Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

Pages: 410

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Historical thriller / World War II drama

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Sarah’s actress mother spent years teaching her how to become someone else. Now her mother is dead and Sarah is hiding in plain sight among the daughters of the Nazi elite. A brilliant con artist, she’s out to befriend the daughter of an important scientist and get her hands on the bomb blueprints in his heavily guarded manor. The more deeply embedded she becomes in this world of monsters, the graver the danger. But she’s determined to get her revenge on them all.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series. The second book, Devil Darling Spy, is expected out in 2020.

What’s good?

Sarah is a Jew, but her blonde hair and blue eyes allow her to go undetected from the Nazis. While on the run, she meets a mysterious man, a spy, who needs her to infiltrate a boarding school and find the daughter of a man who’s building a bomb. She soon finds herself surrounded by cutthroat classmates, sadistic teachers, and disturbing Nazi propaganda. The author writes with rich imagery and brutal frankness, maintaining a dark tone while still managing to incorporate some humor. The pace is swift, and the plot is sophisticated. While this story is more plot driven, the characters are very well-drawn and even secondary characters contribute deeply to the story. There’s plenty of action and danger, with themes of bravery, loneliness, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Best Part: Her use of stage metaphors when she’s undercover.

What isn’t good?

My only complaint is that I would have liked to know more about the Captain. I’m sure more will be revealed in subsequent volumes, but I think readers deserved a little more information in this one.

Worst part: None.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺ (4.5/5)

This story was so engaging! I was hooked early. This is an action/adventure story that, on so many levels, is also a survival story. While she’s trying to survive physically, she’s also dealing with grief, fear, and loneliness, not to mention the reality of living in a world full of people who hate her because she’s Jewish. But also, we learn what she, and others, are willing to do in order to survive. This would make an amazing movie.

Killeen, Matt. Orphan Monster Spy. New York: Penguin, 2018.