Projeckt 1065: A Novel of World War II

Reviewed by: Kristin Taylor - Biddeford High School, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 6, 2017

Review

Michael O'Shaunessey lives in Berlin at the peak of World War II. His father is the Irish Ambassador and on the night of Kristallnacht, he discovers that his parents are also spies for the Allies. Michael is than thrown into mixed when he rescues a downed British pilot, Simon, who also happens to be Jewish. His involvement in the Hitler Youth allows him to befriend Fritz, whose father is designing a new plane for Germany and with Michael's photographic memory, he is able to reproduce the plans so that Simon can get the plans back when he escapes.

Despite, Ireland being neutral during the war, many of their diplomats carried important information back to the Allied Forces. And, even though Michael is a fictional character, there is much historical information pertaining to the Hitler Youth, that Gratz obtained from Susan Campbell Bartoletti's book "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow".Projekt 1065, the title of the book, was actually a prototype of a plane that the German's were working on. More information on both may be found in the Author's Notes.

Recommended for grades 7-12.

Overall Book Score: excellent