Shadow on the Mountain
One of my favorite books as a child was Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan (Dutton, 1942), about brave children resisting the Nazis in Norway during World War II. I had hoped that Shadow on the Mountain (about brave Norwegian children resisting Nazis during World War II) would be as good, and I wasn’t disappointed. Fourteen-year-old Espen and his little sister Ingrid each do what they can, Espen as a courier for the resistance and Ingrid recording what the Nazis are doing in her diary – also forbidden. Espen leads small acts of open resistance as well, like leading a walk-out when his soccer team is informed that they’ll now be playing in a Nazi youth league.
I appreciated the insights into how a combination of bribes, insecurity, and fear of communism allowed some Norwegians to rationalize allying with the invaders. The book includes a bibliography for more advanced readers, a list of reading recommendations for younger readers (which includes Snow Treasure), maps, a glossary, an author’s note, photos, a timeline, and even a bonus for code breakers. Recommended.
