“Where they will burn books, in the end also burn people.” -Heinrich Hein
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It’s 1936 and Berlin is hosting the Olympics during a tumultuous time in their nation as the Nazis are set to take over and start WWII. Evie’s family is dirt poor—literally as they escaped the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma for California and are currently homeless. She’s there only to win gold in gymnastics so she can make money in Hollywood for her family afterwards, but when she fails to make the team, she’s offered another way to earn gold: pull off the biggest heist of the century by stealing gold from the Nazi bank. As Evie spends time on her secret side project, she realizes her eyes had been closed to what has been happening in Germany, makes new friends and decides to stand up for what’s right.
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This should be a movie. I’m not even kidding—one of the best MG historical fiction books I’ve ever read (are we surprised Alan wrote it? No lol) This had everything: tension, history, adventure, promoted empathy and eerily mirrors some of what is happening in the U.S. right now. “What I really didn’t understand was a country elected a man to be their leader after he led an insurrection to overthrow the government.” I see you, Alan. Be sure to read the Author’s Notes at the end. This masterpiece releases October 7 from @scholastic

CW: war (theme), persecution, concentration camps, antisemitism, racism, sterilization, homophobia, classism, theft, murder, death, death of a child, homelessness, poverty

Alan Gratz never disappoints. Middle grade and older elementary students are in for a treat with this latest novel.
Evie Harris, a gymnast, is selected to compete for the United States in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. She becomes entangled in a complicated and muddled attempt to rob the Reichsbank, of Nazi gold.
What's especially noteworthy is the environment of the horror that was beginning to grip Nazi Germany with the burgeoning rise of Hitler to the forefront of government. He has the gift of explaining the historical context of the 1936 Olympics alongside the history of the American Dust Bowl in writing that can be easily understood by his readers. Beyond the historical aspects, he conveyed the hard work and dedication necessary to securing a spot in the Olympics.
Readers will be enthralled by the heroic measures and exciting happenings that will keep them on high alert throughout the book. Above all, the book points out what prejudice and and unchecked hatred can lead to.
A suspenseful story with excellent moral lessons!