A Traitor Among Us [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Van Steenwyk (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Thirteen-year-old Pieter Van Dirk is part of the Resistance movement in World War II Holland. As he takes more chances, he realizes that theres a traitor in his village--someone who would reveal his identity to the Nazis if his undercover work is discovered. The suspects multiply as the suspense increases and the stakes grow higher.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If readers can overlook one or two leaps in narrative logic and some patches of formulaic prose, they could easily become engrossed in this suspense story set in 1944 Holland. At 13, Pieter has seen the Germans arrest his father and even confiscate his dog. While his two older brothers are off fighting with the resistance, Pieter delivers underground newspapers in the village. As the Allies begin to land, the resistance steps up their efforts, and Pieter's errands grow increasingly dangerous, especially after a wounded Allied paratrooper is brought to Pieter's house. To make things worse, everyone knows there's a traitor in the village (the blanket assumption that there is only a single traitor is one of the book's flaws). Whom can Pieter trust? His teacher makes suspicious references to the years he spent studying the "beautiful" German language in Munich; Pieter's slow-witted, tag-along cousin seems to know too much; the village doctor's weakness for brandy may have loosened his lips. Van Steenwyk (Three Dog Winter) camouflages the weak spots in her plotting with sharp period detail and with almost cinematic tension. And the climax?a furtive, after-curfew bicycle ride in which Pieter flushes out the traitor?is heart-pounding. Ages 9-14.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6^-9. Set in a village in Nazi-occupied Holland in 1944, this is an exciting World War II thriller. Thirteen-year-old Pieter Van Dirk is drawn into helping the Dutch Resistance movement. He hides a wounded American soldier, transmits secret messages by shortwave radio, and disguises himself to deliver counterfeit ration cards for Resistance fighters. We feel Pieter's struggle to be brave, all the more so because he is so afraid; in fact, there's some overwriting as fear pounds in his head, his blood freezes, his heart clutches, his bones freeze. What will hold readers is not only the thrilling action of the kid in the underground army but also the spy story: Who is the secret Nazi informer in the village? Is it the doctor? Pieter's teacher? His neighbor? His best friend? The suspense rises to the very last chapter. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 143 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802851509
• ISBN-13: 978-0802851505
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Holocaust

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Review of Traitor Among Us, May 13, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Traitor Among Us (Paperback)

This book is full of suspense. There is a lot of historical facts about World War II in the Netherlands. This book is a great read for kids around 8 - 12 years of age. I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Son really liked this book - Educational too., November 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Traitor Among Us (Hardcover)

This book really brings home the experience of children in Nazi Occupied countries to children of the 90's. Enough suspense to keep them interested too. My son (age 8) really liked the book.