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Title details for The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough - Available

The Bicycle Spy

by Yona Zeldis McDonough
Mark Turetsky
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
Can Marcel make the ride of his life?

Marcel loves riding his bicycle, whether he's racing through the streets of his small town in France or making bread deliveries for his parents' bakery. He dreams of someday competing in the Tour de France, the greatest bicycle race. But ever since Germany's occupation of France began two years ago, in 1940, the race has been canceled. Now there are soldiers everywhere, interrupting Marcel's rides with checkpoints and questioning.Then Marcel learns two big secrets, and he realizes there are worse things about the war than a canceled race. When he later discovers that his friend's entire family is in imminent danger, Marcel knows he can help — but it will involve taking a risky bicycle ride to pass along covert information. And when nothing ends up going according to plan, it's up to him to keep pedaling and think quickly... because his friend, her family, and his own future hang in the balance.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 1, 2017

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781338241693
      • File size: 109384 KB
      • Duration: 03:47:52

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 650
    • Text Difficulty: 2-3

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 12, 2016
      A winning protagonist propels this WWII adventure, which is set in 1942 in a Nazi-occupied French village. Diminutive yet determined 12-year-old Marcel loves to ride his bicycle and adores the Tour de France, which has been suspended because of the war. Marcel imagines himself on the Tour as he delivers bread for his baker parents, slipping sweets to armed guards to win their cooperation. McDonough (Little Author in the Big Woods) effectively escalates the conflict as Marcel discovers coded messages inside the loaves and realizes that his parents are members of the Resistance. Marcel forms a fast friendship with Delphine, a clever girl who shares his love of biking, and later discovers her family's Jewish heritage, which puts them in grave danger. Some narrative elements feel rushed, such as how quickly Marcel and Delphine disclose their families' secrets to each other, but readers should be riveted as Marcel encourages his parents to help Delphine's family escape and helps put a daring rescue into action. This engrossing introduction to WWII also includes a glossary, historical notes, and reading suggestions. Ages 8â12. Agent: Judith Ehrlich, Judith Ehrlich Literary Management.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Mark Turetsky dives right into the world of Occupied France and the story of 12-year-old Marcel, who dreams of riding in the Tour de France as he pedals his own bike on errands of great daring. Turetsky is unassuming in that he lets the story unfold by itself; he brings subtle emphasis through pregnant pauses and intonation. Why have Marcel's baker parents been sending him on more frequent bread deliveries? What is the mystery around his new classmate, Delphine? Why are the Nazis coming into his school? What has taken his mother away from the bakery? Turetsky moves easily between the facts of the times and the suspense of Marcel's many forays on behalf of the French Resistance. His youthful voice underscores the bravery of this young Frenchman. A.R. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:650
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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