Tamar

Mal Peet's Carnegie Medal-winning novel, Tamar, is a sophisticated young adult historical thriller. It follows 15-year-old Tamar in 1995 London as she pieces together clues left by her recently deceased grandfather, uncovering his true identity and his harrowing experiences as a British-trained Dutch resistance fighter during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1945. The narrative masterfully alternates between Tamar's contemporary investigation and the intense, dangerous world of espionage, love, jealousy, and betrayal in wartime Holland. Parents should be aware of mature themes including war violence, death, suicide, and complex moral dilemmas, making it suitable for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers ready for a demanding, emotionally resonant read.

When her grandfather dies, Tamar inherits a box containing a series of clues and coded messages. Out of the past, another Tamar emerges, a man involved in the terrifying world of resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Holland half a century before. His story is one of passionate love, jealousy, and tragedy set against the daily fear and casual horror of the Second World War -- and unraveling it is about to transform Tamar’s life forever. From acclaimed British sensation Mal Peet comes a masterful story of adventure, love, secrets, and betrayal in time of war, both past and present.