For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy [Mass Market Paperback]

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2005 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

A teenager transforms from a schoolgirl to a spy in this true story of heroism in wartime.

Suzanne David's everyday life is suddenly shattered in 1940 when a bomb drops on the main square of her hometown, the city of Cherbourg, France, killing a pregnant neighbor right in front of her. Until then the war had seemed far away, not something that would touch her or her teenage friends. Now Suzanne's family is kicked out onto the street as German soldiers take over their house as a barracks.

Suzanne clings to the one thing she really loves--singing. Her voice is so amazing that she is training to become an opera singer. As Suzanne travels around for rehearsals, cosume fittings, or lessons, she learns more about what the Nazis are doing and about the people who are "disappearing." Her travels are noticed by someone else, an organizer of the French Resistance. Soon Suzanne is a secret courier, a spy fighting for France and risking her own life for freedom.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-Life for Suzanne David, a 13-year-old French schoolgirl and music apprentice, dramatically changes in May, 1940, when she and her best friend witness the brutal death of a neighbor when a bomb drops directly in front of them. Soon the Germans take over Cherbourg, and the Davids are forced from their home into poverty. Then Suzanne is given the opportunity to help the Allies. Bravely, she risks her life, family, and singing career in order to spy for the Resistance. The pace of this suspenseful novel, told in first person and based on a true story, moves swiftly into action within the first chapter, showing the young heroine as strong, courageous, and clever. Filled, but not laden, with the events of the war, and peppered with French language and the culture of music, this novel will appeal to readers who enjoy history and espionage.
Kimberly Monaghan, Vernon Area Public Library, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-12. Teenage Suzanne David is so focused on her dreams of becoming an opera star that she barely notices the growing Nazi presence in her French hometown of Cherbourg, until an air raid in 1940 literally puts the death and devastation at her feet. Her innocent appearance, iron will, and schedule as a singer-performer attract the attention of a local Resistance leader, who recruits her to become a spy and entrusts her to transport encoded Allied messages. Based on interviews with the real Suzanne David (who married an American soldier in 1945 and moved to Tennessee), this taut, engrossing World War II novel instantly immerses readers in the horrors faced by everyday citizens during the Nazi Occupation. The real focus, however, is the skin-crawling suspense story about one of France's youngest spies. Each chapter brings new intrigue and often shocking revelations, made all the more intense by the facts about codes and disguises and the fast-paced, first-person narration. There aren't many accounts for young readers about the French Resistance, and from setup to conclusion, this one resonates with authenticity, excitement, and heart. The teenage hero who must keep her spying a secret, even from her parents, will thrill historical fiction fans. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (January 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440418313
• ISBN-13: 978-0440418313
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summer Reading 6th Graders Loved, July 23, 2004

By 

PJD "Frenchteach" (Goldsboro, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy (Hardcover)

I assigned this book to rising 6th graders last summer...most students somplain about their reading assignments, but this class loved the book...many commented that it is one of their favorite books, EVER! Even the boys, who usually moan and groan about female main characters! It is true that the descriptions of war are sometimes a bit graphic...there is a disturbing paragraph about a pregnant woman killed during an air raid/bombing, but it is necessary to the plot and does succeed in conveying the horrors of war. I think the class loved the maturity of the story and the realism...they felt very grown-up after reading it and it opened up days of passionate conversation about WWII, cruelty, patriotism, sacrifice and bravery. It was a perfect introduction piece for The Diary of Anne Frank, which they will read next year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elizabeth's Book Review, November 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy (Hardcover)

I read a book titled For Freedom by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. It is a historical fiction book set in France, 1940 during World War 2. The book was great and exciting.

The main characters in the story were Suzanne David, her parents, her brothers, her singing teacher, and Dr. Leclerc. Suzanne is a strong 13 year old girl, physically and mentally. She is strong physically when she gets her arm cut open and sewn back together, and she is strong mentally when Madame Montage gets blown up with her unborn baby. Suzanne is a spy that Dr. Lecrec has offered her to be. Her parents are cautious and care about Suzanne a lot. They were very worried when Suzanne came home from when Madame Montage was bombed and had blood on her body. They told Suzanne not to trust anyone. Her brothers care about her. They were really happy when Suzanne got a part as Carmen. Suzanne's singing teacher is caring and understandable. She listened to everything Suzanne said carefully. Dr. Leclerc is a man that is kind.

The main problem of the book occurs when Suzanne gets captured by the Nazis and is threatened to be killed if she doesn't tell them if she is a spy and some other information. Will she tell them, or will she not tell and maybe get killed?

My favorite part of this book was when Suzanne tried to hide in a haystack (because she forgot her identification papers) because it was funny and serious at the same time.

I would rate this book with 5 stars because the writing was very clear, it had a lot of suspense, and that it was based on a real Suzanne, which is really cool!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Freedom, January 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy (Hardcover)

What would you do if you were asked to be a spy for your country? Suzanne was an ordinary girl that loved singing and had high hopes to be a famous singer. Until the tragedy came, the war was nothing to her. Once her docter, Dr. Leclerc, asked for her to be a spy with him, the war really started for Suzanne. As Suzanne goes through conflicts, meeting other spy's and keeping secrets from her loved ones, she learns about life and death, and findes the bravery inside of her.

For Freedom is about World War II and how France was using spies to send important messeges in order to win the war. As Bradley's tragic, true story unfolds, you feel as you are there with Suzanne and experiencing the events of World War II. For Freedom is reccomended to ages 9-13.