by Sharon Cameron
Scholastic Press, 2023. 387 pages. Young Adult Fiction
In 1943 Amsterdam, Isa de Smit navigates the dangers of Nazi
occupation while protecting her family's art gallery, which houses a hidden
Vermeer. With her friends targeted by the regime—some executed and others in
hiding—Isa's resistance grows when she sells a fake Rembrandt to fund the
cause. She forms an uneasy alliance with Michel Lange, a young Nazi soldier
seeking escape, as they work together to smuggle Jewish babies to safety and
navigate the art world filled with forgers and collaborators. This historical
thriller blends Isa's fictional journey with real events and figures, featuring
rich artistic descriptions and complex plotting, making it a compelling read
for young audiences interested in history and art.
Artifice is a thrilling historical novel that captivated me
from the first page. Cameron’s vivid imagery created a moving narrative. While
this was an intricately plotted narrative that’s fast-paced and suspenseful, my
favorite piece was the idea that paintings can contain significant flaws yet
still be transformed into something beautiful. This metaphor is linked to the
experience during the Nazi occupation, illustrating how amidst the overwhelming
ugliness of that time, the main character, Isa de Smit, finds ways to create
beauty and hope. This novel is not just a tale of survival; it’s a testament to
the power of art and the human spirit in the face of adversity. I highly
recommend Artifice to anyone looking for a historical thriller that offers
poignant and thought-provoking messages.
If you liked Artifice, you may also like:
Warsaw, 1942. Sixteen-year old Mira smuggles food into the Ghetto to keep herself and her family alive. When she discovers that the entire Ghetto is to be "liquidated"―killed or "resettled" to concentration camps―she desperately tries to find a way to save her family.
She meets a group of young people who are planning the unthinkable: an uprising against the occupying forces. Mira joins the resistance fighters who, with minimal supplies and weapons, end up holding out for twenty-eight days, longer than anyone had thought possible.
by Steve Watkins
On May 10, 1940, the Nazis begin their march across Europe, and within weeks, France has fallen. At first, Nicolette’s world seems more or less the same despite the occupation. But as the months pass, the Third Reich tightens its hold on France and it becomes clear just what is at stake.
Nicolette is drawn into a growing resistance movement, determined to do her part to fight back. It’s a deadly secret she’ll have to keep from everyone, including her family. Nicolette’s own father works for local law enforcement, which is now under Nazi control, and who knows what might happen if anyone found out she joined the Resistance. But as Hitler’s empire grows, no one can escape the horrors of war. Including Nicolette.
One night, she vanishes without a trace, taken from the street by Nazi soldiers and declared an enemy of the state. Soon, Nicolette finds herself confronting the very heart of Hitler’s plans, bearing witness not just to the atrocities, but also to the courage, bravery, and hope that can emerge in even the darkest times. And it is in these small but powerful moments that Nicolette realizes her greatest weapon against the Nazis: to live, so she can tell the world the truth of what happened. But can one girl survive what was designed to destroy so many?
BWW
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