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A review by megsbookishtwins
Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars. (I can't decide between a 4 or 5 stars so it's going in the middle).
When Sarah’s mother is killed at a checkpoint trying to get out of Nazi Germany, Sarah -a blue-eyed blonde Jewish girl- finds herself on the run from a government that wants her dead. Then she meets a strange man with a strange accent, a British spy. He enlists the help of Sarah because he needs her to do something he can’t do – infiltrate an elite Nazi boarding school. Sarah thinks she’s ready but nothing could have prepared her for the brutality of her classmates and she soon finds herself in a battle for her survival.
trigger warnings: abuse and attempted sexual assault
Orphan Monster Spy is a story about resistance, survival, abuse and fascism. I had a feeling I would love this, especially as Elizabeth Wein said it was ‘deeply disturbing and chillingly good’. To be fair, I hadn’t heard much about this until recently when I started seeing a bit of buzz on Twitter, but I did have some high expectations. I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction, so it plays right into my interests, especially concerning female spies during WW2. *screams about CODE NAME VERITY forever*.
There has been some positive talk about the Jewish representation, which is always good, especially because this is about a blue-eyed blonde Jewish girl and it takes place in Nazi Germany. Katherine Locke said she was ‘thrilled to see a Jewish girl who is the hero of her own story’, and appreciated the ‘sensitivity’ towards the portrayal of a Jewish girl in Nazi Germany.
I loved and admired Sarah so much. She was witty, fierce, determined, defiant, and angry. I was also a fan of the Captain and his relationship with Sarah. He consistently underestimated her intelligence and she constantly surprised him. It had a very father/daughter feel to it, which I liked.
Orphan Monster Spy is an engaging, gripping, and intense read at times. The second half of the book was very suspenseful and you really rooted for Sarah. I loved the messages from Orphan Monster Spy. It warned against the rise of fascism, and the dangers associated, and also against fighting back.
Overall, Orphan Monster Spy is definitely a book I would recommend, especially if you enjoy historical fiction and WW2 books. I’d especially recommend to fans of Code Name Verity or The Book Thief.
4.5 stars. (I can't decide between a 4 or 5 stars so it's going in the middle).
When Sarah’s mother is killed at a checkpoint trying to get out of Nazi Germany, Sarah -a blue-eyed blonde Jewish girl- finds herself on the run from a government that wants her dead. Then she meets a strange man with a strange accent, a British spy. He enlists the help of Sarah because he needs her to do something he can’t do – infiltrate an elite Nazi boarding school. Sarah thinks she’s ready but nothing could have prepared her for the brutality of her classmates and she soon finds herself in a battle for her survival.
trigger warnings: abuse and attempted sexual assault
Orphan Monster Spy is a story about resistance, survival, abuse and fascism. I had a feeling I would love this, especially as Elizabeth Wein said it was ‘deeply disturbing and chillingly good’. To be fair, I hadn’t heard much about this until recently when I started seeing a bit of buzz on Twitter, but I did have some high expectations. I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction, so it plays right into my interests, especially concerning female spies during WW2. *screams about CODE NAME VERITY forever*.
There has been some positive talk about the Jewish representation, which is always good, especially because this is about a blue-eyed blonde Jewish girl and it takes place in Nazi Germany. Katherine Locke said she was ‘thrilled to see a Jewish girl who is the hero of her own story’, and appreciated the ‘sensitivity’ towards the portrayal of a Jewish girl in Nazi Germany.
I loved and admired Sarah so much. She was witty, fierce, determined, defiant, and angry. I was also a fan of the Captain and his relationship with Sarah. He consistently underestimated her intelligence and she constantly surprised him. It had a very father/daughter feel to it, which I liked.
Orphan Monster Spy is an engaging, gripping, and intense read at times. The second half of the book was very suspenseful and you really rooted for Sarah. I loved the messages from Orphan Monster Spy. It warned against the rise of fascism, and the dangers associated, and also against fighting back.
Overall, Orphan Monster Spy is definitely a book I would recommend, especially if you enjoy historical fiction and WW2 books. I’d especially recommend to fans of Code Name Verity or The Book Thief.