A Winter of Spies

June 1, 2002
Gr. 6-10. Ireland, 1920, and the war that raged through " The Guns of Easter" (2001) comes closer to home for the Conway family. This time, the conflict is seen through the point of view of plucky, 11-year-old Sarah, who has secretly been smuggling guns to help the cause for independence. The previous novel's major conflicts took place in the streets of Dublin, but the action in this one is largely at the Conway house: when two suspicious men move in next door, Sarah witnesses some dubious goings on, which may be the work of spies or counterspies. Although Sarah's active participation in the story is limited to the beginning and end, her observations give a clear picture of her character, and she raises thoughtful questions about what drives people to create such destruction. Recent events, such as the situation in the Middle East, will make the novel's portrayal of everyday people caught up in war even more stirring. A sequel that is just as strong as its predecessor, which won several book awards in Ireland.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)