Newbery Honor–winning author Audrey Couloumbis (Getting Near to Baby
) collaborates with her husband, Akila, to tell a story inspired by his family history in Greece during WWII. Twelve-year-old Petros and his older brother, Zola, live in the small town of Amphissa. Their rural life is interrupted when Nazis invade and a German commander takes up residence in their home. The family fears that their ties to America (the boys' father ran a store there, but they returned to Greece when it went bankrupt) will make them a target, and they hide all signs (such as American toys and clothing) that they are anything but an ordinary Greek family. Inspired by the courage of their cousin Lambros, a soldier who has escaped capture, Petros finds his own ways to contribute, including helping drop notes to spread war news; he also has an uneasy relationship with the German commander, who is something of a supportive presence but still the enemy. The Couloumbises craft a poignant and plainspoken account of the everyday impacts of a vast war and the importance of small victories. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)
