and local collaborators are everywhere. Twelve-year-old Colette decides to help with the Resistance. She successfully carries out extremely dangerous missions dressed as a young boy. On one mission, she meets a young girl, Marguerite, who is also a saboteur. They join forces to undermine the Nazis.
Both stories are extremely engaging and unique – the impact of Hurricane Sandy and young girls acting as saboteurs in the French resistance.
O’Brian Carelli uses vivid imagery such that the reader feels like they are in the setting. “As Colette runs down the hill on the bumpy cobblestone street, the cold sucks her breath and freezes her chest. She weaves around the people from her village who are hurrying up the hill. They’re wrapped in anything they can find to keep warm. Some are hulks of many layers and only puffs of breath can be seen as they struggle to get home quickly. (Pg33)” “For hundreds of years, the morning mist has settled in the olive groves and fields of lavender surrounding her town…..The fountains are silent, most shops are closed, and the markets are empty, except for the occasional long line of hungry townspeople desperately seeking rare potatoes or meat.” (pg. 35)
The author frequently begins each chapter with a dramatic description or statement to draw the reader in. ““Everyone keeps taking our food.”” (Pg 56) “I don’t interrupt once.” (Pg.362)
O’Brien Carelli masterfully develops her characters such that they come alive to the reader. Their personalities remain consistent throughout the story and their lives.
I enjoyed this very well-written book and recommend it to all readers of historical fiction
In Brume, France, it is 1944. Nazis, Milice, and local collaborators are everywhere. Twelve-year-old Colette decides to help with the Resistance. She successfully carries out extremely dangerous missions dressed as a young boy. On one mission, she meets a young girl, Marguerite, who is also a saboteur. They join forces to undermine the Nazis.
Both stories are extremely engaging and unique – the impact of Hurricane Sandy and young girls acting as saboteurs in the French resistance.
O’Brian Carelli uses vivid imagery such that the reader feels like they are in the setting. “As Colette runs down the hill on the bumpy cobblestone street, the cold sucks her breath and freezes her chest. She weaves around the people from her village who are hurrying up the hill. They’re wrapped in anything they can find to keep warm. Some are hulks of many layers and only puffs of breath can be seen as they struggle to get home quickly. (Pg33)” “For hundreds of years, the morning mist has settled in the olive groves and fields of lavender surrounding her town…..The fountains are silent, most shops are closed, and the markets are empty, except for the occasional long line of hungry townspeople desperately seeking rare potatoes or meat.” (pg. 35)
The author frequently begins each chapter with a dramatic description or statement to draw the reader in. ““Everyone keeps taking our food.”” (Pg 56) “I don’t interrupt once.” (Pg.362)
O’Brien Carelli masterfully develops her characters such that they come alive to the reader. Their personalities remain consistent throughout the story and their lives.
I enjoyed this very well-written book and recommend it to all readers of historical fiction
August 2, 2018
Thank you to @littlebeebooks for the FREE book to share with #kidlitexchange .
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for SKYLARK AND WALLCREEPER by #anneobriencarelli This DEBUT middle grade book took me by surprise. Alternating between 2012 NYC during Hurricane Sandy and 1944 France during WWII German occupation, it follows two plucky, brave twelve year old girls who will do anything to protect and care for those they love. Part historical fiction, part mystery, Skylark and Wallcreeper was impossible for me to put down—I started it around 7 pm and finished it at 11 pm under the covers with my book light. I know it’s going to be popular with students obsessed with WWII; Collette’s participation in the French Resistance movement as a twelve year old is fascinating. The group, dubbed Noah’s Ark, all had animal code names; Collette’s was Wallcreeper and her friend Marguerite was Skylark. Lily, Collette’s granddaughter, knows none of this in 2012 NYC, but when her grandmother gives her a special pen during Superstorm Sandy, Lily is set on an adventure that will lead her to learn all about her grandmother’s crazy exploits. .
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This book moved fast for me and was immensely readable. Students are going to love learning about this facet of WWII and they’re especially going to love the characters of Lily and Collette. They may be separated by over fifty years, but the two are both incredibly brave and daring. Book 35 for #30booksummer .
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#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat #mgbooks
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for SKYLARK AND WALLCREEPER by #anneobriencarelli This DEBUT middle grade book took me by surprise. Alternating between 2012 NYC during Hurricane Sandy and 1944 France during WWII German occupation, it follows two plucky, brave twelve year old girls who will do anything to protect and care for those they love. Part historical fiction, part mystery, Skylark and Wallcreeper was impossible for me to put down—I started it around 7 pm and finished it at 11 pm under the covers with my book light. I know it’s going to be popular with students obsessed with WWII; Collette’s participation in the French Resistance movement as a twelve year old is fascinating. The group, dubbed Noah’s Ark, all had animal code names; Collette’s was Wallcreeper and her friend Marguerite was Skylark. Lily, Collette’s granddaughter, knows none of this in 2012 NYC, but when her grandmother gives her a special pen during Superstorm Sandy, Lily is set on an adventure that will lead her to learn all about her grandmother’s crazy exploits. .
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This book moved fast for me and was immensely readable. Students are going to love learning about this facet of WWII and they’re especially going to love the characters of Lily and Collette. They may be separated by over fifty years, but the two are both incredibly brave and daring. Book 35 for #30booksummer .
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#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat #mgbooks
September 11, 2018
I was provided a copy of this weeks read in exchange for an honest review.
After helping her grandmother, Collette, evacuate her nursing home in NY and get set up in a temporary shelter in Brooklyn, 12 year old Lily begins to unravel a complicated past that her grandmother has long ago chosen to keep secret. Having grown up in Southern France during the time of the German occupation during WWII, Collette joins the Resistance, a secret network of individuals whose aim was to hinder the German cause and advance in the war. When Lily looses a special pen her grandmother brought from the nursing home, she sets off on a journey that sheds light on a side of her grandmother she never knew. Alternating chapters between Collettes time in the Resistance in the 1940s, and Lily in the present connecting clues to figure out more about her grandmothers past, this one pen bridges the gap of generations, and brings two long lost friends together again.
What an absolutely lovely read! These two stories were woven so seamlessly together, culminating in something truly heartwarming. With a female heavy cast of MC’s, this book was empowering and fun for all ages, kids and adults alike. Both Lily and Collette were tenacious and brave, taking risks in order to work towards a goal bigger than themselves. They were selfless and intelligent with spunk for days. These are two girls you would want to be friends with, and certainly people you would want in your corner. For all my fans of historical fictions, hands down you will want to check this one out. Similar feel to an Alan Grantz novel (who you all know I LOVE).
After helping her grandmother, Collette, evacuate her nursing home in NY and get set up in a temporary shelter in Brooklyn, 12 year old Lily begins to unravel a complicated past that her grandmother has long ago chosen to keep secret. Having grown up in Southern France during the time of the German occupation during WWII, Collette joins the Resistance, a secret network of individuals whose aim was to hinder the German cause and advance in the war. When Lily looses a special pen her grandmother brought from the nursing home, she sets off on a journey that sheds light on a side of her grandmother she never knew. Alternating chapters between Collettes time in the Resistance in the 1940s, and Lily in the present connecting clues to figure out more about her grandmothers past, this one pen bridges the gap of generations, and brings two long lost friends together again.
What an absolutely lovely read! These two stories were woven so seamlessly together, culminating in something truly heartwarming. With a female heavy cast of MC’s, this book was empowering and fun for all ages, kids and adults alike. Both Lily and Collette were tenacious and brave, taking risks in order to work towards a goal bigger than themselves. They were selfless and intelligent with spunk for days. These are two girls you would want to be friends with, and certainly people you would want in your corner. For all my fans of historical fictions, hands down you will want to check this one out. Similar feel to an Alan Grantz novel (who you all know I LOVE).
October 31, 2018
When waters from Hurricane Sandy flood the nursing home in Queens where Lily’s Grandma Collette lives, residents are evacuated to a shelter in Brooklyn. Collette insists that Lily save a small box that she later finds holds a pen. When Lily loses the pen, she goes on an unexpected journey to recover it and discovers stories about her grandmother’s life growing up as part of the Resistance in Nazi-occupied France.
Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne O’Brien Carelli showcases the importance of family and friendship while shedding light on two historical events: life in southern France during World War II and the hardships suffered during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Collette is 12 years old when she decides she has to do something to help her countrymen defeat the occupying Germans. Along with her friend Marguerite, she takes on roles of messenger, spy, and saboteur. There is always danger that the two will be exposed and suffer dire consequences.
Decades later Collette’s granddaughter, who is 12 during the hurricane, proves to be courageous and daring, as well. While not fighting an enemy army, she does have to battle the elements and put herself at risk to make sure her beloved grandma stays safe.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is an adventurous tale that show young people fighting for what they believe in, forging friendships and strengthening family relationships. I recommend it for readers aged 9 to 12.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne O’Brien Carelli showcases the importance of family and friendship while shedding light on two historical events: life in southern France during World War II and the hardships suffered during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Collette is 12 years old when she decides she has to do something to help her countrymen defeat the occupying Germans. Along with her friend Marguerite, she takes on roles of messenger, spy, and saboteur. There is always danger that the two will be exposed and suffer dire consequences.
Decades later Collette’s granddaughter, who is 12 during the hurricane, proves to be courageous and daring, as well. While not fighting an enemy army, she does have to battle the elements and put herself at risk to make sure her beloved grandma stays safe.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is an adventurous tale that show young people fighting for what they believe in, forging friendships and strengthening family relationships. I recommend it for readers aged 9 to 12.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 22, 2020
Yes, this is a book for 8-to-12-year-old readers. Yes, I recommend it for adults. As much as I would have enjoyed this book as a 9-year-old, the adult me found much to love as well.
Skylark and Wallcreeper begins in October of 2012, as our 12-year-old narrator Lily is helping to evacuate the nursing home where her grandmother—or “Granny”, which is what Lily calls her—lives, as Hurricane Sandy bears down on New York City and Granny and her fellow residents are being transported to the Armory. In the midst of the chaos, Granny—Collette—asks Lily to take care of a red box that contains an important one-of-a-kind Mont Blanc fountain pen with a gold tip; Lily tucks the box safely into the pouch of her hoodie but loses it while she’s out trying to find food. That’s when her true adventures begin.
This 21st-century narrative alternates with another story—told in the third person—that takes place in France during World War II, where we meet 12-year-old Collette—yes, Lily’s “Granny”—who has been disguising herself as a boy to run errands for the Resistance and is called upon to take on ever more dangerous tasks. And, yes, we learn the significance of the pen—as does Lily. Eventually.
If this description piques your interest at all, I urge you to read Skylark and Wallcreeper; not only is it compelling and well written, but it also beautifully portrays the fears that many Europeans lived with on a daily basis during World War II as they bravely sacrificed everything they had to drive the enemy from their home.
Skylark and Wallcreeper begins in October of 2012, as our 12-year-old narrator Lily is helping to evacuate the nursing home where her grandmother—or “Granny”, which is what Lily calls her—lives, as Hurricane Sandy bears down on New York City and Granny and her fellow residents are being transported to the Armory. In the midst of the chaos, Granny—Collette—asks Lily to take care of a red box that contains an important one-of-a-kind Mont Blanc fountain pen with a gold tip; Lily tucks the box safely into the pouch of her hoodie but loses it while she’s out trying to find food. That’s when her true adventures begin.
This 21st-century narrative alternates with another story—told in the third person—that takes place in France during World War II, where we meet 12-year-old Collette—yes, Lily’s “Granny”—who has been disguising herself as a boy to run errands for the Resistance and is called upon to take on ever more dangerous tasks. And, yes, we learn the significance of the pen—as does Lily. Eventually.
If this description piques your interest at all, I urge you to read Skylark and Wallcreeper; not only is it compelling and well written, but it also beautifully portrays the fears that many Europeans lived with on a daily basis during World War II as they bravely sacrificed everything they had to drive the enemy from their home.
October 8, 2018
If you enjoy historical fiction, then you must read this book. Having spent time in France during college and loving all things French, I will never turn down the opportunity to read a book that involves my favorite destination. Many people will tell you that this book is about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and World War II. Those two events don't seem to fit together, but O'brien has magically woven them together.
Lily's grandmother is evacuated from her nursing home during Hurricane Sandy to an armory. Lily decides to stay with her grandmother because it will be safer than returning home but also because she is worried about her. The story alternates from Lily's perspective to that of her grandmother, Colette, as a child living in the south of France during World War II. Colette is part of the French resistance and takes on very dangerous missions. During the chapters about Colette, we see a side of Lily's grandmother that she has never seen.
After Lily loses her grandmothers favorite pen, she goes on a search to find it. During this search, Lily discovers the truth about Colette's childhood. While this book takes place during two very important events, I would tell you that this book is about the love of family. It's about doing all you can to make sure those you love are happy and safe. While Lily has always loved and respected her grandmother, finding out about her grandmother's past makes her realize that Colette is the bravest person she's ever met; this frail old woman is truly a hero.
Lily's grandmother is evacuated from her nursing home during Hurricane Sandy to an armory. Lily decides to stay with her grandmother because it will be safer than returning home but also because she is worried about her. The story alternates from Lily's perspective to that of her grandmother, Colette, as a child living in the south of France during World War II. Colette is part of the French resistance and takes on very dangerous missions. During the chapters about Colette, we see a side of Lily's grandmother that she has never seen.
After Lily loses her grandmothers favorite pen, she goes on a search to find it. During this search, Lily discovers the truth about Colette's childhood. While this book takes place during two very important events, I would tell you that this book is about the love of family. It's about doing all you can to make sure those you love are happy and safe. While Lily has always loved and respected her grandmother, finding out about her grandmother's past makes her realize that Colette is the bravest person she's ever met; this frail old woman is truly a hero.
October 8, 2018
Thank you to Anne O'Brien Carelli for providing Collabookation with an ARC to review.
Skylark and Wallcreeper alternates between New York City in the recent past and the French countryside during World War II.
Lily is caring for her Granny through Hurricane Sandy when she's given a pen for safekeeping. The pen belongs to her Granny's long-lost friend and fellow resistance fighter. When Lily loses the pen, she finds that her Granny has kept many secrets over the years.
There is a lot to love in this book. For fans of historical fiction, this book is adventurous, intriguing, and full of new (to me) information. Carelli highlights the hardships citizens of invaded countries endured, and how they fought against the German war machine.
For fans of contemporary fiction, Lily is a brave and compassionate character. Her relationship with her Granny, whose dementia is progressing, is honest and endearing. She is fierce and determined to fix her mistake of losing the pen. Beyond Lily and her Granny you'll find a large cast of interesting supporting characters. I closed the book feeling as though if I were to visit NYC I may run into them and enjoy a chat.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is a great novel for anyone who enjoys adventure and/or World War II fiction. Reminiscent of The Last Grand Adventure, it highlights strong intergenerational connections.
I recommend Skylark and Wallcreeper to students in grade 5 or above.
Skylark and Wallcreeper alternates between New York City in the recent past and the French countryside during World War II.
Lily is caring for her Granny through Hurricane Sandy when she's given a pen for safekeeping. The pen belongs to her Granny's long-lost friend and fellow resistance fighter. When Lily loses the pen, she finds that her Granny has kept many secrets over the years.
There is a lot to love in this book. For fans of historical fiction, this book is adventurous, intriguing, and full of new (to me) information. Carelli highlights the hardships citizens of invaded countries endured, and how they fought against the German war machine.
For fans of contemporary fiction, Lily is a brave and compassionate character. Her relationship with her Granny, whose dementia is progressing, is honest and endearing. She is fierce and determined to fix her mistake of losing the pen. Beyond Lily and her Granny you'll find a large cast of interesting supporting characters. I closed the book feeling as though if I were to visit NYC I may run into them and enjoy a chat.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is a great novel for anyone who enjoys adventure and/or World War II fiction. Reminiscent of The Last Grand Adventure, it highlights strong intergenerational connections.
I recommend Skylark and Wallcreeper to students in grade 5 or above.
October 21, 2020
Two good stories, but they pulled apart rather than together. There's a fun WWII story of two young girls working with the French Resistance in Vichy France, disguised as boys while carrying messages and doing some sabotage. And there's an interesting story about a girl and her grandmother who are evacuated to a shelter during Superstorm Sandy when New York was flooded. And these are tied together, but the tying worked more to distract me from the themes than to unite them.
Not a part of the story, but it was painful to see how the mom's problems kept her from making good parenting decisions. Her daughter has to hide harmless things, like going a couple of blocks to look for a new shop, and then can't differentiate between that and really dumb things, like sneaking out of the city to visit a stranger who turns out to be her grandmother's lost friend. I was utterly baffled by that -- there was no reason for the rush? Huh?
I think I would have liked either story alone better; more time in WWII, or more time to figure out the strange dynamics of the New York family, where the mom is apparently afraid to leave the city because of her trauma of worrying about where her mom would travel next. Hearing about it didn't make it seem real. But I did enjoy the details of the Sandy flooding, and I'm always up for kids in WWII.
Not a part of the story, but it was painful to see how the mom's problems kept her from making good parenting decisions. Her daughter has to hide harmless things, like going a couple of blocks to look for a new shop, and then can't differentiate between that and really dumb things, like sneaking out of the city to visit a stranger who turns out to be her grandmother's lost friend. I was utterly baffled by that -- there was no reason for the rush? Huh?
I think I would have liked either story alone better; more time in WWII, or more time to figure out the strange dynamics of the New York family, where the mom is apparently afraid to leave the city because of her trauma of worrying about where her mom would travel next. Hearing about it didn't make it seem real. But I did enjoy the details of the Sandy flooding, and I'm always up for kids in WWII.
May 8, 2020
This is a great Young Adult book for younger teens who want to learn about WWII through the exciting experiences of kids their own age. As Hurricane Sandy smashes into New York City in 2012, young Lily rushes to evacuate her grandmother Collette from her flooding nursing home. In the excitement, Collette gives Lily a treasure that slowly unravels the terrifying, secret escapades of two 12-year-old girls who risked their lives by joining the French resistance to fight the Nazi occupation in southern France.
This well-developed story moves easily between the past and present, creating parallels between Lily and her grandmother and exploring themes of courage, friendship, family, adventure, compassion and respect. The characters are believable and relatable for kids, and highlight the often overlooked roles played by women and children in history. The author doesn’t weigh the story down with exhaustive facts or vast atrocities of the war but focuses on the determination and courageous spirit of those who fought for freedom. I like the way the story gives young readers a look into the unknown lives and adventures of their grandparents, stories that should be discovered, told and retold. It is a heartwarming, readable story that I recommend highly for young adults.
This well-developed story moves easily between the past and present, creating parallels between Lily and her grandmother and exploring themes of courage, friendship, family, adventure, compassion and respect. The characters are believable and relatable for kids, and highlight the often overlooked roles played by women and children in history. The author doesn’t weigh the story down with exhaustive facts or vast atrocities of the war but focuses on the determination and courageous spirit of those who fought for freedom. I like the way the story gives young readers a look into the unknown lives and adventures of their grandparents, stories that should be discovered, told and retold. It is a heartwarming, readable story that I recommend highly for young adults.
March 20, 2018
This intriguing book draws the reader right in and keeps going at a fast pace that will surely appeal to children who like reading about secret missions, danger, and mysteries to solve. I was fully engaged in the first chapters when Lily, a twelve-year-old girl, gets caught in Hurricane Sandy. The tension builds as the floodwaters keep rising and Lily has to help rescue her beloved grandmother. Then the story switches to France during World War II, when two young girls conduct secret activities in the French Resistance. I was deep in 1944 during World War II when I started to see how the two fascinating stories are connected. This book, based on true events, is filled with action, clues, and interesting characters as Lily sets out to investigate the unknown story of her grandmother's past in France. The book easily moves from contemporary to historical fiction, and middle grade students (and older!) will not want to put it down. I love the underlying messages of friendship, brave girls, and love and respect for grandparents who have some pretty interesting stories to tell. I highly recommend this book -- it was a captivating read!
November 13, 2018
It was 2012 in Queens when Hurricane Sandy flooded New York City. I love the way the author went back and forth between the years to let the reader know about a friendship even thru war wouldn't keep this girls who became women apart. This is a beautiful story of friendship that have lasted a lifetime even though they have lost one another. Collette and Marguerite friendship began in France the Spring of 1944, when Collette was only 12 years old and on a mission for the French Resistance. The group Collette worked for was the " Noah Ark" and her spy name was the Wallcreeper. Marguerite name spy name is Syklark she was able to sing like the bird. Marguerite family helped the Fench Resistance by acting like they was helping the german soldiers. The Germans was trying to take over their country and they was trying to take it back. I mean another child,spy and historical book with children. Lily is Collette granddaughter who learns all the horrible and brave things her grandmother had to deal with at time.
December 4, 2018
3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher to review.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is a middle grade novel that alternates timelines between a young girl helping her grandma in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the narrative of the grandma as a young girl assisting in the French Resistance in 1944.
I love historical fiction and learning about brave people who stood up to evil so that aspect always draws me in. And I really enjoyed reading about a modern day young girl who truly loves and takes care of her grandmother and whom is able to learn about her grandmother's past.
Something about the writing didn't completely capture me, and although I enjoyed the story, I didn't experience that element that pushed me over the edge to being totally engrossed and in love with the book.
I do think this would be a great introduction for young readers to learn of the experiences of children during World War II and the work of the French Resistance. The publisher recommends it for ages 8 to 12 and I would agree with that.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher to review.
Skylark and Wallcreeper is a middle grade novel that alternates timelines between a young girl helping her grandma in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the narrative of the grandma as a young girl assisting in the French Resistance in 1944.
I love historical fiction and learning about brave people who stood up to evil so that aspect always draws me in. And I really enjoyed reading about a modern day young girl who truly loves and takes care of her grandmother and whom is able to learn about her grandmother's past.
Something about the writing didn't completely capture me, and although I enjoyed the story, I didn't experience that element that pushed me over the edge to being totally engrossed and in love with the book.
I do think this would be a great introduction for young readers to learn of the experiences of children during World War II and the work of the French Resistance. The publisher recommends it for ages 8 to 12 and I would agree with that.
March 20, 2018
I don't always read historical fiction, but this book is a combination of modern adventures in New York City in 2012 during Superstorm Sandy, and a town in southern France in 1944 during World War II. It kept my interest from the very first page. Both the settings were vividly described, but it was the action of the stories (and how they came together!) that kept me turning the pages. The main character, Lily, is determined to solve a puzzle, driven by her love for her Granny College, who turns out to have a fascinating past. There were times when their relationship brought tears to my eyes, and the ending just about did me in! Boys and girls in middle school will love the mystery and tension. There's a lot of history woven in, but it's the quirky characters and Lily's quest that made the book entertaining. This book would be perfect for reading aloud to a family or class. I'm still thinking about it!
October 15, 2018
This book tells two stories, one taking place in 2012 and the other in 1944. Lily is helping her grandmother, Collette, because the nursing home she lives in is being evacuated due to flooding during Hurricane Sandy. During the evacuation, Collette asks Lily to take care of a pen that she has had hidden among her belongings. The alternating story tells about Collette, who as a young girl delivered messages to aid the efforts of the French Resistance during World War II. As Lily loses Collette's pen and goes on a search to get it back, she learns the story of her courageous grandmother. Both stories within the book are intriguing and adventurous. This book gives insight into two different time periods within history while also highlighting two wonderful characters who display determination and selflessness. Thanks to the author for providing my book review group with an advance reader's copy of the book.
December 15, 2018
I loved this book! It grabs you right away and continues the pace right to the end. The characters are wonderful and believable, especially as the 2 elderly women. Their bravery as young girls is inspirational.
The portrayal of Lily, the granddaughter, is realistic with her texting and interactions with her anxious mom. She too exhibits her own form of bravery as she attempts to help her grandmother but I question her shedding of tears in several tense situations. If she's brave enough to do something, I don't see why she's crying. Maybe that's just me.
I never would have imagined combining the impact of Hurricane Sandy with the French Resistance in WWII but it works beautifully here.
What a fantastic way to introduce WWII to middle school readers.
The portrayal of Lily, the granddaughter, is realistic with her texting and interactions with her anxious mom. She too exhibits her own form of bravery as she attempts to help her grandmother but I question her shedding of tears in several tense situations. If she's brave enough to do something, I don't see why she's crying. Maybe that's just me.
I never would have imagined combining the impact of Hurricane Sandy with the French Resistance in WWII but it works beautifully here.
What a fantastic way to introduce WWII to middle school readers.
May 8, 2018
I was given an advance copy of Skylark and Wallcreeper, and though I don't read a lot of MG fiction, I have friends with young children and was hoping this would be a great read. I wasn't disappointed.
Lily is very likable, and her relationship with her mom is quite relatable. But what shines in this book is Lily's relationship with her Granny Collette. Lily is tender and patient with her, and it's touching to witness. The author does a great job of weaving the past story with the present and keeps the pace going. And the cast features a diverse cast of folks you'd typically run into living in a large city up North.
Lily is very likable, and her relationship with her mom is quite relatable. But what shines in this book is Lily's relationship with her Granny Collette. Lily is tender and patient with her, and it's touching to witness. The author does a great job of weaving the past story with the present and keeps the pace going. And the cast features a diverse cast of folks you'd typically run into living in a large city up North.
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