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krismcd59's review against another edition
4.0
My review of this book appears in Historical Novels Review issue 92 (May 2020):
Killeen’s Orphan Monster series addresses contemporary issues of war, trauma, political resistance, racism, and sexism through the pulse-pounding espionage adventures of Sarah Goldstein, a teenage Jewish spy embroiled in the WWII resistance against Nazi Germany. In the first volume, Orphan Monster Spy, Sarah, trained as an actor and gymnast, attached herself to “The Captain,” a James Bond-like British agent posing as a German industrialist and took on the role of his adorable blond “niece.”
Killeen has created a brilliant heroine whose sarcasm and comic-book resourcefulness are balanced by her understandable instinct for self-preservation and some serious moral questions about the value of human life. In the current volume, Sarah travels with her mentor and protector to the Congo, where there are reports of German missionaries researching a frightening disease for use in Nazi weapons of mass destruction. She also befriends a biracial Senegalese refugee, Clementine, who seems to be an operant herself, and who raises Sarah’s consciousness considerably about the pervasiveness of exploitation and white privilege. Sarah learns the hard way that the Nazis are not the only monsters in the world, as it becomes increasingly difficult for her to know who the “good guys” really are, and which side she’s actually working for.
Some of Sarah’s insights seem a bit modern, but teens will appreciate her growing global awareness of the horrors of war and the thrilling episodes of problem-solving and escape, including a nail-biting submarine pursuit. As in the first volume, the violence is graphic though not exploitative, and Sarah’s skills strain credibility occasionally, but this is a series that offers equal parts escapist adventure and morally complex history.
Killeen’s Orphan Monster series addresses contemporary issues of war, trauma, political resistance, racism, and sexism through the pulse-pounding espionage adventures of Sarah Goldstein, a teenage Jewish spy embroiled in the WWII resistance against Nazi Germany. In the first volume, Orphan Monster Spy, Sarah, trained as an actor and gymnast, attached herself to “The Captain,” a James Bond-like British agent posing as a German industrialist and took on the role of his adorable blond “niece.”
Killeen has created a brilliant heroine whose sarcasm and comic-book resourcefulness are balanced by her understandable instinct for self-preservation and some serious moral questions about the value of human life. In the current volume, Sarah travels with her mentor and protector to the Congo, where there are reports of German missionaries researching a frightening disease for use in Nazi weapons of mass destruction. She also befriends a biracial Senegalese refugee, Clementine, who seems to be an operant herself, and who raises Sarah’s consciousness considerably about the pervasiveness of exploitation and white privilege. Sarah learns the hard way that the Nazis are not the only monsters in the world, as it becomes increasingly difficult for her to know who the “good guys” really are, and which side she’s actually working for.
Some of Sarah’s insights seem a bit modern, but teens will appreciate her growing global awareness of the horrors of war and the thrilling episodes of problem-solving and escape, including a nail-biting submarine pursuit. As in the first volume, the violence is graphic though not exploitative, and Sarah’s skills strain credibility occasionally, but this is a series that offers equal parts escapist adventure and morally complex history.
hadders88's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
elliewhitehead148's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It’s an amazingly gripping thriller based on a Sarah, a Jewish spy, sent to Africa to track a deadly disease and unmask the white devil, before it’s to late and the disease is turned into a weapon.
There was absolutely no part I found unnecessary or boring and I was hooked on all of it. The only thing I could complain about is the amount of names as they made it a bit confusing but after a while I caught on.
As you want in any book, the ending is spectacular and worth absolutely all the reading.
I think Matt Killian’s a great author and really spreads emotion throughout his writing.
I’m really glad I read this book and I hope you will too.
There was absolutely no part I found unnecessary or boring and I was hooked on all of it. The only thing I could complain about is the amount of names as they made it a bit confusing but after a while I caught on.
As you want in any book, the ending is spectacular and worth absolutely all the reading.
I think Matt Killian’s a great author and really spreads emotion throughout his writing.
I’m really glad I read this book and I hope you will too.
ezbv's review against another edition
4.0
★★★★ insane
the plot twists!!!!!!!!! wow
i should have expected it but for some reason i didn't
the plot twists!!!!!!!!! wow
i should have expected it but for some reason i didn't
mjwilliamson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ellesslibraryy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
sarahna's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read Orphan Monster Spy and picked this up from the library, not knowing that this was a sequel. So getting into this book was hard at first. The pace and action in the second half of the book kept me entertained even though the plot was confusing at times. In the end everything seems to fall into place without any big consequences for the main characters which is too unrealistic in my opinion. Despite that I liked the historical setting and the way it was written. 3 stars!
abbyprolman's review against another edition
2.0
This definitely had potential I just struggled to get into it, Sarah has no defining qualities she doesn't seem to even realize the enormity of the end of the first book and puts her self in situations where people would take advantage of her. I don't get her motives it's just a bit rushed and just doesn't nail what it wants to do.
tannithreece's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0