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For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Hardcover | Delacorte Books for Young Readers | 0-385-72961-8 | May 2003 | $15.95 | Ages 10-14

What would you be willing to do for your country in times of war? Fly your country's flag? Sing patriotic songs? Become a spy? When World War II began, Suzanne was a 13-year-old student living in Cherbourg , France. On May 29th, 1940 , Suzanne and her friend Yvette took a break from school to spend some time on the beach. They had only been there a few minutes when they heard the thunderous roar of planes overhead. In a matter of moments, bombs began to drop, killing the pregnant mother of one of their school friends. Horrified, Suzanne realizes that the war, although it had been going on for years, would really begin to affect her life now. Under Hitler's command, German soldiers overtake her city, forcing Suzanne and her family out of their house. So when Dr. Leclerc approaches Suzanne about being a spy for France, Suzanne agrees out of anger at what is happening to her country. Her job is to carry hidden messages written in code about groups who are trying to stop Hitler to other spies. When Suzanne is eventually caught by the Germans, she must decide whether or not she will tell what she knows, or if she will deny being a spy at all. Either way, she will probably die.

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Prepared by Brenda Day, Library Media Specialist, Crowley Middle School, Crowley, TX

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