The Horn Book Guide

OLDER FICTION

Preus, Margi

Shadow on the Mountain

290 pp. | Abrams/Amulet | September, 2012 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4197-0424-6 $16.95

(2) YA This historical adventure novel is based on the experiences of a real boy who spied for the Resistance during the Nazi occupation of Norway. Readers will get an authentic picture of everyday life in WWII Norway, but Preus meticulously keeps the focus on Espen and his peers. The final chapters take the book into adventure-thriller territory without losing the humanity that characterizes Preus's account. A pronunciation guide and photos of "the real Espen" are included. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012