A Thunderous Whisper

Gonzalez (The Red Umbrella) stages a fast-paced historical thriller against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. Insecure, friendless, and nicknamed Sardine Girl because of her job, 12-year-old Ani fears she will always be powerless and insignificant in her Basque town of Guernica. This changes when she meets the magnetic and challenging Mathias, a Jewish boy who has moved to town. When Ani and Mathias overhear the plans of his father and a band of spies, they volunteer to join the resistance and fight for Spain by delivering sardines with secret messages. Though at times excessively complicated, the spy story line is riveting, and the friendship and tentative romance between Ani and Mathias develops credibly. Despite the geographical and historical distance from readers, Ani is relatable as she battles with her bitter mother and struggles to identify her own desires and values. Gonzalez escalates the tension as Nazis bomb Guernica and conveys the magnitude of personal and universal loss, leading Ani to forge a future in war%E2%80%94a path she claims with grace and fortitude. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. Agent: Jennifer Rof%C3%A9, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Oct.)