Rosie Raja: Churchill's Spy

by Sufiya Ahmed

A thrilling and empowering coming-of-age WWII adventure about the French resistance and their British allies, with an engaging, determined, Muslim heroine. Perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo and Emma Carroll, and those looking for diverse historical fiction.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, World War II, Adventure, Historical, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2022

About the author

Sufiya Ahmed was born in India and arrived in the UK as a baby. She lived in Bolton, Lancashire, before moving to London where she still lives. Sufiya has worked in advertising and in the House of Commons, but is now a full-time author. In 2010 Sufiya set up the BIBI Foundation, a non-profit organisation, to arrange visits to the Houses of Parliament for diverse and underprivileged school children.

Reviews

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much packed into just over 200 pages! Loved this story that is predominantly about spying in WW2 France but incorporates British Rule in India, the fight for independence in India, mixed race marriage, all alongside the resistance in France. Brilliant! I will now be looking out for Rosie’s next adventure in Cairo

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and educational WWII multicultural spy story.

Now this made a nice change. Mixed-heritage heroine in a WWII setting. Family issues within the world at war. Rosie is angry at her father for leaving her and her mother in India just before her mother dies, then bringing her to England while he works. But when she discovers he is actually a spy, she decides to follow him and help as well.

Stowing away on the plane to France, Rosie will soon find out what it means to be at war, what it means for the countries being occupied, for the people there, for those that choose to take a stand and fight back. And maybe she'll also get to know her father better as well.

I enjoyed the enfolding of the father-daughter story inside the war setting, Rosie will prove to be a great protagonist in future episodes as she puts to use the spy skills she accumulates here.

There's a lot to recommend this, as I've mentioned. And the information this gives readers about occupied France and the resistance is exceptional. There is danger but not anything so graphic that a KS2 class couldn't read this in school. I loved having a non-white heroine in this time period, so different.

I would definitely want to read another of Rosie's adventures with her father, there's lots here for schools to make this a great title for WWII topic work as well as any child interested in the era, in codes, in adventures.

For ages 9-13.

[Susan Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Rosie grew up living in an Indian palace, but for the last three months, she has been living miserably in the English countryside, which is supposedly safer for her than in India. Rosie finds this hard to understand when Hitler is regularly dropping bombs all over England. Rosie’s father is a captain in the British Indian army and was stationed in India. Much to the dismay of both families, years earlier, he had married the princess of a small kingdom in India. Sadly his wife, Rosie’s mother, died six months before the story begins in 1941.

Rosie’s father has been recalled to England to help with the war effort, because of his skills and fluent French, he is assigned to help the French Resistance movement as a spy. Rosie still grieving the loss of her mother and frustrated by the boredom of living in England, stows away when her father travels to France for a secret mission.

In France, Rosie makes friends with twelve-year-old Jean. Rosie and Jean are keen to help with the mission and only slowly become aware of how dangerous it will be.

The story is complicated by the inclusion of India’s desire for independence from Britain, which is included to explain Rosie's presence in England, but it unnecessarily complicates the story for young children. However, I enjoyed the story which is an exciting and dangerous adventure for Jean and Rosie.

Thanks to the Book Curator for providing a free copy for review.

[Victoria Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It covers aspects of the French Resistance and the role of the British in this fight without being too dark or overwhelming. The story is gripping and lightly touches on tough concepts of what people felt to be acceptable during the war. It is interesting learning about Rosie's previous life in the Raj's India and hearing snippets of the Indian fight for freedom that was taking place at the same time as World War 2. I found it especially thought provoking considering the fact that the British were fighting against Hitler trying taking over their country, while the Indian people were fight the British for basically having done the same thing. I don't know if many children would pick up on this, but I feel that there were lots of different topics of conversation that would come out of this book about right and wrong and people's perspectives. I will definitely be looking to add it to my school's collection of World War 2 books.

[Michele Coombridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie Raja was a light and adventurous read that I was able to devour on a wintery afternoon. A World War 2 story that is suitable for younger readers - light-handed on the most terrifying aspects.

Although it doesn't mention this anywhere in the book, 😔 Rosie Raja's character was inspired by a real life resistance heroine Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan.

From the author:

I was inspired to write about the WWII spy Rosina Raja by the real life WWII heroine Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan. Noor was one of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's spies that was sent as a radio operator to occupied France to spy on the Nazis. I thought children would enjoy this thrilling, and sometimes dangerous world through the eyes of the 11-year-old Rosie.

Noor Inayat Khan | Biography, World War II, SOE, French Resistance, & Facts | Britannica https://share.google/pSCKfUw7r6vHEeQe5

[Me Christine Crawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical content in a middle grade book as we learn about the Indian struggle for independence, World War Two and in particular, the French Resistance.
Ahmed creates great characters, both adults and children, even the characters not central to the story are fleshed out and jump off the page. Rosie, an Indian princess, has had to leave her beloved India for war torn Britain. Bored and frustrated she stows away on a plane and ends up with her father, helping the French Resistance.
Whilst nothing is sugar-coated, this story is still age appropriate for age 9+. There are brutal encounters with Nazis, as you would expect, traitors and selfless acts of courage, as Rosie and her dad try to sabotage operations in France.
Great story telling, fast paced and important history in abundance. There are two more books in the series and the are on my TBR pile right now.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie Raja: Churchill's Spy really held the balance well between showing the gravity of occupied France in WWII, and still pitching the story at a level suitable for children. There’s a narrative reason why Rosie is still sheltered despite her situation, and even as an adult reading this I felt satisfied with these storytelling choices. I also adored the characters - it's quite rare that a children’s book manages to have well-fleshed-out adult characters too, but that is the case here. The whole cast of characters are very endearing.
All in all, this is a gripping tale that is educational too. I look forward to the sequel!
Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the review copy.

[Penny Waring]

Fast-paced middle grades historical fiction about WW2 spies. Set across England and France, with flashbacks to India, mixed-heritage protagonist Rosie throws herself into her father’s world of allied espionage when she sneaks herself into a mission. A lot is packed into this book and while the main plot focuses on WW2, there is a significant subplot dealing with India’s fight for independence from the British and Mughal Princess Rosie’s sudden departure from her homeland (India) at the beginning of the story.
Themes include family tragedy, friendship, loyalty, war, spying, imperialism and independence.

This book would be suitable for years 5-6.

[BookBairn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this WW2 fiction set in Paris during the Occupation - it’s a fresh perspective on a tested genre. Loved the main character’s feisty attitude and her connection with her heritage and the women who inspire her is so clear. I thought the friendships in this were well written as well as the relationship with her father. I also liked the fact that this didn’t brush over the fact that resistance and spy work was dangerous and many didn’t survive. It didn’t sugarcoat that reality whilst also remaining age appropriate for the reader. I’ll be seeking out the next book in the series.

[Barbara Band]

Great adventure story set in WW2. Rosie Raja's mother was a Mughal princess and her father is in the British Army. After her mother's death, her father returns to the UK but is sent on a special mission to Paris - and Rosie, determined not to be left behind, sneaks on board his plane. Once in Paris, she is drawn into a daring spy mission but is constantly in danger from being discovered by the occupying Nazis.

[Michelle (driftingsong) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I wouldn't pick this sort of book up on my own, but I had to read a selected book and write questions about it for a component of my job. As middle grade historical fictions go, it was really well done. Good representation. Just enough historical information and action to make it relevant and interesting. Despite it occurring during a war, there was just enough darkness to make it palatable for the audience of the age group, but not overly dark.

[Wendy Bamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting, fast moving ww2 historical fiction with Muslim Indian British main character. Perfect for year 5/6. Some of the historical explanation is a little complicated that may get lost or boring for some but could raise some good questions for children unaware of the British history in India and willing to learn.

[Helen Kingsley Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on a historical novel with some good discussion points raised.

[Nicola Royan]

Challenging in its choice of heroine and relentless in identifying those who will die in war. Quite a tough read, but compelling.

[Sam Saunderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kids Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sufiya’s book covers a very interesting period of history during WW2. A great read.

[Jessica Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, I liked the characters.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and fast paced, this is a wonderful middle grade World War 2 spy novel. Looking forward to the second in the series already.

[Meira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good 👌

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read with interesting focus

[Sarah Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and I think every kid should read it