Ming and Marie Spy for Freedom

The Girls Who Changed the World #2

by Jackie French

An empowering and exhilarating look at the girls who went before us, and the way they shaped the world.


Ming Qong is convinced that girls have changed the world throughout history.

So when Ming is thrust back in time to Belgium during WWI, only to be rescued from a burning cellar by Marie -- an experienced spy at only twelve years of age -- she finally has her proof. Marie is involved with a female secret resistance group who risk their lives to outwit the German troops.

But Ming now faces a tough will she send coded messages and risk her own life in this war on which the future depends?

As Ming learns, change is never easy, so how can one girl change the world?

From one of Australia's favourite writers comes an inspiring series for all the young people who will, one day, change the world.

AWARDS

Book Links 2023 Award for Children's Historical Fiction - Longlisted

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical, Audiobook, Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Jackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 1916 when twelve year old Ming Qong and her twin, Tuan, were flung back through time by Herstory (the other half of History) where they landed in a cellar which was surrounded by noise. They were in Belgium, it was WWI and Tuan had a broken leg plus a knock to his head. Rescued by Marie, a girl the same age, she managed to safely get them to the local hospital. Taking the back way, through the forests and back yards to avoid the German troops on the streets was an eye opener for Ming - she struggled to remember her history lessons on Belgium during WWI.

Marie was a young spy, living and working with other female resistance members and Ming was soon included in their work. But she was worried about Tuan, especially when she learned they would ship him to Germany to work for them. Ming worked on coded messages, all the while keeping quiet on everything that was happening. Could what she, Marie and the others were doing change the world? At least Ming knew when the war ended, though she couldn't tell anyone that...

Ming and Marie Spy for Freedom is the 2nd in The Girls who Changed the World series by Aussie author Jackie French, and I enjoyed it very much. Set for middle grade readers, it doesn't matter the age to appreciate the messages in the stories. Jackie French is an excellent writer, with both her adult and children's books well worth reading. And I've read both. Highly recommended.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical historical fiction story, following Ming who is sent through time to Belgium during World War I. This is the second story in the series, by renowned Australian author Jackie French.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way better than the first book.I love learning about how people lived in times of poverty and war. I love the fact that it brings into light all the ways girls and women have changed our world for good.

[Emily Dennehy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I loved learning about the role of women in occupied Belgium in world war war, and Jackie French's commentary on how much history has erased women is poignant and heartbreaking. I loved Ming and Marie and how incredibly brave and strong they are in a time which would have been so devastating and terrifying to live in. Yet their kindness is in the end what changes history.
This book is great for kids in year 3/4 and up, and even for big kids like me too!

[Annaleise Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story even more than Ming's first time slip adventure in Ming and Flo Fight for the Future. This time, Ming and her brother Tuan are sent back to occupied Belgium in WWI, which makes for grim reading in parts. However, as always in a Jackie French book, the historical elements are well fleshed out and incredibly engaging, and I learnt a lot... for example, the role of knitting in WWI resistance activity! Highly recommended for middle grade historical fiction fans who can handle some tough subject matter.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another Jackie French Historical Fiction book, this time dealing with a move-back-in-time character, Ming, who is transported from the present to WW1’s Belgian battlefield villages, in 1915. She meets Marie, a resourceful child of the era, who helps her survive. Both plot versus the German occupiers and thwart a mustard gas attack.

There are some inconsistencies that gall just a little. Ming is sent back in time by ‘Herstory’, a disembodied character apparently based on ‘History’ being the teller of his-story, and ‘Herstory’ being a female presence that retells the female gender point of view of past events. Herstory is never properly explained. There should have been more clarification to set the scene at the start of the book.

The reason why Ming is sent back in time, along with her twin brother, Tuan, is also not made clear. Had she done something wrong? Her father is referred to, but not contextualised. The reason for the mother’s abandonment of the children is not explained. But this is peripheral stuff.

There are many superfluous loose ends. I would rather that Jackie French simply wrote the story in the real time of 1915, without the modern-meets-historical characters. Once Jackie kicks into her historical fiction mode, she does what she does best, i.e. she sets the scene of what life was like more than 100 years ago.

A German station master who shares his soup with young Ming comes across as a sympathetic character, telling her of his daughter and seeking Ming’s advice as to what he should buy her for Christmas. He is killed off in an explosion, which was a pity.

While I enjoyed the book, I thought it could have been written in a less complicated and more realistic way.

Perhaps in another book on the ‘Her-story’ series, the behind-the-scenes ‘stuff’ could be better explained.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children would absolutely adore this

[Isa Rive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept to retell the overlooked half of history or ‘Herstory’ as Jackie French calls it (personified). This was my entry into the series but the first chapter seemed to lack explanation/backstory which made things quite confusing. Siblings Ming and Tuan are sent back in time and there was lots to learn about life in Belgium during WW1, for example secret messages were passed using different knitting stitches. It also illuminated the terrible ‘collateral damage’ which occurred by trying to disrupt the German war effort. But it tended to didacticism which I found annoying. 2.5 stars

[Aasiya Elbotaty]

I have almost finished the first chapter of this book but from what I can see Jackie French has left a lot of loose ends; unexplained bits of the story. E.g. Herstory sending Ming back in time. Who is Herstory, why did she send Ming back in time so on and so forth.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I am setting up a school library, I thought I should read (audio) a few "older readers" books. Jackie French is the perfect author to choose. This book would be perfect for any kids interested in War, it is aimed at HERstory and focuses on the females who were involved in Wars.

[Emie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well-written tween novel from Jackie French, highlighting the untold stories of women in history and how their actions were vital to pivotal moments, such as, as this book canvasses, the triumph in WWI.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book filled so many knowledge gaps on world war 1 for me. I like how Ming is starting to gain some more initiative and confidence now it's not her first time being sent back in time. Marie was an amazing, stand out character.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting concept and story. I missed book 1, so didn't get some of the backstory, but that didn't effect my enjoyment of this tale. An interesting story of resilience and resistance and I like the take on learning about the role of women that have been overlooked by history.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book I love her books so much. I’ve learned so much about history from reading it!!!!!!🤩

[Kiana Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, it's fun; yet sad but it's also exciting. And I loved learning about war times, Definitely a keeper for me! •⁠ᴗ⁠•

[Torin’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story tackles an intense and heavy setting with characters enduring heart-breaking situations. Ming is understandably surprised by many of the things she witnesses in war-torn Europe. It’s so easy to gloss over the horrors of war when you live in peace as we do and this story really made me think about it in a much more personal way. Finding out more about women’s roles during the war and remembering their stories is important.

[Zsofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely book. I liked getting to know the characters a bit better, and learning new things about WWII, like knitting special knots into socks and scarves to pass coded messages between the Allies, and learning more about Le Madame Blanche and the role of women in general.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series, I unfortunately got them out of order but it's ok, they can be enjoyed as individual works.

[Meretini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this audiobook with the 10 year old while we travel in the car and it was such a good read for her. It gives a really truthful exploration of inquiry and inquisitiveness I heard from my daughter.

[Stephanie Lyndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storey and great characters while learning about a strong women in WWI.