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lori_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Couloumbis' story is slow in the beginning---so much, I almost gave up completely---but patience paid off in this original story of WWII. Petros' family has immigrated from the U.S. to Greece, and when the war breaks out, they find themselves unable to safely travel back to the U.S., and incredibly having to house Germans. The story tells of the Resistance and of American ex-pats living in Greece during the war, a story that is seldom if ever told in YA literature. Once the author sets up the story and the Germans arrive, the pace picks up to a real page-turner. Boys will especially enjoy a wartime story told from the viewpoint of a teen who is at the bittersweet end of his childhood---his afternoons of playing marbles with his cousins soon end with the war in his hometown---and the beginning of life as a young adult who must keep a family secret from a dangerous and ever-present enemy. Even of more interest---he jacket states this is based on a true story.
paisleysiemens's review against another edition
3.0
I really really enjoyed this book. Parts of the beginning were a little bit of a slow pace for my liking but once I hit the middle of the book I couldn't put it down. I really loved the character Petros and his boyish charms and sense of adventure through out the story. Also after reading the blip in the back about the authors and his family being what the book was based on made me like it even more.
libscote's review against another edition
3.0
MSBA Nominee 2010/2011
This is my least favorite of the war offerings on this year's MSBA list. Petros is a boy in WWII Greece who is picked on by his older brother Zola. The Italians are already hanging about, and there are rumors that the Germans will move in at any time. Petros and his brother get involved in some dangerous games in an attempt to help the war effort. Based on Akila Coloumbis' life.
This is my least favorite of the war offerings on this year's MSBA list. Petros is a boy in WWII Greece who is picked on by his older brother Zola. The Italians are already hanging about, and there are rumors that the Germans will move in at any time. Petros and his brother get involved in some dangerous games in an attempt to help the war effort. Based on Akila Coloumbis' life.
hezann73's review against another edition
3.0
This book almost failed my "50 page rule" The first few chapters were so slow that I almost gave up on the book. I'm so glad I didn't. It's really different WWII story based on the life of the author's husband.
I reccommend this for students in 5-8th grade who need to read historical fiction/WWII book, but don't want a holocaust story.
I reccommend this for students in 5-8th grade who need to read historical fiction/WWII book, but don't want a holocaust story.
libscote's review
3.0
MSBA Nominee 2010/2011
This is my least favorite of the war offerings on this year's MSBA list. Petros is a boy in WWII Greece who is picked on by his older brother Zola. The Italians are already hanging about, and there are rumors that the Germans will move in at any time. Petros and his brother get involved in some dangerous games in an attempt to help the war effort. Based on Akila Coloumbis' life.
This is my least favorite of the war offerings on this year's MSBA list. Petros is a boy in WWII Greece who is picked on by his older brother Zola. The Italians are already hanging about, and there are rumors that the Germans will move in at any time. Petros and his brother get involved in some dangerous games in an attempt to help the war effort. Based on Akila Coloumbis' life.
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