Amphissa, Greece, 1941: For twelve-year-old Petros, the war seems far away. He fills his days playing marbles with friends, working in his papa's garden, and arguing with his older brother. Then Germany invades Greece, and overnight, everything changes. Newbery Honor-winning author Audrey Couloumbis, writing with her husband, tells a story inspired by actual events. Author's note.
Summary What were once just boys’ games become matters of life and death as Petros and his older brother Zola each wonder if, like their resistance-fighter cousin, they too can make a difference in a Nazi-occupied Greece.
Topics Families. Farming. Amphissa, Greece. Brothers. Using slingshots. Cousins. Shooting marbles. Sibling relationships. World War II. Underground movements. German occupation in Greece (1941-1944). Hiding fugitives. Building kites. Faking a death.
SRC Level 4.400000
SRC Points 13.000000
Lexile 710L
Trim Size 5 1/2" x 8 1/4"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Publication date 2009-10-26
JLG Release Date Feb 2010
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 7
Reading level Elementary, Middle
Format Print
Middle Grade Fiction Plus (Grades 5-7)
Middle Grade Fiction Plus
Middle Grade Fiction Plus (Grades 5-7)
For Grades 5-7
This collection features fiction titles selected for upper elementary and early middle school readers who are ready for engaging, well-crafted stories that reflect their everyday lives and interests. Selections span contemporary and realistic fiction, as well as approachable genre titles, offering accessible narratives with emotional depth, humor, and heart—designed to encourage independent reading and sustained engagement.