About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask complex questions about history, justice, and the weight of personal choice during global conflict. It is an ideal pick for young readers who enjoy high stakes action but are ready to grapple with the moral reality of standing up against systemic evil. The story follows Evie Harris, an American gymnast at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, who discovers that the glamour of the games hides a terrifying Nazi reality. As she gets pulled into a dangerous plot involving stolen gold and secret passageways, she must decide if her athletic dreams are more important than doing what is right. While Alan Gratz is known for intense historical fiction, this story adds a unique layer of mystery and classic adventure. It balances the adrenaline of an Olympic competition with the gravity of pre-WWII Germany. Parents will appreciate how it frames historical events through the lens of individual integrity, though it does contain themes of state-sponsored terror and the looming threat of war that are best suited for the middle grade range and above.
