Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Code Name Kingfisher (Aladdin, 2023) by Liz Kessler is a remarkable duel timeline novel of present day and 1942. You definitely don’t want to miss this story.
Thirteen-year-old Liv doesn’t understand her ninety-two-year-old grandmother and why all she says about her childhood is that it was hard. How is Liv to do a school assignment of a family tree when she knows nothing and Bubbe won’t answer questions. But while helping clean out Bubbe’s house, Liv finds a box of old letters in Dutch and begins to unravel the past.
Twelve-year-old Mila and her older sister Hannie have to leave their Jewish family behind and go live with strangers during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Will they ever see their parents again? Mila makes new friends in her new home, but her sister is becoming more and more distant.
The contrast of the three girls’ lives and the growth of affection and understanding between Liv and her grandmother is so good. I also love how Liv changes because she was inspired by knowing the truth about her family.
The author writers for children and young adults. Read more about her here and check out all her books here.
I agree with you that this book sounds really good. I’m going to keep my eye out for it. Thanks.
Yea!
Sounds like an interesting story. I love the inclusion of a grandmother and how they come together in the story. Happy MMGM
It’s also a new way to bring up the Holocaust in a very relevant way.
You sold me on this book. I’ve added it to my future read list. Thanks for including your review on MMGM.
Woo hoo!
Sounds a really good story, with a great angle on how to tell the story. Thanks for the recommendation!
I think you’ll enjoy it!
Every time I read about a book where kids learn about their grandparents’ lives, I sure wish I had talked more to my parents and grandparents. This sounds really good. I will look for it. Thanks for the post.
I really enjoy intergenerational relationships. Especially since I only remember one grandparent and he died when I was 11.
I read this one recently and agree with the things you said about it. The story really carried me away with it, and I loved the sister element. Thanks for sharing your review!
Yea! Another fan.