Michael P. Spradlin (1960–2026)

Friendship reigns as the world around three boys falls apart, and they do their best to handle a dangerous and increasingly impossible situation.

Each book in this series switches viewpoints between three friends (Rolf, Ansel, and Joshua), and this time, readers get to see the world through Joshua's eyes. With the growing Nazi influence, Joshua's Jewish family is especially at unease over the increasing tensions. After shots are fired in their town of Heroldsberg and Ansel's reporter father show more is injured in the crossfire, the boys follow Rolf's family to Salzburg, Austria for some needed reprieve. Plus, Rolf is about to head to America with his father, and this will give them a last chance to really enjoy hanging around each other, but during their arrival, they immediately cross paths with Rolf's older brother's troop of Hilter Youth. Thanks to their survival training, Rolf's father agrees to let them steer clear of everything and stay alone at a nearby cabin he owns in the woods. While this should give them space from the growing threats, one of the members of Hitler Youth has made it his mission to deal with them, and he isn't going to give up.

There are several aspects about this book and series, which make it highly recommendable. First, it's short. The adventures are deep and pack plenty of food for thought and historical goodness, and yet, they don't weigh down. They deliver the excitement in less than 150 pages, which makes it one to even, maybe, attract more reluctant readers. Second, the author has done his due diligence on the research end and brings this time period to life with finesse. The boys come across very naturally, give a sense of familiarity to draw in, and still, the historic setting and situation is never forgotten. Readers can sink into the tension, understand the issues, and not ever feel like they're learning history along the way. Third, the adventure remains high right along with the conflicts and character arcs. The book begins with high-tension and obvious danger, drawing in right away. As tension eases, the pacing doesn't stop but let's the worries and concerns continue to drive things forward. Before this grows too heavy, the next tense scene flows in again. It makes for an exciting read.

I think this is the first time I've seen a middle grade series concentrate on the rise of the Nazis, and it take the time to dive into the situation (a bit, at least) leading up to the war. The three friends each have different backgrounds, letting readers see how different people were affected and their differing, yet, similar fears and concerns. In this book, for example, Rolf's growth becomes clear, especially in dealing with his Hitler Youth brother. So, the author is weaving in quite a bit of depth without ever letting it bog down the other aspects of the read.

I enjoyed this latest adventure even more than the last and am very curious what will happen next because there is, obviously, more to come. show less

Serious moments of the time period hit with power, while balancing just enough humor to keep it digestible for the intended audience.

This is the 2nd book in the series, and while I didn't read the 1st, it doesn't seem to be an issue, since this book goes into a different main character (the best friend of the one in the first). So, it can be read as a stand-alone...although the ending leaves in a cliffhanger to lead to book three.

While there are books out there with young characters facing show more the Nazi regime during WWII, this is the only one I've seen, so far, which deals with the time period shortly before...the rise of the regime. It's clear that the author knows his material well. Many facts, cultural aspects, and ideals of the time period are brought across with finesse and power. Readers are submersed into the German town and life, and experience the growing fear and unrest as Hitler's strength rises, especially in relation to the Hitler Youth. In other words, this is a great resource on the historical side as it brings across the situations and events in a way most middle grade readers can understand and emotionally connect with.

Ansel, the main character, is quite the kid. He's clever, intelligent, has a good moral compass, and loves to taunt and tease in a way which leaves his opponents frustrated but not completely grasping what he says. It reminded me a bit of a Sherlock Holmes as a kid who likes to poke fun at others (just a bit). His antics make him fun to root for, and while some of his stunts are extremely risky, it also makes it that much more exciting to get behind him. Some of his statements are confusing, especially his Unassailable Facts of Life, which read as riddled words of wisdom and. sometimes, leave everyone scratching their heads. That said, he's not an easy character to sink into when he speaks...nor is the entire narration since it's written in a very proper form much of the way through. I have family who grew up in the same circumstances as Ansel, and even taking in the historic aspect and the German language, it's stiff, at times.

The theme in these pages is, obviously, not a light one and does a very good job at delivering the situation across with the bite and seriousness it requires. Still, it is kept at the middle grade level and leaves plenty of food for thought. The ending doesn't wrap things up, so there is still more to come on this end. And the situations are dire. While I don't see reluctant readers sinking into this one comfortably, more mature readers are in for a historic treat. This is even one to suggest in connection with a classroom theme and for homeschoolers. show less

Creature feature

Love the creatures in this book it’s very unexpected, and I’m a creature feature kind of gal. I also really like the ending, leading me right into the last book of this series which I am about to buy here in a second.

The only thing I could say bad is the first responder stuff in the chase. I was really into the car chase until code response 3 then I busted out laughing, like rolling over crying. Code 3 does not exist. Code 1 is the highest alert, 3 if it existed would be show more an officer going as slow as possible, I picture an old man walking with a cane up to the scene.

But hey, still a good read even for a 911 operator like me, and I’m still buying the last book in the series, and would still recommend it to others. show less

Jonas Hollister was a soldier in the army, having done his duty during the Civil war, he continued on with much less dangerous work – until checking some disappearing settlers leads him to Malachi, vampire, Archaic, blood sucking monster that destroys Hollister’s entire squad.

Hollister survives and makes the terrible mistake of telling the truth – which gets him thrown in military prison for several years. Until Malachi is more open and a secret branch of the government wants to show more recruit him – to hunt down Malachi, stop what he’s planning and stop any more towns being wiped off the map.

Shaniah is an Archaic from the old country, their leader in fact, a role she won over Malachi. Her people know how to survive – hide, hide from the humans and their numbers and their magic and their deadly technology. Unfortunately, Malachi doesn’t agree and thinks himself top of the food chain. His attempts to subjugate humanity will, in her eyes, only raise humanity’s wrath against her people. He must be stopped before the backlash destroys them.

Both Shaniah and Hollister are on the hunt to save both their people.

I didn’t expect to like this book much. A paranormal steampunk set in the old west. Now, I like steampunk and, obviously, I like the paranormal – but, I have to say, I really don’t like westerns and I have never read or watched one I’ve enjoyed. And I liked this book. The plot, characters and concept entirely engaged me despite my dislike of the setting – I have to applaud any book that can take elements of a genre I have no time for and still make me like it.

Paranormal Steampunk can be quite difficult to get right. It’s hard to set the balance between revelling in the beautiful steam-driven technical devices, the cultures and mores of the time and setting and then to insert supernatural elements. Balancing all three can be difficult to do well and usually one or other will suffer – or, all 3 will be balanced but so much effort will be spent on creating this perfect world that the story suffers.

This is one of those that hits the balance. The world is extremely reminiscent of the Old West – and not just the Old West of bad TV and Spaghetti Westerns , but the real Old West. It has the shiny brass, the nifty trains, the big, clever guns and the steam that so characterises steam punk. It has the historical references and places that mean you never ever forget exactly where it is set and who these people are. And we have sufficient attention devoted to the history and nature of the supernatural to give them weight and depth rather than them just being miscellious bad guys with fangs.

And through that we have a story. It’s not an original story by any means, human agent destroys evil monsters before they proliferate and take over the world. But it is a story with sufficient twists and with some realistic and engaging characters and enough attention to detail and setting to make it well worth the read. It’s well paced, with no deviations except what is necessary to fill the background. All the information is relevant even from the musings. There are some issues with “show don’t tell”, Shaniah in particular is prone to long internal monologues where, for narrative reasons, she decides to reflect on her history, her people’s history, her nature, her strengths and weaknesses etc which is a bit of an info dump. I always wasn’t sure that the senator as a secondary antagonist was particularly necessary especially as it didn’t actually add anything to the plot and dealing with it was so extremely anti-climactic. Still, it was interesting enough that it was a minor distraction rather than a derail and serves to put some lens on how the rest of the government and powers that be are affected by the monsters and by Hollister hunting them. As a balance, the action scenes are tight, well described, well balanced and really get the battling across.

Read More show less