Young Hoosier Book Club

Well, we have 4 clubs down, 5 to go! I think I have outdone myself this year with programs :D Today we discussed Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus

Summary:
Shadow on the Mountain recounts the adventures of a 14-year-old Norwegian boy named Espen during World War II. After Nazi Germany invades and occupies Norway, Espen and his friends are swept up in the Norwegian resistance movement. Espen gets his start by delivering illegal newspapers.  When stopped by the Gestapo, he shows them his alibi—jam to take to his uncle. With the code name, Odin, Espen delivers much information and eventually graduates to the role of courier.  In his free time, Espen plays soccer, but when Stein, the soccer captain is replaced by Aksel, a new informant for the Nazis, nearly everyone walks out.  Some locals are pro-Nazi, but those in his town wear red stocking caps to promote solidarity and show their pride in their country (red is a huge part of the Norwegian flag).  His best friend Kjell seems to be a Nazi spy, but can Espen be sure? His sister Ingrid has been spying on him as well, but she thinks he just found a new girlfriend.  Which, he is working on.  While Espen has no problem performing illegal acts, he struggles to talk to Solveig. When Espen’s friends and confidants start disappearing and dying, will Espen maintain the courage to do the right thing? During five years under the Nazi regime, he gains—and loses—friends, falls in love, and makes one small mistake that threatens to catch up with him as he sets out to escape on skis over the mountains to Sweden.

6th Grade

 7th Grade

8th Grade