Mari's Hope

Mari's Hope delivers the dramatic conclusion to the middle-grade trilogy begun with Odin's Promise, awarded the 2014 Midwest Book Award for Children's Fiction, and Bjorn's Gift (released in 2016). In Mari's Hope, set in a small village in occupied western Norway in the final years of World War II, young Mari has become a valued helper to the village doctor. She also plays a role in her family's efforts in the local resistance, despite many dangers, especially from the snooping soldier called Goatman and from Leif, her one-time school friend, now a German collaborator. As the German war efforts falter, the pressure increases on the occupying troops to hold Norway firmly in their grip. But freedom-loving Norwegians will do their best to thwart those plans. Praise for the series: "An exciting look at the occupation of Norway, through the eyes of a young, brave girl." – Angela Cerrito, author of The Safest Lie. Readers familiar with the first two books in the series will enjoy seeing Mari blossom and grow into greater confidence in herself, as she and her family, friends, and neighbors stubbornly hold onto hopes that the war will end and peace will return to their beloved country. New readers will enjoy this story on its own merits, and can look forward to catching up with the beginnings of Mari's tale in Odin's Promise and Bjorn's Gift. The series is ideal for dog lovers, for Norwegian Americans and other European-Americans whose ancestors were involved in resistance movements in World War II, and for all who enjoy reading stories about World War II history. Author Sandy Brehl is a teacher and an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. She lives in Muskego, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee.