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Village of Scoundrels: A Novel Based on a True Story of Courage During WWII
In Village of Scoundrels , Newbery Honor recipient Margi Preus tells the incredible true story of a group of French teenagers who helped save refugees in WWII.
Based on the true story of the French villagers in WWII who saved thousands of Jews, this novel tells how a group of young teenagers stood up for what is right. Among them is a young Jewish boy who learns to forge documents to save his mother and later goes on to save hundreds of lives with his forgery skills. There is also a girl who overcomes her fear to carry messages for the Resistance. And a boy who smuggles people into Switzerland.
But there is always the threat that they will be A policeman is sent to keep an eye on them, German soldiers reside in a local hotel, and eventually the Gestapo arrives, armed with guns and a list of names. As the knot tightens, the young people must race against time to bring their friends to safety.
“Preus conveys the tales of heroism and resistance of the village teens with a story that is filled with suspense and intrigue . . . Readers will be inspired by these teens that stood for what is right and who, through their actions, saved the lives.” — School Library Connection (Starred Review)
Based on the true story of the French villagers in WWII who saved thousands of Jews, this novel tells how a group of young teenagers stood up for what is right. Among them is a young Jewish boy who learns to forge documents to save his mother and later goes on to save hundreds of lives with his forgery skills. There is also a girl who overcomes her fear to carry messages for the Resistance. And a boy who smuggles people into Switzerland.
But there is always the threat that they will be A policeman is sent to keep an eye on them, German soldiers reside in a local hotel, and eventually the Gestapo arrives, armed with guns and a list of names. As the knot tightens, the young people must race against time to bring their friends to safety.
“Preus conveys the tales of heroism and resistance of the village teens with a story that is filled with suspense and intrigue . . . Readers will be inspired by these teens that stood for what is right and who, through their actions, saved the lives.” — School Library Connection (Starred Review)
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2020
57 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
About the author
Margi Preus
26 books192 followersMargi Preus is a children's writer. She is a 2011 Newbery Honor winner and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Heart of a Samurai.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
June 29, 2020
3.75 stars
Happy to say that I finally read a book by Minnesota author Margi Preus. Young people can make a difference in this World War II story about French teens who helped Jewish refugees escape to Switzerland while France was occupied by the Germans.
reminded me of Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan. If you know teens who liked that book when when they were younger, give them this one to try.
Happy to say that I finally read a book by Minnesota author Margi Preus. Young people can make a difference in this World War II story about French teens who helped Jewish refugees escape to Switzerland while France was occupied by the Germans.
reminded me of Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan. If you know teens who liked that book when when they were younger, give them this one to try.
April 20, 2020
This is an excellent book based on a true story set in a small French villiage during world war 2. The story follows the young people of the villiage as they do what they can to help others escape the Nazis. Through the course of the story one learns that bravery does not mean you are fearless. In fact some brave people may be very scared indeed but they do things because they have to. Or because something inside them tells them it's the proper thing to do. The story also explains how sometimes the little things can be the most important, things that one might never even think about or take for granted. You don't miss a thing until it's gone. What things were most needed during the war? How did children live and play? What did they eat? What about clothing and shoes? It's all here.
This is an exciting adventure story. It's meant for preteen readers I believe but I enjoyed it too. It's full of danger, sneaking about in the night, characters risking their lives to help others... It also explains what things were like in a very clear, easy to understand fashion. What was life like back then? Read this and you'll know!
One of the characters who goes through the most changes is the police officer Perdant. Through him we learn about the law and how sometimes a law can be wrong. But ideas develop over time, as one learns more about a subject. And Perdant learns a lot through the story. I think I like Perdant the most possibly. He's actually just a few years older than some of the other characters. What do I like about him? He's lenient, forgiving, becomes open minded as the story progresses and he seems to be a decent person. I didn't expect to like him but I did.
The art work in the book is great, too.
I also see parallels between this story and what's going on today with the pandemic. It's a very similar situation. And once again it requires bravery, self sacrifice and little things being greatly needed.
The down side to this book is the French words. I kept forgetting the correct way to pronounce Les Lauzes. I'd look at the word, read it the way it's written, realize a moment later that's not how it's said and then try to remember how it is said! Apparently it's something similar to "lay low"...which I guess is very appropriate as many Jewish people were hiding there! But if one is not familiar with French one might have some issues with the town names. I didn't have any problems with the characters names.
I liked the ending.
One might wonder if this book is sad. I didn't find it that way. Instead it speaks about hope, about find the light during a dark time. It can be inspiring.
This is an exciting adventure story. It's meant for preteen readers I believe but I enjoyed it too. It's full of danger, sneaking about in the night, characters risking their lives to help others... It also explains what things were like in a very clear, easy to understand fashion. What was life like back then? Read this and you'll know!
One of the characters who goes through the most changes is the police officer Perdant. Through him we learn about the law and how sometimes a law can be wrong. But ideas develop over time, as one learns more about a subject. And Perdant learns a lot through the story. I think I like Perdant the most possibly. He's actually just a few years older than some of the other characters. What do I like about him? He's lenient, forgiving, becomes open minded as the story progresses and he seems to be a decent person. I didn't expect to like him but I did.
The art work in the book is great, too.
I also see parallels between this story and what's going on today with the pandemic. It's a very similar situation. And once again it requires bravery, self sacrifice and little things being greatly needed.
The down side to this book is the French words. I kept forgetting the correct way to pronounce Les Lauzes. I'd look at the word, read it the way it's written, realize a moment later that's not how it's said and then try to remember how it is said! Apparently it's something similar to "lay low"...which I guess is very appropriate as many Jewish people were hiding there! But if one is not familiar with French one might have some issues with the town names. I didn't have any problems with the characters names.
I liked the ending.
One might wonder if this book is sad. I didn't find it that way. Instead it speaks about hope, about find the light during a dark time. It can be inspiring.
December 13, 2019
Lots of potential for classrooms. Epilogue is essential reading.
April 7, 2020
This was not my favorite. Lots of characters but I did not get hooked on any of them. Not that much history woven in.
April 26, 2020
This book was very confusing. I did not understand the characters at all and the plot was very puzzling.
April 1, 2024
2/5 stars ⭐️
oh where do i begin. i just want to star by saying this book was not terrible but is wasn’t bad. it was also part of an assignment which does not help at all.
this book was soooo confusing. the assignment was about the Holocaust and the task was to read a book and fill out a packet about it. i. hate. packets. anyways, it was confusing. there was so many characters and they all fled together because of the perspective switches in the MIDDLE of the chapters.
the plot was not very realistic and was over all did not enjoy reading this book.
oh where do i begin. i just want to star by saying this book was not terrible but is wasn’t bad. it was also part of an assignment which does not help at all.
this book was soooo confusing. the assignment was about the Holocaust and the task was to read a book and fill out a packet about it. i. hate. packets. anyways, it was confusing. there was so many characters and they all fled together because of the perspective switches in the MIDDLE of the chapters.
the plot was not very realistic and was over all did not enjoy reading this book.
February 25, 2021
I love to find connections between the people and things in my world! The Friends of the St. Paul Public Libraries recently sponsored The Fireside Reading Series. When I read about some of the authors who would be featured, I was particularly interested in Margi Preus, as I had read some of her books and had met her a few times. The series was free, I had time, so I signed up to hear her speak about her latest book, "Village of Scoundrels." I honestly knew nothing about the book at the time. The night of the event came, and I found myself tired and not too enthusiastic about attending. I finally decided to give it a try - if it wasn't what I was interested in, I would just sign out. I should also mention that I joined with a group of six other women during the pandemic to learn French - we call ourselves "Groupe Française." Imagine my delight when the host not only introduced Margi, but her book, and the woman who was "an invaluable resource" in the creation of the novel, Nelly Hewett! When Nelly Hewett opened her mouth, and that lovely French accent reached my ears and that beautiful smile reached my eyes, I knew that I was in the right place!
"Village of Scoundrels" is set in Lez Lauzes (based on the actual French village of Le Chambon - sur Lignon which is located in the mountainous south-central region of France) during World War II (1943). The novel is based on actual events and the lives of real people. Citizens of this village and surrounding villages were responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jews during the war. Nelly Hewett was a teen in Le Chambon at the time, and her parents and friends, along with other community members of all ages, were involved in the resistance. They rescued prisoners from the camps, sheltered them, created fake documents for them, and eventually got them to safety in Switzerland. Nelly provided Preus with information, photos, names, events, lifestyle details, and more - many of which were discussed in The Fireside Reading Series and become a part of the novel.
Watching and listening to this interview, led to my ordering the book immediately after the event. Two days later I had the book in my hands! And a couple of days later, I had finished the book. I was so excited about all of the connections to my French group, that I did a little presentation for them a couple of days later on the author, Nelly Hewett, the Fireside Reading Series event, and the book - I encouraged them to all watch the recording of the interview and to purchase the book. The book is marketed as a Middle School read (Preus says it is more of a Young Adult read). I feel that there is much here for adult readers as well, including history that they might not have been exposed to, sophisticated and lovely language, deep thematic ideas, and some tough realities (such as violence and loss).
Responses to the book:
1. I loved the incorporation of the French language in the book ("garçon," "arretez," "vite," "gendarme," "perdant" "une petite puce," "ca n'a aucun sens," "carte d'identité, s'il cous plaît," "café," "château," "bonsoir, monsieur," "sabots," "absolument," "mon dieu," "o la vache," "avis à la population," "garde champêtre," "congères," "bon appétite," "maquis," "maquisards" "passeurs," "ne parlez pas," "la crapule"- scoundrel, "oui," "fais attention," "au claire de la lune, mon ami," "ouvre-moi ta porte, pour l'amour de Dieu," "les étudiants,""ça y est," "grillé," "quatre-quart," "zut alors," "doucement,"). Preus did a great job of providing context for English readers to figure out what the French terms mean. Perfect for beginning French students such as myself. It added flavor and authenticity to the book! It should also be noted that the book includes a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book for names and places. Excellent!
2. Preus employs some very sophisticated language throughout "Village of Scoundrels." Terms such "elicited," "rueful," "shenanigans," "voluminous," "emboldened," "ephemeral," and "encapsulated" pepper the pages of the book. I like that Preus believes in the power of here readers to either know, figure out, or look up challenging words. Most of the time, these terms can be figured out through context. The exposure to such sophisticated language is a wonderful thing!
3. Preus creates a real sense of time and place here through her use of beautiful imagery that appeals to all of the senses, as well as her use of actual period details (discovered in her research, visit to the museum in Le Chambon, and interviews with those who actually lived in the village at the time). For instance, on page 235: "Philippe woke in that way you do when you feel first what's in your heart before your head takes over, and what he felt at the core of his being was that he'd come home. Though he was far away from Normandy, he realized that it was here where he felt most at home - here in this slightly ratty chair, its arms shredded from cats' claws and its cushion saggy from supporting the weight of so many forlorn visitors."
4. The fact that this is a history that most Americans know little about makes it even more appealing. It should be noted that Le Chambon was inhabited by many descendants of the Huguenots (French Protestants) who had faced violent religious persecution from Catholics in the late 1500's through the 1700's. Consequently, they were committed to helping Jews and others facing persecution during World War II.
5. Though younger readers may find the plot and characters compelling, the inclusion of some pretty deep thematic material, especially that regarding war and religion, makes the book appropriate for older readers as well.
- p. 19 - "Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of triumph against overwhelming odds...Maybe it would be good to remind ourselves of that right now?"
- p. 65 - "'Those in power have to hear people calling them out for their immoral policies...They have to hear people saying, 'This is wrong'...To say nothing is to tacitly agree with their policies...It's the same as saying that what is taking place is acceptable'...'If we don't speak out against what is wrong, we are contributing to the problem...'" (Wow! That is certainly a lesson for our time!)
- p. 73 - "...you never know who might be God's child, so you should treat all strangers as if they are. But then aren't we all God's children?"
- p. 74 - "'...God did not choose the wise or the intelligent, the rich or the powerful, to manifest himself to the people of Israel. God chose the illiterate and the humble, the poor and the weak.' What...did the Nazis make of this Christian story about love for the weak and powerless? Hitler and the Nazis hated the poor and weak so much that they had begun systematically eliminating people with mental or physical disabilities, people they deemed 'unworthy of life.' There must be a lot of things wrong with Christianity if you are a Nazi...For one thing, Jesus had been a Jew. That must rankle the Nazis to no end..."
- p. 124 - the children hiding in the forrest ask profound questions like "'Why are some people bad and some people good?'" and "'Why is it bad to be Jewish?'"
- p. 134 - "Perhaps...it is all these children everywhere - never out of our sight - that keep compassion intact, the path clear."
- p. 136 - "'I'm not going to argue with you about the right and wrong of armed resistance. I know Pastor Autin advocates using only 'weapons of the spirit' in our fight against the Nazis, but those kinds of weapons only go so far.'"
- p. 137 - "While she had been fretting over whether she was too fearful to do this or that, people like Henni and the young men she wanted to help [Jews] lived in fear every single moment. They had no choice but to be brave. They had no choice but to take action."
- p. 153 - "What will become of us? Will we be engulfed in war? Will the tanks and bombs and machine guns find their way even here? Are we to be ruled by a totalitarian regime? Be fascists? And who will we be in the face of this horror?"
- p. 154 - "'The duty of Christians...is to resist the violence directed at our consciences with the weapons of the spirit. We must do our duty without conceding defeat, without servility, without cowardice. We resist when our enemies demand that we act in ways that go against the teachings of the Gospel. We will resist without fear, without pride, and without hatred.'"
- p. 155 - "Wasn't it ironic...that it had taken doing the thing she feared the most to lose her fear?"
- p. 157 - "That feeling - what was it? Hope, she thought...It must be hope."
- p. 177 - "'All you have to do is stand back and watch the dance to find the honey...'"
- p. 195 - "...he had finally accepted where these kids would be sent: not to a new homeland in Poland where they would live in peace. That is what everyone had been told, and it was still an idea to which many people clung. He had believed that myth - or had chosen to believe it - for a long time, but he could no longer deny the truth: These young people would be sent to their deaths...He [Perdant] didn't know what to believe anymore, except that he'd seen these kids on their sleds and bikes, singing as they hiked in the woods. They were hardly dangerous. They were just kids! All they wanted was to have a life."
- p. 207 - "I didn't say 'like' or 'not like'...I said 'right' or 'wrong.' Everybody knows what is wrong, but some people are too afraid to say or do anything. And some people manage to do a lot of twisty turns in their minds because they wish it to be right. But you can't make it right by wanting it to be right."
- p. 218 - "'You are what you do...'"
- p. 243 - "'Do you ever wonder...We have spent so much time doing things that in any other time would be wrong: forging papers, smuggling people, money, contraband, documents...When the war is over, and the peace returns, will we be able to tell right from wrong?"
- p. 259 - "'Even under the ruin, it's still pretty elegant [the château]'...'Kind of like France?'"
- themes of child abuse, gender equity, the violence inherent in war, the value of education, retaliation, the need for police (there ARE places in the world where humans exist without the need for the police), the idea that sometimes the law is wrong, etc. are also significant to "Village of Scoundrels"
6. The book contains excellent, interesting back matter, including an afterward with photos and biographies of the real individuals on whom the characters are based, a timeline and bibliography.
7. There were a lot of characters, sub-plots, and shifting points-of-view to keep track of here. This was confusing at times and didn't feel fluid, especially at first. Transitions to tie all of these things together could have been stronger.
This was an all round wonderful experience - and provided me with days of COVID relief! Thank-you Margi Preus and Nelly Hewett! Highly recommended!
"Village of Scoundrels" is set in Lez Lauzes (based on the actual French village of Le Chambon - sur Lignon which is located in the mountainous south-central region of France) during World War II (1943). The novel is based on actual events and the lives of real people. Citizens of this village and surrounding villages were responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jews during the war. Nelly Hewett was a teen in Le Chambon at the time, and her parents and friends, along with other community members of all ages, were involved in the resistance. They rescued prisoners from the camps, sheltered them, created fake documents for them, and eventually got them to safety in Switzerland. Nelly provided Preus with information, photos, names, events, lifestyle details, and more - many of which were discussed in The Fireside Reading Series and become a part of the novel.
Watching and listening to this interview, led to my ordering the book immediately after the event. Two days later I had the book in my hands! And a couple of days later, I had finished the book. I was so excited about all of the connections to my French group, that I did a little presentation for them a couple of days later on the author, Nelly Hewett, the Fireside Reading Series event, and the book - I encouraged them to all watch the recording of the interview and to purchase the book. The book is marketed as a Middle School read (Preus says it is more of a Young Adult read). I feel that there is much here for adult readers as well, including history that they might not have been exposed to, sophisticated and lovely language, deep thematic ideas, and some tough realities (such as violence and loss).
Responses to the book:
1. I loved the incorporation of the French language in the book ("garçon," "arretez," "vite," "gendarme," "perdant" "une petite puce," "ca n'a aucun sens," "carte d'identité, s'il cous plaît," "café," "château," "bonsoir, monsieur," "sabots," "absolument," "mon dieu," "o la vache," "avis à la population," "garde champêtre," "congères," "bon appétite," "maquis," "maquisards" "passeurs," "ne parlez pas," "la crapule"- scoundrel, "oui," "fais attention," "au claire de la lune, mon ami," "ouvre-moi ta porte, pour l'amour de Dieu," "les étudiants,""ça y est," "grillé," "quatre-quart," "zut alors," "doucement,"). Preus did a great job of providing context for English readers to figure out what the French terms mean. Perfect for beginning French students such as myself. It added flavor and authenticity to the book! It should also be noted that the book includes a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book for names and places. Excellent!
2. Preus employs some very sophisticated language throughout "Village of Scoundrels." Terms such "elicited," "rueful," "shenanigans," "voluminous," "emboldened," "ephemeral," and "encapsulated" pepper the pages of the book. I like that Preus believes in the power of here readers to either know, figure out, or look up challenging words. Most of the time, these terms can be figured out through context. The exposure to such sophisticated language is a wonderful thing!
3. Preus creates a real sense of time and place here through her use of beautiful imagery that appeals to all of the senses, as well as her use of actual period details (discovered in her research, visit to the museum in Le Chambon, and interviews with those who actually lived in the village at the time). For instance, on page 235: "Philippe woke in that way you do when you feel first what's in your heart before your head takes over, and what he felt at the core of his being was that he'd come home. Though he was far away from Normandy, he realized that it was here where he felt most at home - here in this slightly ratty chair, its arms shredded from cats' claws and its cushion saggy from supporting the weight of so many forlorn visitors."
4. The fact that this is a history that most Americans know little about makes it even more appealing. It should be noted that Le Chambon was inhabited by many descendants of the Huguenots (French Protestants) who had faced violent religious persecution from Catholics in the late 1500's through the 1700's. Consequently, they were committed to helping Jews and others facing persecution during World War II.
5. Though younger readers may find the plot and characters compelling, the inclusion of some pretty deep thematic material, especially that regarding war and religion, makes the book appropriate for older readers as well.
- p. 19 - "Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of triumph against overwhelming odds...Maybe it would be good to remind ourselves of that right now?"
- p. 65 - "'Those in power have to hear people calling them out for their immoral policies...They have to hear people saying, 'This is wrong'...To say nothing is to tacitly agree with their policies...It's the same as saying that what is taking place is acceptable'...'If we don't speak out against what is wrong, we are contributing to the problem...'" (Wow! That is certainly a lesson for our time!)
- p. 73 - "...you never know who might be God's child, so you should treat all strangers as if they are. But then aren't we all God's children?"
- p. 74 - "'...God did not choose the wise or the intelligent, the rich or the powerful, to manifest himself to the people of Israel. God chose the illiterate and the humble, the poor and the weak.' What...did the Nazis make of this Christian story about love for the weak and powerless? Hitler and the Nazis hated the poor and weak so much that they had begun systematically eliminating people with mental or physical disabilities, people they deemed 'unworthy of life.' There must be a lot of things wrong with Christianity if you are a Nazi...For one thing, Jesus had been a Jew. That must rankle the Nazis to no end..."
- p. 124 - the children hiding in the forrest ask profound questions like "'Why are some people bad and some people good?'" and "'Why is it bad to be Jewish?'"
- p. 134 - "Perhaps...it is all these children everywhere - never out of our sight - that keep compassion intact, the path clear."
- p. 136 - "'I'm not going to argue with you about the right and wrong of armed resistance. I know Pastor Autin advocates using only 'weapons of the spirit' in our fight against the Nazis, but those kinds of weapons only go so far.'"
- p. 137 - "While she had been fretting over whether she was too fearful to do this or that, people like Henni and the young men she wanted to help [Jews] lived in fear every single moment. They had no choice but to be brave. They had no choice but to take action."
- p. 153 - "What will become of us? Will we be engulfed in war? Will the tanks and bombs and machine guns find their way even here? Are we to be ruled by a totalitarian regime? Be fascists? And who will we be in the face of this horror?"
- p. 154 - "'The duty of Christians...is to resist the violence directed at our consciences with the weapons of the spirit. We must do our duty without conceding defeat, without servility, without cowardice. We resist when our enemies demand that we act in ways that go against the teachings of the Gospel. We will resist without fear, without pride, and without hatred.'"
- p. 155 - "Wasn't it ironic...that it had taken doing the thing she feared the most to lose her fear?"
- p. 157 - "That feeling - what was it? Hope, she thought...It must be hope."
- p. 177 - "'All you have to do is stand back and watch the dance to find the honey...'"
- p. 195 - "...he had finally accepted where these kids would be sent: not to a new homeland in Poland where they would live in peace. That is what everyone had been told, and it was still an idea to which many people clung. He had believed that myth - or had chosen to believe it - for a long time, but he could no longer deny the truth: These young people would be sent to their deaths...He [Perdant] didn't know what to believe anymore, except that he'd seen these kids on their sleds and bikes, singing as they hiked in the woods. They were hardly dangerous. They were just kids! All they wanted was to have a life."
- p. 207 - "I didn't say 'like' or 'not like'...I said 'right' or 'wrong.' Everybody knows what is wrong, but some people are too afraid to say or do anything. And some people manage to do a lot of twisty turns in their minds because they wish it to be right. But you can't make it right by wanting it to be right."
- p. 218 - "'You are what you do...'"
- p. 243 - "'Do you ever wonder...We have spent so much time doing things that in any other time would be wrong: forging papers, smuggling people, money, contraband, documents...When the war is over, and the peace returns, will we be able to tell right from wrong?"
- p. 259 - "'Even under the ruin, it's still pretty elegant [the château]'...'Kind of like France?'"
- themes of child abuse, gender equity, the violence inherent in war, the value of education, retaliation, the need for police (there ARE places in the world where humans exist without the need for the police), the idea that sometimes the law is wrong, etc. are also significant to "Village of Scoundrels"
6. The book contains excellent, interesting back matter, including an afterward with photos and biographies of the real individuals on whom the characters are based, a timeline and bibliography.
7. There were a lot of characters, sub-plots, and shifting points-of-view to keep track of here. This was confusing at times and didn't feel fluid, especially at first. Transitions to tie all of these things together could have been stronger.
This was an all round wonderful experience - and provided me with days of COVID relief! Thank-you Margi Preus and Nelly Hewett! Highly recommended!
April 17, 2020
It's December 1942, and Inspector Perdant has just arrived in the small mountain village of Les Lauzes, located in southeastern Vichy France, and not far Switzerland's border. Officially, Perdant's job is to "maintain positive relationships with the locals," but unofficially, he understands his job is "to identify evidence of illegal activities and unregistered Jews, foreigners, communists, and undesirables." (pg 38)
No sooner does Perdant settle in than he takes an immediate dislike of the teenagers who sled at high speeds through the village's main street at night. And as Perdant begins to observe the comings and goings of village residents, he becomes increasingly suspicious of these teens, convinced that they are up to something and there are Jews sheltering among them and that the villagers are in on it.
And indeed, Perdant's suspicions are correct. In the center of Les Lauzes is a high school that is "meant to 'promote peace and international unity' and attracts teens from all over France, many of whom live in different boardinghouses in the village. Les Lauzes is a village full of secrets, and these teens attending school are part of that. Living in a boardinghouse named Sunnyside is an expert Jewish forger of documents, ration books, and identity cards who turned himself into Jean-Paul Filon, 17, and whose base of operations is the barn of Monsieur Mousset, a farmer. Jean-Paul often works with siblings Sylvie and Léon. Into Jean-Paul's life comes Jules, a 10-year-old goatherd who knows the mountains around Les Lauzes better than anyone and who offers his services as a delivery boy of forgeries.
Then there is red-headed Philippe, a Boy Scout with survival training, who escorts people escaping the Nazis through the mountains and across the Swiss border. Not well known among the teens, Philippe sleeps by day, and travels by night. Celeste, a wealthy girl from Paris, thinks she is too scared to be of any help to the resistance until she is asked to take a risky trip to deliver a message for the maquis.
In mid-December, the Gestapo arrive in Les Lauzes, taking up residence in a hotel right next to the Beehive, as boardinghouse with twenty children living there, most of them Jewish, including teenage Henni, as is the director of that residence. Most of the children there, including Henni, were released from Gurs, a concentration camp in southwestern France.
This is a character driven story and is told from alternating points of view, including Pendant. The characters are all based on actual people, with the exception of Jules. One of the things I liked is the inclusion of a mystery woman with a limp who carries a suitcase around with her and sometimes herds the goats. The implication is that she is Virginia Hall, an American spy. I also feel that the village of Les Lauzes is itself a character in its own right, and is based on the real village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.
And into this mix of characters, Margi Preus weaves a fictionalized story of resistance, courage, cleverness, community, and danger, all of it based on real people and true events in the face of Nazi occupation. What makes the resistance activity work is that nearly everyone in the community is involved, including ordinary citizens, pastors, farmers, teachers, families, and of course, the teens, just as it was in reality.
Preus has included a Pronunciation Guide of names and places used, and back matter includes an extensive Bibliography. But most interesting of all is her Epilogue. Here she documents the actual people that her characters are based on and what happened to them after the war, as well as information about the actual places included in the book.
There are illustrations done by the author, but I read an EARC and never saw the final art so I don't feel I can comment of them. That aside, Village of Scoundrels is an exciting, well-written work of historical fiction about a different aspect of the French Resistance.
This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was an EARC gratefully received from NetGalley
No sooner does Perdant settle in than he takes an immediate dislike of the teenagers who sled at high speeds through the village's main street at night. And as Perdant begins to observe the comings and goings of village residents, he becomes increasingly suspicious of these teens, convinced that they are up to something and there are Jews sheltering among them and that the villagers are in on it.
And indeed, Perdant's suspicions are correct. In the center of Les Lauzes is a high school that is "meant to 'promote peace and international unity' and attracts teens from all over France, many of whom live in different boardinghouses in the village. Les Lauzes is a village full of secrets, and these teens attending school are part of that. Living in a boardinghouse named Sunnyside is an expert Jewish forger of documents, ration books, and identity cards who turned himself into Jean-Paul Filon, 17, and whose base of operations is the barn of Monsieur Mousset, a farmer. Jean-Paul often works with siblings Sylvie and Léon. Into Jean-Paul's life comes Jules, a 10-year-old goatherd who knows the mountains around Les Lauzes better than anyone and who offers his services as a delivery boy of forgeries.
Then there is red-headed Philippe, a Boy Scout with survival training, who escorts people escaping the Nazis through the mountains and across the Swiss border. Not well known among the teens, Philippe sleeps by day, and travels by night. Celeste, a wealthy girl from Paris, thinks she is too scared to be of any help to the resistance until she is asked to take a risky trip to deliver a message for the maquis.
In mid-December, the Gestapo arrive in Les Lauzes, taking up residence in a hotel right next to the Beehive, as boardinghouse with twenty children living there, most of them Jewish, including teenage Henni, as is the director of that residence. Most of the children there, including Henni, were released from Gurs, a concentration camp in southwestern France.
This is a character driven story and is told from alternating points of view, including Pendant. The characters are all based on actual people, with the exception of Jules. One of the things I liked is the inclusion of a mystery woman with a limp who carries a suitcase around with her and sometimes herds the goats. The implication is that she is Virginia Hall, an American spy. I also feel that the village of Les Lauzes is itself a character in its own right, and is based on the real village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.
And into this mix of characters, Margi Preus weaves a fictionalized story of resistance, courage, cleverness, community, and danger, all of it based on real people and true events in the face of Nazi occupation. What makes the resistance activity work is that nearly everyone in the community is involved, including ordinary citizens, pastors, farmers, teachers, families, and of course, the teens, just as it was in reality.
Preus has included a Pronunciation Guide of names and places used, and back matter includes an extensive Bibliography. But most interesting of all is her Epilogue. Here she documents the actual people that her characters are based on and what happened to them after the war, as well as information about the actual places included in the book.
There are illustrations done by the author, but I read an EARC and never saw the final art so I don't feel I can comment of them. That aside, Village of Scoundrels is an exciting, well-written work of historical fiction about a different aspect of the French Resistance.
This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was an EARC gratefully received from NetGalley
May 7, 2020
Village Of Scoundrels speaks about a very important topic; World War II. People definitely aren't educated about such an important event in history as much as they should be. Each war really teaches us how it doesn't bring humanity good things, but only suffering and so much unnecessary hatred. What I love about this book is how interesting it is, especially because it is based off a real story from WW II. The plot is very interesting, has a lot of action and is very hard to put down. The characters are amazing and inspiring, each of them in their own way. But, I definitely have a favorite character, and it is Jules. It is heartbreaking that he had to spend his childhood the way he did, worrying whether he would survive the war. I also think it is amazing how much he cares about his friends. What I also like about this book is the fact that the vocabulary the author used is so wide. English is not my first language so, to me, it was incredibly helpful how many new words I learned. The only thing about the story that I didn't like: parts of it were kind of complicated so I had to really concentrate on what I was reading. Overall, an amazing read, very educational but also entertaining.
4.5/5☆
4.5/5☆
February 27, 2021
Such an intriguing historical fiction book! I didn’t want it to end. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and their role in the resistance. Easy to ready but definitely geared towards older readers.
April 23, 2021
Thrilling! I love how Margi Preus' books are based on true stories. Here's another WWII tale that kept me on the edge of my seat!
Aside from the brief use of the phrase "pissed off" and a "Mon Dieu" or two, the language and content were clean.
Aside from the brief use of the phrase "pissed off" and a "Mon Dieu" or two, the language and content were clean.
May 5, 2021
My 6th grader just finished the book. I was curious so started the reading. At first I felt the book was too young for my age. The more I moved along into the story, the more I enjoyed it, especially when knowing that the fiction was inspired and based on a true story during WWII. Courage, conscience, danger, hope, humanity, all interwound together. Is law binding always right? Is contraband always wrong? What do you do when you doubt the laws are wrong? When the law and a majority of the society say you are a bad person, how do you tell whether you really are or not? Looking back at the time, it’s easier to answer those questions. But at the time being, it must have been so much harder, especially for the youth who were still building their world views. Bravo to the author for a well-written historical fiction! Kudos to the author for digging out such an inspiring true story and turning it into a historical fiction!
November 5, 2020
3.5⭐️ A bit hard to follow in the beginning as there are quite a few characters. I did like how it was based on a true story.
July 24, 2021
Taking place in France, this tells the story of a village of heroes, and was more mild than most WWII accounts in that the atrocities weren't as visible.
December 17, 2023
Tbh, I skim read this book. It was so boring and uninteresting at least to me. There were too many charecters and the plot was dumb. I found it repitive and gave up properly reading it 100 pages in
September 24, 2021
I think this is a wonderful book for supplementing on World War II. I think it presents a clear picture for a beginning learner about the war and resistance of how the villages operated and relates to them, as most of the people involved are young adults or children. The most important thing said in this book, and I paraphrase, If we don't speak up about something that is wrong, we are tacitly agreeing - so true.
January 13, 2020
I remember clearly the day when I realized that all the horrors of the Second World War happened during my grandparents' childhoods. I was ten or so, already found novels and movies about WWII exciting and romantic--and then it hit me: this did not happen a long time ago. This could happen again. It seems obvious to me now--yet when I told my children that their great-grandmother lived through this, that their not-as-distant-as-you'd-like cousins suffered in concentration camps in Poland, I saw the same shock and horror that I'd felt dawning on their faces. I could read their thoughts: we can't let this happen again.
Without sounding fatalistic. I don't think most people realize--or bother thinking about--how easily we could slip into such a situation. It's not worth asking what you would do if you had to live through another World War II--because the fact is, if you're not somehow speaking up against injustice or fighting it in your everyday life and actions, you're already letting it happen again. There are so many vulnerable members of our world--immigrants, homeless, the unborn, the elderly, the abused, the hungry, the handicapped, those disabled or differently-abled...just to start. If we don't value their lives, how are we any different than those who turned blind eyes to the atrocities faced by their Jewish or handicapped or "different" neighbors less than a century ago?
I'm glad that my naive love for books set during World War II made me ask these questions before my childhood was through. I'm glad to be able to share the same books with my children--and I'm very glad, today, to introduce you to a new book that tells a story inspired by a real town, by real young people, who stood against injustice and succeeded in keeping it at bay.
Margi Preus's Village of Scoundrels is the story of a real French village and real French people (though fictionalized for her novel, they are heavily inspired by actual people) who managed to successfully hide and relocate approximately 3500 Jews during the years of the German occupation of France. I was amazed, upon reading the author's note, to find that all the best bits of the story--those scenes and moments which the author crafted so compellingly--were true. Some of the dialogue was taken from life. The people and places that would seem most incredible--something only a really good author could invent--were real. Yet not once did the story read like a dull documentary. Margi Preus's characters breathed and lived and fought; you could feel the bite of the snow on the French plateau, feel the rush of wind as you raced on your sled down the Main Street of the village.
Village of Scoundrels has several main characters, all of them young people, most of them members of the French Resistance. There is an escaped Jewish teenager who forges false documents, a French Boy Scout who smuggles Jews into Switzerland, teenage girls who act as spies. (Again, all based on real people.) The adults in their life teach them well (flying in the face of the unjust laws). They also trust them with the truth, hard as it is, and let them fight for it.
Because their story came so startlingly and believably to life under the author's hand, there was a special weight to the advice the characters give us, sometimes subtly and sometimes forcefully, in the book's pages.
Take this paragraph, one of my very favorites, spoken through a young shepherd boy who is supporting the resistance as a messenger, courier, and all-around scoundrel of the best of sorts:
"I didn't say like or not like.... I said right or wrong. Everybody knows what is wrong, but some people are too afraid to say or do anything. And some people manage to do a lot of twisty turns in their minds because they wish it to be right. But you can't make it right by wanting it to be right."
Amen.
Let's not let our minds go twisty turny. Let's be like the villagers of Les Lauzes and continue to live for what is good and true and beautiful. Thank you, Margi Preus, for the reminder that it is necessary and possible.
Thanks also to Netgalley for sending me an electronic advance reader copy of this book. It will be released on February 25, so mark your calendars!
Without sounding fatalistic. I don't think most people realize--or bother thinking about--how easily we could slip into such a situation. It's not worth asking what you would do if you had to live through another World War II--because the fact is, if you're not somehow speaking up against injustice or fighting it in your everyday life and actions, you're already letting it happen again. There are so many vulnerable members of our world--immigrants, homeless, the unborn, the elderly, the abused, the hungry, the handicapped, those disabled or differently-abled...just to start. If we don't value their lives, how are we any different than those who turned blind eyes to the atrocities faced by their Jewish or handicapped or "different" neighbors less than a century ago?
I'm glad that my naive love for books set during World War II made me ask these questions before my childhood was through. I'm glad to be able to share the same books with my children--and I'm very glad, today, to introduce you to a new book that tells a story inspired by a real town, by real young people, who stood against injustice and succeeded in keeping it at bay.
Margi Preus's Village of Scoundrels is the story of a real French village and real French people (though fictionalized for her novel, they are heavily inspired by actual people) who managed to successfully hide and relocate approximately 3500 Jews during the years of the German occupation of France. I was amazed, upon reading the author's note, to find that all the best bits of the story--those scenes and moments which the author crafted so compellingly--were true. Some of the dialogue was taken from life. The people and places that would seem most incredible--something only a really good author could invent--were real. Yet not once did the story read like a dull documentary. Margi Preus's characters breathed and lived and fought; you could feel the bite of the snow on the French plateau, feel the rush of wind as you raced on your sled down the Main Street of the village.
Village of Scoundrels has several main characters, all of them young people, most of them members of the French Resistance. There is an escaped Jewish teenager who forges false documents, a French Boy Scout who smuggles Jews into Switzerland, teenage girls who act as spies. (Again, all based on real people.) The adults in their life teach them well (flying in the face of the unjust laws). They also trust them with the truth, hard as it is, and let them fight for it.
Because their story came so startlingly and believably to life under the author's hand, there was a special weight to the advice the characters give us, sometimes subtly and sometimes forcefully, in the book's pages.
Take this paragraph, one of my very favorites, spoken through a young shepherd boy who is supporting the resistance as a messenger, courier, and all-around scoundrel of the best of sorts:
"I didn't say like or not like.... I said right or wrong. Everybody knows what is wrong, but some people are too afraid to say or do anything. And some people manage to do a lot of twisty turns in their minds because they wish it to be right. But you can't make it right by wanting it to be right."
Amen.
Let's not let our minds go twisty turny. Let's be like the villagers of Les Lauzes and continue to live for what is good and true and beautiful. Thank you, Margi Preus, for the reminder that it is necessary and possible.
Thanks also to Netgalley for sending me an electronic advance reader copy of this book. It will be released on February 25, so mark your calendars!
March 21, 2020
"Village Of Scoundrels" is a fictional tale based on actual and true events that took place during WWII in a village called Le Chambon-sur-Lignon located in the mountain area of Southern France.
The essence of the story is that the people of that village, including a number of teenagers, worked with courage and commitment to help the Jewish community that was being victimized by the Nazis throughout France to escape.
What was really appreciated... is that Preus in the Epilogue introduces us to the actual people that were being fictionalized in the story itself along with their pictures. This is truly an inspiring story of the courage that was evident among those directly involved. It was estimated that about 3,500 Jewish folks 'passed through' Le Chambon during the years 1941-1943 and they were probably saved from execution or having to suffer in some other way.
Because there were so many children and young adults involved in the story some of their 'reflections' were extremely interesting:
“Our youth was stolen from us when our fathers were arrested, when we could no longer go to school, when we were called names and people spit at us, when Max had to ride his bicycle deep into the Black Forest to get away from the taunts, the jeers of ‘stinking Jew!”
“Why had she never stopped to think what it would be like to be Henni- or any of the other Jewish teens and children scattered in farms and houses all over the plateau, separated from their families, not knowing where their parents were or if they were still alive, having to hide when neighbors stopped by, never knowing what would happen next.”
Those that helped:
“Do you ever wonder…? We have spent so much time doing things that in any other time would be wrong: forging papers, smuggling people, money, contraband, documents… When the war is over and peace returns, will we be able to tell right from wrong.”
And a very chilling comment by one of the actual survivors:
“we were never children”
Here is another statistic that Preus shares with the reader in her Epilogue...
“Of the 340,000 Jews living in France at the start of the war, 75,000 were deported to extermination camps, where 72,000 were killed.”
At least in Le Chambon... there was a ray of hope.
Inspiring story!
The essence of the story is that the people of that village, including a number of teenagers, worked with courage and commitment to help the Jewish community that was being victimized by the Nazis throughout France to escape.
What was really appreciated... is that Preus in the Epilogue introduces us to the actual people that were being fictionalized in the story itself along with their pictures. This is truly an inspiring story of the courage that was evident among those directly involved. It was estimated that about 3,500 Jewish folks 'passed through' Le Chambon during the years 1941-1943 and they were probably saved from execution or having to suffer in some other way.
Because there were so many children and young adults involved in the story some of their 'reflections' were extremely interesting:
“Our youth was stolen from us when our fathers were arrested, when we could no longer go to school, when we were called names and people spit at us, when Max had to ride his bicycle deep into the Black Forest to get away from the taunts, the jeers of ‘stinking Jew!”
“Why had she never stopped to think what it would be like to be Henni- or any of the other Jewish teens and children scattered in farms and houses all over the plateau, separated from their families, not knowing where their parents were or if they were still alive, having to hide when neighbors stopped by, never knowing what would happen next.”
Those that helped:
“Do you ever wonder…? We have spent so much time doing things that in any other time would be wrong: forging papers, smuggling people, money, contraband, documents… When the war is over and peace returns, will we be able to tell right from wrong.”
And a very chilling comment by one of the actual survivors:
“we were never children”
Here is another statistic that Preus shares with the reader in her Epilogue...
“Of the 340,000 Jews living in France at the start of the war, 75,000 were deported to extermination camps, where 72,000 were killed.”
At least in Le Chambon... there was a ray of hope.
Inspiring story!
December 22, 2021
The Village of Scoundrels is a historical fiction book, based on real events and real people. The story takes place in a small village in Southern France during the Nazi Occupation of that country during WWII. This is a story about an entire village working together to provide assistance and a path out of France to the safety of Switzerland for many Jewish families and children. The story primarily focuses on a group of teenagers who are very active in French Resistance.
One of the major themes of the story was journeys, both physical and emotional. There were the refuges whose journey involved escaping the horrors they were being exposed to, by moving from the camps, to safe houses, and eventually to Switzerland. In the story Phillippe serves as their guide. He escorts the children through the night to the border. The author does a good job of giving the reader a glimpse into the dangers each one of these trips pose to both guide and to those trying to escape. Many of the characters also go through emotional, personal journeys. Jean-Paul is a very skilled forger of documents. He wants to be a doctor. In the story, he tries to attend medical college, however, he is almost captured with forged documents and this makes him re-evaluate what his focus needs to be. Celeste- “Why do you want to be a doctor?” Jean Paul- “To save live!” Celeste, “But, Jean-Paul, you are saving lives! In the little surgery of yours with your pens and engraving tools…You are saving lives every day.” Celeste wants nothing more than to help, but she is very frightened to try. Her journey leads her conquering her fears and becoming very useful in helping the cause. The character, who I believe, experienced the greatest emotional journey, was that of Inspector Perdant. When he arrives in the village; his duties include finding any Jewish people in hiding and all people who may be helping them. Throughout out the book he begins to questions his beliefs about the war, his position, and attitude about the village teenagers, who he names scoundrels at the beginning of the story.
The setting is a small French village, surrounded by mountains and forests. This serves as a perfect place for the resistance activities taking place in the story. The teen characters are often on sleds in order to get from one place to the next. Preus successfully gives the reader a sense of place as to where the characters live and operate.
I found the characters to be very realistic. My favorite character was Jules, the only character not based on a real person. In the story, even though he is only ten years old, he is tasked with the role of spy, delivery man and smuggler. His relationship with Perdant was a really interesting part of the book. There is a part in the book where Jules takes Perdant on a wild goose chase, in an effort to keep him from finding a group of French Resistance fighters. The dialogue and relationship between the characters is really fascinating to read. Jules says: “Maybe people just do what they believe is right”, Perdant says “How do they think lawlessness is right? Jules- “Maybe the law is wrong”, Perdant- “You can’t pick and chose the laws you like and dislike”, Jules- I didn’t say like or dislike…” I said right or wrong, everyone knows what is wrong”.
The three things I like most about the book were: the epilogue at the end of the book, the characters, and the further reading section of the book. The epilogue shares with the reader photos and stories about the real people that the story was based on. This really adds so much to the story. The characters were very inspiring. The author deftly portrays the passion, fears, and commitment of each of the teen characters. The story left we wanting to learn more about this village of upstanders. The author provides a detailed list of further readings and resources to learn more. Preus also uses a simple system to identify books about this topic specifically for young readers which is very helpful.
My biggest dislike about the book was the format, by which the author switched characters and their stories every few pages. This made the book hard to follow at times. I think students might struggle with the format a bit. Another dislike was the abrupt ending. Many of the storylines had no clear end. Lastly, I would like to have learned a bit more about the citizens that were involved in helping the children escape. I know the story’s main focus was the teenagers, however, I think that would have added more to the story.
I believe the biggest connections for me in the story is how the commitment of one community can make such a positive impact on people’s lives, the idea that young people can do great and important things, and the importance of being an upstander. All these connections can easily be incorporated into classroom conversations and discussions. I always try to include materials that emphasize community and the amazing things young kids can do. This book would be a great resource for lessons on these topics. Anti-bullying is a big part of our positive school-wide initiative. This book is also a good example of the importance of not being a bystander. This book could also be used in a Holocaust unit on people and organizations that worked to help Jews and other victims of the Nazi regime.
One of the major themes of the story was journeys, both physical and emotional. There were the refuges whose journey involved escaping the horrors they were being exposed to, by moving from the camps, to safe houses, and eventually to Switzerland. In the story Phillippe serves as their guide. He escorts the children through the night to the border. The author does a good job of giving the reader a glimpse into the dangers each one of these trips pose to both guide and to those trying to escape. Many of the characters also go through emotional, personal journeys. Jean-Paul is a very skilled forger of documents. He wants to be a doctor. In the story, he tries to attend medical college, however, he is almost captured with forged documents and this makes him re-evaluate what his focus needs to be. Celeste- “Why do you want to be a doctor?” Jean Paul- “To save live!” Celeste, “But, Jean-Paul, you are saving lives! In the little surgery of yours with your pens and engraving tools…You are saving lives every day.” Celeste wants nothing more than to help, but she is very frightened to try. Her journey leads her conquering her fears and becoming very useful in helping the cause. The character, who I believe, experienced the greatest emotional journey, was that of Inspector Perdant. When he arrives in the village; his duties include finding any Jewish people in hiding and all people who may be helping them. Throughout out the book he begins to questions his beliefs about the war, his position, and attitude about the village teenagers, who he names scoundrels at the beginning of the story.
The setting is a small French village, surrounded by mountains and forests. This serves as a perfect place for the resistance activities taking place in the story. The teen characters are often on sleds in order to get from one place to the next. Preus successfully gives the reader a sense of place as to where the characters live and operate.
I found the characters to be very realistic. My favorite character was Jules, the only character not based on a real person. In the story, even though he is only ten years old, he is tasked with the role of spy, delivery man and smuggler. His relationship with Perdant was a really interesting part of the book. There is a part in the book where Jules takes Perdant on a wild goose chase, in an effort to keep him from finding a group of French Resistance fighters. The dialogue and relationship between the characters is really fascinating to read. Jules says: “Maybe people just do what they believe is right”, Perdant says “How do they think lawlessness is right? Jules- “Maybe the law is wrong”, Perdant- “You can’t pick and chose the laws you like and dislike”, Jules- I didn’t say like or dislike…” I said right or wrong, everyone knows what is wrong”.
The three things I like most about the book were: the epilogue at the end of the book, the characters, and the further reading section of the book. The epilogue shares with the reader photos and stories about the real people that the story was based on. This really adds so much to the story. The characters were very inspiring. The author deftly portrays the passion, fears, and commitment of each of the teen characters. The story left we wanting to learn more about this village of upstanders. The author provides a detailed list of further readings and resources to learn more. Preus also uses a simple system to identify books about this topic specifically for young readers which is very helpful.
My biggest dislike about the book was the format, by which the author switched characters and their stories every few pages. This made the book hard to follow at times. I think students might struggle with the format a bit. Another dislike was the abrupt ending. Many of the storylines had no clear end. Lastly, I would like to have learned a bit more about the citizens that were involved in helping the children escape. I know the story’s main focus was the teenagers, however, I think that would have added more to the story.
I believe the biggest connections for me in the story is how the commitment of one community can make such a positive impact on people’s lives, the idea that young people can do great and important things, and the importance of being an upstander. All these connections can easily be incorporated into classroom conversations and discussions. I always try to include materials that emphasize community and the amazing things young kids can do. This book would be a great resource for lessons on these topics. Anti-bullying is a big part of our positive school-wide initiative. This book is also a good example of the importance of not being a bystander. This book could also be used in a Holocaust unit on people and organizations that worked to help Jews and other victims of the Nazi regime.
February 2, 2023
🔦🌨️🌌Village of Scoundrels🌌🌨️🔦
Several children were secretly smuggling refugees to safer places during WWII. In a village, several brave children of many ages team up to help fight back against Hitler's rule. Céleste acts as a courier for the resistance, travelling to several places to retrieve supplies and information. Jules diverts Officer Perdant's attempts to discover any sign of rebellion or refugees. Jean-Paul Filon, a Jewish teen with a forged identity, forges important papers. Léon and Sylvie help the resistance in any way they can, while Henni and Max are still dealing with the fear of escaping a concentration camp. Phillipe smuggles refugees to Scotland while hiding them from those who wish them harm. The resistance in the village must keep a couple of steps ahead of Perdant or risk losing it all if he discovers what they've been doing.
"The opposite of good is not evil; the opposite of good is indifference. In a free society where terrible wrongs exist, some are guilty, but all are responsible."
-Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
*Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticising your favourite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not proceeding with reading this review.
This was well-researched, but there were so many characters that the overall effect felt diluted. I really love great WWII fiction, and I was instantly intrigued by the story. That being said, the premise of the plot was what I found to be better than the way it was done. Having a huge cast of characters can either add a lot more depth to a story when the reader gets to see all the perspectives or make it feel overcrowded, confusing, and diluted.
While I could identify all the characters throughout the story while reading, each of their perspectives felt like the same voice with a different name. Each character didn't have a distinct POV or different perspective on the war. I understand that all the characters want to join the resistance because it is the right thing to do, but I wanted to know a specific, personal, and individual reason for each character to join. (Did they experience something, see something, or learn something that really drove them to fight for the resistance?)
"But she could feel it trailing them. The war was a broken dam, a muddy flow that couldn't be stopped, and she was quite certain that someday, somehow, it would once again arrive on her doorstep."
-Henni
Some characters felt almost nonexistent when they disappeared out of the story after briefly being introduced. Out of all the characters, Jules, Céleste, and Henni were the most intriguing. Henni was one of the most interesting characters that got little page time. The many perspectives feel like messily sewn parts of a tapestry that, in the end, seem to fade together. Many people loved the characters and the many perspectives, but it just didn't work for me! Some characters didn't seem to have a purpose in the story at all, and the plot would have been fine without them.
Reading the epilogue provided an insight into how much research went into writing this book. I loved learning about which characters were based on historical figures. (As well as the real-life history events that took place, inspiring this story.) I do think Margi Preus is a talented writer, so I will try to read some of her other books sometime. In conclusion, the message of the story was good, and the ending was quite shocking.
"I bet your crazy pacifist pastor talked everyone into it," he said. "Is that it?"
Jules stared at him for a moment, then said, "Maybe people just do what they believe is right."
"How do they think lawlessness is right?"
"Maybe the law is wrong."
-Perdant and Jules
🆗PLOT
🆗CHARACTERS
Several children were secretly smuggling refugees to safer places during WWII. In a village, several brave children of many ages team up to help fight back against Hitler's rule. Céleste acts as a courier for the resistance, travelling to several places to retrieve supplies and information. Jules diverts Officer Perdant's attempts to discover any sign of rebellion or refugees. Jean-Paul Filon, a Jewish teen with a forged identity, forges important papers. Léon and Sylvie help the resistance in any way they can, while Henni and Max are still dealing with the fear of escaping a concentration camp. Phillipe smuggles refugees to Scotland while hiding them from those who wish them harm. The resistance in the village must keep a couple of steps ahead of Perdant or risk losing it all if he discovers what they've been doing.
"The opposite of good is not evil; the opposite of good is indifference. In a free society where terrible wrongs exist, some are guilty, but all are responsible."
-Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
*Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticising your favourite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not proceeding with reading this review.
This was well-researched, but there were so many characters that the overall effect felt diluted. I really love great WWII fiction, and I was instantly intrigued by the story. That being said, the premise of the plot was what I found to be better than the way it was done. Having a huge cast of characters can either add a lot more depth to a story when the reader gets to see all the perspectives or make it feel overcrowded, confusing, and diluted.
While I could identify all the characters throughout the story while reading, each of their perspectives felt like the same voice with a different name. Each character didn't have a distinct POV or different perspective on the war. I understand that all the characters want to join the resistance because it is the right thing to do, but I wanted to know a specific, personal, and individual reason for each character to join. (Did they experience something, see something, or learn something that really drove them to fight for the resistance?)
"But she could feel it trailing them. The war was a broken dam, a muddy flow that couldn't be stopped, and she was quite certain that someday, somehow, it would once again arrive on her doorstep."
-Henni
Some characters felt almost nonexistent when they disappeared out of the story after briefly being introduced. Out of all the characters, Jules, Céleste, and Henni were the most intriguing. Henni was one of the most interesting characters that got little page time. The many perspectives feel like messily sewn parts of a tapestry that, in the end, seem to fade together. Many people loved the characters and the many perspectives, but it just didn't work for me! Some characters didn't seem to have a purpose in the story at all, and the plot would have been fine without them.
Reading the epilogue provided an insight into how much research went into writing this book. I loved learning about which characters were based on historical figures. (As well as the real-life history events that took place, inspiring this story.) I do think Margi Preus is a talented writer, so I will try to read some of her other books sometime. In conclusion, the message of the story was good, and the ending was quite shocking.
"I bet your crazy pacifist pastor talked everyone into it," he said. "Is that it?"
Jules stared at him for a moment, then said, "Maybe people just do what they believe is right."
"How do they think lawlessness is right?"
"Maybe the law is wrong."
-Perdant and Jules
🆗PLOT
🆗CHARACTERS
February 21, 2020
Based on the true story of a remote village in France that resisted the Nazi invasion in their own way, this novel is a testament to bravery in the face of seemingly unrelenting evil. The story focuses on several teens who live in Les Lauzes, France in 1943. They go to school, sleep in the local dormitories, and also help in the resistance. Some of them are Jewish, hidden in plain sight with the other teens and children. Others are from the village and know the terrain and area so well that they can be messengers. Still others spend their nights getting people safely across the border to Switzerland. Meanwhile, there is a rather inept policeman who tries to figure out what is going on. He is almost as young as the others, but focused on proving himself and defending his country. As the teens take more and more risks, they learn that resistance is a way through paralyzing fear and towards freedom.
Preus has written such an engaging tale here, with so many of the elements based on real events. In fact, the more unlikely the scenario, the more likely it is to be true. This makes reading the epilogue at the end of the book great fun as one discovers the real people behind the characters. The simple bravery of all of the villagers by taking in Jews and others, hiding them in their homes and barns, and helping them escape is profound. There is a delight in seeing where items were hidden, in realizing the power of forgery, of accompanying these characters on their travels to help people survive.
A large part of the success here is Preus’ writing which contains a strong sense of justice and resistance in the face of the Gestapo. Even as some children are being taken away, the others gather to sing to them, standing in the face of the Nazi force directly. There is no lack of sorrow and pain though, with parents lost to concentration camps, children never having known safety, and arrests being made. Still, there is a joy here, of being able to fight back in some way against overwhelming odds.
A great historical novel with strong ties to the true story. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
Preus has written such an engaging tale here, with so many of the elements based on real events. In fact, the more unlikely the scenario, the more likely it is to be true. This makes reading the epilogue at the end of the book great fun as one discovers the real people behind the characters. The simple bravery of all of the villagers by taking in Jews and others, hiding them in their homes and barns, and helping them escape is profound. There is a delight in seeing where items were hidden, in realizing the power of forgery, of accompanying these characters on their travels to help people survive.
A large part of the success here is Preus’ writing which contains a strong sense of justice and resistance in the face of the Gestapo. Even as some children are being taken away, the others gather to sing to them, standing in the face of the Nazi force directly. There is no lack of sorrow and pain though, with parents lost to concentration camps, children never having known safety, and arrests being made. Still, there is a joy here, of being able to fight back in some way against overwhelming odds.
A great historical novel with strong ties to the true story. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
July 11, 2020
Wow....the cover of the book does say, "Based on a True Story of Courage During WWII"...but the reader knows not how MUCH until reading the Epilogue. SO MANY of the characters (almost all) and their actions really lived, occurred. It brings to mind this discussion...would I have been able to do what the community of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon did in 1943? Help, house, and hide refugees, resistance workers, Jewish people? Courage, to be sure.
quotes and lines to think about, remember:
p. 137: "Some people, she realized, were having a very different experience than her own. While she had been fretting over whether she was too fearful to do this or that, people like Henni and the young men she wanted to help lived in fear every single moment. They had no choice but to be brave. They had no choice but to take action....Why had she never stopped to think what it would be like...separated from their families, not knowing where their parents were or if they were still alive, having to hide when neighbors stopped by, never knowing what would happen next? Why did she think she should be so privileged to escape being afraid now and then?"
p. 228: "The happy wound seemed to come from far away-as if seeping through a crack in the wall of time, a memory from her childhood, or perhaps from some time in the future."
p. 236: "Life is not one long rush of adrenaline....It would be wise if you could learn to enjoy life as it comes - a more normal life."
Look up Swiss Hiking song...p. 261...
It's so simple to love
To smile at life...
To allow our hearts
To crack the window
To the sun coming in...
talk throughout the book by the characters of doing the RIGHT thing...asked, "but that's not the law"...and the characters saying it was more important to do what's right than what the law says...
also, more than once...when asked if they'd seen any Jews...the residents responded, "I don't know...We don't know what Jewish people look like.."
The last sections of the book were suspenseful...wondering WHAT was going to happen.
And, as noted, the Epilogue...so complete with photos, names, resources, information.
Well done, Margi Preus
quotes and lines to think about, remember:
p. 137: "Some people, she realized, were having a very different experience than her own. While she had been fretting over whether she was too fearful to do this or that, people like Henni and the young men she wanted to help lived in fear every single moment. They had no choice but to be brave. They had no choice but to take action....Why had she never stopped to think what it would be like...separated from their families, not knowing where their parents were or if they were still alive, having to hide when neighbors stopped by, never knowing what would happen next? Why did she think she should be so privileged to escape being afraid now and then?"
p. 228: "The happy wound seemed to come from far away-as if seeping through a crack in the wall of time, a memory from her childhood, or perhaps from some time in the future."
p. 236: "Life is not one long rush of adrenaline....It would be wise if you could learn to enjoy life as it comes - a more normal life."
Look up Swiss Hiking song...p. 261...
It's so simple to love
To smile at life...
To allow our hearts
To crack the window
To the sun coming in...
talk throughout the book by the characters of doing the RIGHT thing...asked, "but that's not the law"...and the characters saying it was more important to do what's right than what the law says...
also, more than once...when asked if they'd seen any Jews...the residents responded, "I don't know...We don't know what Jewish people look like.."
The last sections of the book were suspenseful...wondering WHAT was going to happen.
And, as noted, the Epilogue...so complete with photos, names, resources, information.
Well done, Margi Preus
July 10, 2021
Village of Scoundrels: Novel based on Story of Courage During WWII is written by Margi Preus. Many people know of the bravery of the people of Le Chambon who together save many Jews during World War II. However, most do not know that many of the small towns and villages around Le Chambon did the same. This is the story of Les Lauzes and how the teenagers of the village helped save Jews.
The remoteness of the villages helped in their cause as did the nearby forests and mountains. The village of Les Lauzes took on the hiding and protection of Jewish children rescued from French concentration camps and towns. Some were brought here by various organizations that helped take children from the camps. The teenagers in the village helped with the children and also helped find places for them to stay when the Nazis grew too close as well as helped guide groups over the mountain to the Swiss border and help them across. Others were couriers for les maquisards (French Partisans). Still others misled the police when they could. Madame Creneau organized safe places and set up the trails over the mountains was based on Mireille Philiip who did this and more while raising five children of her own while her husband was helping Charles de Gaulle. Madame Desault rescued children from the camps and brought them to Les Lauzes was based on Madeleine Drefus, a Parisian Jew who helped rescue children from the camps through the OSE. Philippe was based on Pierre Piton, Celeste was inspired by Catherine Cambessedes Colburn, Henni was based on Hanne Hirsch and Max was based on Max Leibmann. Many of the incidents did actually happen to them; but many were also just made up as probable.
The book is really good and is recommended for middle school students especially. It brings a realm but relatively unknown story to light in an easy-to-understand way. The epilogue brings the real people and characters together to show what was true. Usually, I prefer using nonfiction to teach the Holocaust; but sometimes a gook comes along to tell a story which is lost and brings it to life. I would use this to help introduce the Righteous Gentiles.
The remoteness of the villages helped in their cause as did the nearby forests and mountains. The village of Les Lauzes took on the hiding and protection of Jewish children rescued from French concentration camps and towns. Some were brought here by various organizations that helped take children from the camps. The teenagers in the village helped with the children and also helped find places for them to stay when the Nazis grew too close as well as helped guide groups over the mountain to the Swiss border and help them across. Others were couriers for les maquisards (French Partisans). Still others misled the police when they could. Madame Creneau organized safe places and set up the trails over the mountains was based on Mireille Philiip who did this and more while raising five children of her own while her husband was helping Charles de Gaulle. Madame Desault rescued children from the camps and brought them to Les Lauzes was based on Madeleine Drefus, a Parisian Jew who helped rescue children from the camps through the OSE. Philippe was based on Pierre Piton, Celeste was inspired by Catherine Cambessedes Colburn, Henni was based on Hanne Hirsch and Max was based on Max Leibmann. Many of the incidents did actually happen to them; but many were also just made up as probable.
The book is really good and is recommended for middle school students especially. It brings a realm but relatively unknown story to light in an easy-to-understand way. The epilogue brings the real people and characters together to show what was true. Usually, I prefer using nonfiction to teach the Holocaust; but sometimes a gook comes along to tell a story which is lost and brings it to life. I would use this to help introduce the Righteous Gentiles.
August 29, 2024
Based on actual events, but focusing mostly on the roles of various young people in the community who helped protect Jewish people during the second world war in France.
There isn't really one main character, but lots of characters share the action and the dangers. Jean-Paul wants to be a surgeon, but finds that he also has a talent for forging ID cards and travel documents. Celeste starts by carrying little messages, but later dares even more. Pierre leads "travelers" cross-country and aboard trains to the border and (hopefully) to safety. Through it all, young Inspector Perdant has an inkling that something shady is going on. I loved the characters. What I didn't love was how abruptly it just ended -- which makes a kind of sense, because after you get the gist of how this village lives and works together, there's just a lot more of the same till the war is over (presumably). Nevertheless, I hate that Jules' story was left hanging the way it was.
For fans of The Book of Lost Names (fiction) or Adolfo Kaminsky: A Forger's Life (non-fiction). A Good Place to Hide: How One French Village Saved Thousands of Lives During World War II was listed in the bibliography (and in the bibliography of The Book of Lost names, too), so I'll have to read that at some point.
There isn't really one main character, but lots of characters share the action and the dangers. Jean-Paul wants to be a surgeon, but finds that he also has a talent for forging ID cards and travel documents. Celeste starts by carrying little messages, but later dares even more. Pierre leads "travelers" cross-country and aboard trains to the border and (hopefully) to safety. Through it all, young Inspector Perdant has an inkling that something shady is going on. I loved the characters. What I didn't love was how abruptly it just ended -- which makes a kind of sense, because after you get the gist of how this village lives and works together, there's just a lot more of the same till the war is over (presumably). Nevertheless, I hate that Jules' story was left hanging the way it was.
For fans of The Book of Lost Names (fiction) or Adolfo Kaminsky: A Forger's Life (non-fiction). A Good Place to Hide: How One French Village Saved Thousands of Lives During World War II was listed in the bibliography (and in the bibliography of The Book of Lost names, too), so I'll have to read that at some point.
August 16, 2021
This book is historical fiction based on real events in WWII France. Beginning in 1940 continuing through September, 1944, residents in Lez Laizes (Le Chambon-sur-Lignon) rests in the mountains near the Swiss border mounted a major resistance movement to thwart the German occupation. During this period the village hid and assisted nearly 5000 Jewish citizens—mostly children—to make a safe passage into Switzerland.
In Lez Laizes, a valued part of French Marquis were the older children and teenagers who had greater ability to move around. The teenagers particularly ran errands, delivered messages, observed and tracked the location of Germans and acted as guides for people to travel into Switzerland and safety. Surprisingly the Boy Scouts were an important part of life boys well into their teens in France. The Maquis used the activities of the Scouts to cover some of their work.
This is a book written for ages 10-14 (Grades 5-9) and would be a good way to introduce information about Nazis and their atrocities of their reign. Most of the information about the horrors of the Nazis are not a major focus here. Instead the emphasis is on hope and the individual’s ability to influence the world around them for good. But it offers opportunities for conversations and discussions with a younger reader.
One of the youngest resistors summarizes one of the lessons many people have never learned.
“I didn’t say “like” or “not like”…I said “right” or “wrong”. Everybody knows what is wrong, but some people are too afraid to say or do anything. And some people manage to do a lot of twisty turns in their minds because they wish it to be right. But you can’t make it right by wanting it to be right.” Jules, p 207.
In Lez Laizes, a valued part of French Marquis were the older children and teenagers who had greater ability to move around. The teenagers particularly ran errands, delivered messages, observed and tracked the location of Germans and acted as guides for people to travel into Switzerland and safety. Surprisingly the Boy Scouts were an important part of life boys well into their teens in France. The Maquis used the activities of the Scouts to cover some of their work.
This is a book written for ages 10-14 (Grades 5-9) and would be a good way to introduce information about Nazis and their atrocities of their reign. Most of the information about the horrors of the Nazis are not a major focus here. Instead the emphasis is on hope and the individual’s ability to influence the world around them for good. But it offers opportunities for conversations and discussions with a younger reader.
One of the youngest resistors summarizes one of the lessons many people have never learned.
“I didn’t say “like” or “not like”…I said “right” or “wrong”. Everybody knows what is wrong, but some people are too afraid to say or do anything. And some people manage to do a lot of twisty turns in their minds because they wish it to be right. But you can’t make it right by wanting it to be right.” Jules, p 207.
February 9, 2020
This is such a memorable title and when I realized it was written by Margi Preus, I requested an advanced reader copy. It will be released in a few weeks on February 25th and I have my order in for this title. Even though there are a plethora of World War II books right now and I almost feel saturated, I needed to read this one since I really love how this author can surprise me. This is the time to be writing these stories since many of the persons from this era are now quite elderly and it is our last chance to get their first-person accounts. Preus includes lots of photos and additional information about the characters at the end of the book along with pronunciations of the French names and places.
The story is about a French town that was united in taking in Jewish refugees and helping them escape or hide in plain sight. This book focuses on teenagers who smuggled, forged documents, delivered messages to the resistance, and escorted Jews to safety. The town was a neutral zone at the beginning of the war but eventually, the German soldiers begin to arrive with names seeking out the illegals and their safety is no longer firm. What remains firm is the conviction that what was happening to the Jews was wrong and that they would break laws and risk lives to give them protection.
Despite the heavy sounding description of the plot, Preus tells this story with levity, love, and youthful hopefulness. I think messages of doing what is right when it is difficult, not sanctioned, or even illegal are important reminders for all of us.
I give this book a 4 star out of 4 star rating. I really liked it.
The story is about a French town that was united in taking in Jewish refugees and helping them escape or hide in plain sight. This book focuses on teenagers who smuggled, forged documents, delivered messages to the resistance, and escorted Jews to safety. The town was a neutral zone at the beginning of the war but eventually, the German soldiers begin to arrive with names seeking out the illegals and their safety is no longer firm. What remains firm is the conviction that what was happening to the Jews was wrong and that they would break laws and risk lives to give them protection.
Despite the heavy sounding description of the plot, Preus tells this story with levity, love, and youthful hopefulness. I think messages of doing what is right when it is difficult, not sanctioned, or even illegal are important reminders for all of us.
I give this book a 4 star out of 4 star rating. I really liked it.
July 10, 2020
This is a 3.5 for me, a fascinating account of a place that I'd never known existed--Les Lauzes, France, and the teens and other community members, including teachers, farmers, and pastors, who resisted the Nazis in various ways during WWII. The town itself is small and remote and boasted a boarding school that attracted students from different areas. Several students and adults band together to hide the Jews among them, to forge documents, and to smuggle others to freedom right under the noses of the Nazis. Readers won't be blamed for disliking Inspector Perdant who seems ready to make a name for himself but who may have redeemed himself in the end. The chapters and action jump around from character to character quite a lot, which made the story a bit hard to follow. But with patience, readers can do so, and they will be rewarded with an account of unexpected heroism on the part of individuals considered to be scoundrels by authorities and some insight into how young folks can make a difference. This book contains several examples of how individuals stood up against a force larger than them simply because it was the right thing to do and because they cared about others. It is certainly worth reading, especially in today's times and because it can seem as though one person has little impact on the wider world. Readers won't want to miss the back matter with photographs and stories about the real heroes on whom this story is based.
March 31, 2020
The story: Meet the residents of Les Lauzes, a tiny village in WW2 France. Jean-Paul is a forger and a Jew, but wants to be a doctor. Phillippe works as a passeur, smuggling people over the border into neutral Switzerland. Celeste is afraid of everything, but wants to help somehow. Jules is a 10-year-old spy, deliveryman, and smuggler. Everything works just fine in Les Lauzes...until the arrival of Perdant, a cop who wants to help France by cooperating with the Nazis. Is he the spark that will bring Nazi fire raining down on their heads?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (mention of concentration camps, fear of the authorities) PG; overall rating PG. Despite its PG rating, this is better for grades 6-up.
Liz's comments: It's very unusual to find a WW2 story like this--one where local villagers are trying to live their lives and trying to do the right thing by hiding Jews and other refugees. It's based on the true stories of a group of small villages in the area, and the information about the people whose stories are fictionalized here is included in the end matter. If there's such a thing as an uplifting story featuring Nazis, here it is. (Plus, the French pronunciation of the fictional village's name is "Lay Lows". Awesome.)
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (mention of concentration camps, fear of the authorities) PG; overall rating PG. Despite its PG rating, this is better for grades 6-up.
Liz's comments: It's very unusual to find a WW2 story like this--one where local villagers are trying to live their lives and trying to do the right thing by hiding Jews and other refugees. It's based on the true stories of a group of small villages in the area, and the information about the people whose stories are fictionalized here is included in the end matter. If there's such a thing as an uplifting story featuring Nazis, here it is. (Plus, the French pronunciation of the fictional village's name is "Lay Lows". Awesome.)
December 30, 2019
Thank you to Amulet Books for sending me an ebook review copy through NetGalley of Village of Scoundrels written by Margi Preus.
This was a really intense book, telling the story of young hero’s during WW2. These youths did such dangerous but incredible things helping to protect, hide and create fake papers for Jews wanting to find safety.
I really enjoyed reading this story I love history and this area of history in particular is fascinating to me, I love the way the author researched the real people and then created them as her own to create this story, as you’re reading the things they do scare you and then you realise this actually happened. It’s great but also sad they had to.
It’s a perfect read for anyone wanting to expand their historical knowledge it should also be used as a good WW2 book to add to any curricula as children would be fascinated, horrified and entranced in the story.
My only qualms with this book were the major editing mistakes which were distracting and at times made it hard to know what word to fill in, you’d get a few letters and then gaps, or the authors name added mid sentence. Very strange for it not to have been edited but that’s okay as the story was still amazing.
This was a really intense book, telling the story of young hero’s during WW2. These youths did such dangerous but incredible things helping to protect, hide and create fake papers for Jews wanting to find safety.
I really enjoyed reading this story I love history and this area of history in particular is fascinating to me, I love the way the author researched the real people and then created them as her own to create this story, as you’re reading the things they do scare you and then you realise this actually happened. It’s great but also sad they had to.
It’s a perfect read for anyone wanting to expand their historical knowledge it should also be used as a good WW2 book to add to any curricula as children would be fascinated, horrified and entranced in the story.
My only qualms with this book were the major editing mistakes which were distracting and at times made it hard to know what word to fill in, you’d get a few letters and then gaps, or the authors name added mid sentence. Very strange for it not to have been edited but that’s okay as the story was still amazing.
February 22, 2025
I found this YA book in a pile of book donations for an annual book sale. It checked many boxes for me:
V-title for a GR spelling challenge
Historical fiction - one of my favorite genres
France - Ooh la la!
Free
This is based on a true story from WWII set in a village in Vichey-controlled area of France. The main characters are young adults, along with the other villagers, who were involved in much underground activity and who took a stand against Nazis. This is the "gotcha" premise for me but I had a few issues; I take all the blame for it. There were so many characters to keep track of. At times, the relationship between the villagers and the local police officer reminded me too much of "Hogan's Heroes" and I always had to pull myself back into the story.
While I loved YA literature, especially as a middle/junior high teacher, I believe now that I've hit Medicare age, perhaps I should question my interest in that level. But that is just me. I don't know if this is a popular books in 2025 but it would certainly be great in a Holocaust unit. Good read!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
V-title for a GR spelling challenge
Historical fiction - one of my favorite genres
France - Ooh la la!
Free
This is based on a true story from WWII set in a village in Vichey-controlled area of France. The main characters are young adults, along with the other villagers, who were involved in much underground activity and who took a stand against Nazis. This is the "gotcha" premise for me but I had a few issues; I take all the blame for it. There were so many characters to keep track of. At times, the relationship between the villagers and the local police officer reminded me too much of "Hogan's Heroes" and I always had to pull myself back into the story.
While I loved YA literature, especially as a middle/junior high teacher, I believe now that I've hit Medicare age, perhaps I should question my interest in that level. But that is just me. I don't know if this is a popular books in 2025 but it would certainly be great in a Holocaust unit. Good read!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
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