Hero on a Bicycle
“Vividly evoking the closing-in conflict, with tanks rumbling along a nearby road, zooming fighter planes, and relentless shellfire, Hughes ratchets up the tension…Huge as the war is, this story is an intimate one—centering on the courageous actions of one Italian family as the conflict arrives at their doorstep, forcing them to grapple with the harsh complexities of good and evil. The actions of secondary characters like a young German officer, a careless wealthy friend, and the brother of a loyal family servant reinforce Hughes’ clear desire for her young readers to understand that those on either side can have a myriad of honorable and dishonorable reasons for their behavior.”
New York Times Book Review
Florence, Italy, 1944: The city is under heavy Nazi occupation, but for thirteen-year-old Paolo, war is a long and boring wait. Too young to fight for the resistance, yet desperate for action and adventure, he sneaks out each night to ride his bicycle along the darkened city streets. For Paolo, the risk is thrilling.
But when he is accosted by Partisans—covert members of the anti-Nazi movement—thrilling quickly becomes dangerous as Paolo and his family are thrust into a terrifying and impossible situation. Finally at the center of the action, Paolo must figure out once and for all whether he has what it takes to truly be a hero.
Praise