Skip to content 
- 7th book in a historical fiction series with a time traveling dog
- based on and around Normandy Beach in 1944
- convo: war & battle talk (soldiers, enemies, deaths, weapons, some mistreatment, discrimination), all kept age-appropriate
- convo: a boy is renamed to hide his Jewish identity and struggles with keeping up the lie
- language: x1 L*rd knows, x1 what the devil
Type: chapter book
Ages: 8-12
Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Kelley McMorris
This particular installment of the book series is a notch more intense than average. I’m not sure if that’s because I have read a lot about WWII and it became more real for me, but just a heads up for sensitive readers. Probably most 8-year-olds could still handle it if they’ve read (and been okay with) the previous books.
The Author’s Note in the back mentions the concentration camps where “millions were killed.” It continues for a while about the persecution of the Jewish people, mentioning harsh treatment, murder, etc. Messner explains how she obtained her information, where she traveled, what parts were actually true, etc. It’s an overall great note.
There’s even a “Further Reading” section that pointed out some new-to-me titles, so that was lovely! Definitely consider adding this as a living book to your World War 2 or French history studies. It’s short and well-written.
See book thoughts on the others:
Book 1: Rescue on the Oregon Trail
Book 2: Danger in Ancient Rome
Book 3: Long Road to Freedom
Book 4: Race to the South Pole
Book 5: Journey Through Ash and Smoke
Book 6: Escape from the Great Earthquake
