The year is 1940 and France has fallen to the German army. In the village of Mont-Saint-Martin, brothers Pierre, René, and Fat Marcel enjoy an idyllic childhood-stealing berry tarts, playing soldiers, and holding contests to determine who of the three is the biggest and best liar. As the small community, especially its Jewish members, begins to feel the effects of the war, René and Marcel form a warm but secret friendship with one of the German soldiers occupying their village. The boys know no good can come of this friendship, but they don’t realize the extent to which they have put the lives of their family and friends in jeopardy . . . until they discover that they are not the only experts at lying. This poignant and thoughtful story is told in the form of letters to a group of schoolchildren by the now-adult Marcel.  First published in Ireland.

Related: France, Germany, Historical Fiction, Intermediate (ages 9-14)

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• ISBN: 9780395906972
• Author: Maguire, Gregory
• Published: 1999, Clarion Books
• Themes: Childhood, Community, Family, Friendship, Holocaust, Lie, Secret, Siblings, Soldiers, War
• Descriptors: France, Germany, Historical Fiction, Intermediate (ages 9-14)
• No. of pages: 144