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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was very deep, and a very good read. I listened to it on audiobook, and I wish I had just read it instead. This was the sort of book you need to really concentrate on, so I would not recommend the audiobook.
Things to know before reading this book:
1) There is an uncomfortable scene where the main character goes over to her friends house for Christmas break. Her friends dad takes particular interest in the main character, giving her a nightgown for a Christmas present............you can see where that was going to go. The friend also states (after helping the main character out of the situation) that her mother and nanny were not able to help her like she did. You can guess what that implies.
Things to know before reading this book:
1) There is an uncomfortable scene where the main character goes over to her friends house for Christmas break. Her friends dad takes particular interest in the main character, giving her a nightgown for a Christmas present............you can see where that was going to go. The friend also states (after helping the main character out of the situation) that her mother and nanny were not able to help her like she did. You can guess what that implies.
Trigger warnings: war, antisemitism, parent with addiction issues, gun violence, child abuse, vomit,
3.5 stars.
I sped through this but I can't honestly decide if I liked it or not. It was definitely a compelling story, and I did like the characters and the slightly antagonistic relationship between Sarah and the Captain. But this was so dark so much of the time that I honestly don't know how I feel about it. So I'm going with 3.5 stars for now, and we'll see if I come back and change it later on...
Spoiler
descriptions of medical procedures, fire, explosions, sexual abuse of children3.5 stars.
I sped through this but I can't honestly decide if I liked it or not. It was definitely a compelling story, and I did like the characters and the slightly antagonistic relationship between Sarah and the Captain. But this was so dark so much of the time that I honestly don't know how I feel about it. So I'm going with 3.5 stars for now, and we'll see if I come back and change it later on...
Sarah burst off the page with her fearless and determined attitude. Also the cover was absolutely stunning and gave me strong Gatsby vibes with its Art Deco style.
To keep with the mysterious nature of this book, I won’t give much away. All I will say is that it is completely engrossing, slick and stylish.
Orphan Monster Spy is a gripping, fast-paced novel that introduces a brilliant main character that I can’t wait to see more of.
To keep with the mysterious nature of this book, I won’t give much away. All I will say is that it is completely engrossing, slick and stylish.
Orphan Monster Spy is a gripping, fast-paced novel that introduces a brilliant main character that I can’t wait to see more of.
My suspension of disbelief couldn't quiet hold. The whole Being undernourished but being able to be fit doing gymnastics and running. Also Sarah being Jewish is remarked upon often but brushes over the fact she lost someone at the start. Some characterisation were flat and the while reason for the mission didn't come into play until the last 120 pages. So the middle felt like a whole lot of meandering nothing
Book 29 of 40. Orphan Monster Spy (Killeen). What an intense ride this book took me on... WW2, Berlin, spies, private schools, the promise of atomic bomb experiments, secrets, lots of naughty German and Polish words (yes, I looked them up!), and an oddly unsatisfying ending with gallons of blood, twists, turns, and red herrings. An incredible story, haunting narrative, and a unique perspective... quite chilling and disturbing. So, overall, wonderful book!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
I loved this spy themed historical fiction.
The story follows Sarah as she has to do what she must to survive. A Jew in an increasingly tense Berlin she must work with an English spy and hide in plain site. A Jew in a nazi boarding school. But in order to fool them she must become them, a little monster.
Her past is told through dream flash backs. The horrors all told through the eyes of a child who’s been hardened by seeing too much.
This gave me wild child meets Leon vibes and it works
I thought her mother’s voice in her head was weird and the dense German words were a little off putting but I eventually stopped reading them and it didn’t affect the story.
It felt action packed and tense and I really felt some of the characters
The story follows Sarah as she has to do what she must to survive. A Jew in an increasingly tense Berlin she must work with an English spy and hide in plain site. A Jew in a nazi boarding school. But in order to fool them she must become them, a little monster.
Her past is told through dream flash backs. The horrors all told through the eyes of a child who’s been hardened by seeing too much.
This gave me wild child meets Leon vibes and it works
I thought her mother’s voice in her head was weird and the dense German words were a little off putting but I eventually stopped reading them and it didn’t affect the story.
It felt action packed and tense and I really felt some of the characters
"Take the horror, and use it"
Sarah, 15, blonde, blue-eyed, and Jewish, is the last person you would think was a spy, and yet that is exactly what she is. After her mother is shot dead at a checkpoint, Sarah finds herself lost and on the run; her life is saved by a mysterious stranger and in return Sarah saves his life. This mysterious man is a spy; trying to stop a bomb being generated that could wipe out millions. But this man cannot do this without Sarah, and so Sarah must go undercover into the worst possible
place for her; a boarding school attended by only the Nazi Elite's children. Luckily for Sarah her mother was an actress, and so she knows a little about playing a role that isn't her. Nothing can prepare Sarah though, for the horrors she may experience at the hands of her schoolmates, and teachers.
Just as a disclaimer (and a vague SPOILER so click if you want to know) there are some moments in this book that should probably come with a trigger warning.
I actually quite enjoyed this book; it's not a book I have heard a lot about or seen anyone raving about, but I definitely think it's one people should pick up and explore. Although historical books aren't necessarily my favourite, I do enjoy them when they have a twist, and I think a 15-year old Jewish Spy is quite a twist. What I quite loved was that Sarah was the hero of her own story; she didn't need saving, she was kept apt at saving herself, and trying to save those around her. She was a heroine in her own right; obviously there were things she didn't know or couldn't do; but she wasn't happy sitting around waiting for the man to come and save the day which I loved. She is a fierce fierce female.
The pacing of this book is also very good; it starts off straight in the middle of drama and action and it doesn't let up throughout the rest of the book. We are constantly following Sarah's battle at the boarding school, and there is drama and intrigue throughout. There was a plot point (see spoiler warning) which made me so chillingly uncomfortable but it was done so well; I did guess this plot point in all honesty but that didn't take anything away from the book for me.
I would recommend an am intrigued to read the sequel (if there is one planned) and continue to watch Sarah save the world.
Sarah, 15, blonde, blue-eyed, and Jewish, is the last person you would think was a spy, and yet that is exactly what she is. After her mother is shot dead at a checkpoint, Sarah finds herself lost and on the run; her life is saved by a mysterious stranger and in return Sarah saves his life. This mysterious man is a spy; trying to stop a bomb being generated that could wipe out millions. But this man cannot do this without Sarah, and so Sarah must go undercover into the worst possible
place for her; a boarding school attended by only the Nazi Elite's children. Luckily for Sarah her mother was an actress, and so she knows a little about playing a role that isn't her. Nothing can prepare Sarah though, for the horrors she may experience at the hands of her schoolmates, and teachers.
Just as a disclaimer (and a vague SPOILER so click if you want to know) there are some moments in this book that should probably come with a trigger warning
Spoiler
implied and explicit references to child sexual abuse - including the main character being drugged and almost rape by a paedophile; with mentions that this is not the first time he has done this to young girls, incest - daughter has been abused by her father (aforementioned paedophile), and main character also being savagely beaten by a teacherI actually quite enjoyed this book; it's not a book I have heard a lot about or seen anyone raving about, but I definitely think it's one people should pick up and explore. Although historical books aren't necessarily my favourite, I do enjoy them when they have a twist, and I think a 15-year old Jewish Spy is quite a twist. What I quite loved was that Sarah was the hero of her own story; she didn't need saving, she was kept apt at saving herself, and trying to save those around her. She was a heroine in her own right; obviously there were things she didn't know or couldn't do; but she wasn't happy sitting around waiting for the man to come and save the day which I loved. She is a fierce fierce female.
The pacing of this book is also very good; it starts off straight in the middle of drama and action and it doesn't let up throughout the rest of the book. We are constantly following Sarah's battle at the boarding school, and there is drama and intrigue throughout. There was a plot point (see spoiler warning) which made me so chillingly uncomfortable but it was done so well; I did guess this plot point in all honesty but that didn't take anything away from the book for me.
I would recommend an am intrigued to read the sequel (if there is one planned) and continue to watch Sarah save the world.