"Resilience, retaliation and world-changing undercover work in Nazi Germany "
Shortlisted for The Branford Boase Award 2019 | Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award 2018 | January 2019 Debut of the Month |
Stinging with drama, action and, above all, a relentless sense of urgency, this ruthlessly remarkable debut sees an indomitable Jewess go undercover.
When Sarah’s mother is shot dead, there’s no time for sentimentality, no time to grieve. Sarah must press on, “keep moving”, for her survival depends on it. She joins forces with the Captain, a man she discovers is part of the resistance against the Nazis, and Sarah will spy for him.
To this end, she adopts a new identity. She becomes Ursula Haller, the “good little dumb National Socialist Monster”. The Captain secures her a place at a school attended by the daughters of top Nazis, and here she must befriend Elsa, whose father is a leading scientist. The conditions at the school are repugnantly cruel, but Sarah is sharp and strong beyond her fifteen years.
Though her childhood was curtailed by her actress mother, and then by the Nazis, she’s defiantly resilient, and infiltrates the grand home and secret lab of a top SS scientist. Compelling and quick-paced, the writing - like Sarah’s character - is indelibly raw, and this is a fiercely gripping read.
The Costa Judges said : ‘A compelling, darkly thrilling debut - tense, cinematic and brilliant.’

Her name is Sarah. She's blonde, blue-eyed, and Jewish in 1939 Germany. And her act of resistance is about to change the world.
| Suitable For: | |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Her name is Sarah. She's blonde, blue-eyed, and Jewish in 1939 Germany.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Orphan Monster Spy and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
Orphan Monster Spy features in the following genres: Crime & Mystery, Adventure Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Thrillers, Featured Books for Young Adults
Paperback. Not Available.
Orphan Monster Spy was written by Matt Killeen and published by Speak an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group
Orphan Monster Spy has 432 pages