Spy Smuggler

Spy Smuggler
Jim Eldridge
Scholastic Canada Ltd
ISBN: 0-439-93552-0
Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

Spy Smuggler is one title in a growing collection of historical novels in the My Story series. While fictional, each of these books is based upon real events and common experiences during the first and second World Wars. As such, both the heroic and the more dreary aspects of war are explored.
The main character of Spy Smuggler is Paul Lelaud from France. We meet Paul just as he is on the cusp of turning fourteen during the German occupation of France in World War II. The boy’s father had heroically been killed while fighting for France’s freedom against the Germans. Paul couldn’t wait to do his part and was eager to join the resistance.
Since his father’s death, Paul and his mother lived with his uncle. Paul’s uncle, it seemed, was everything that Paul didn’t want to be. He refused to do anything that would displease the Germans. He even baked their bread. But looks can be deceiving and the best cover is one that no one even thinks to question.
Spy Smuggler was very exciting and action filled while aptly illustrating that not all war heroes are famous. It also shows that sometimes being more secretive and cautious doesn’t create as much suspicion so the job is done a lot more efficiently.