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AlgonquinYouthServices
Apr 15, 2013
This is the story of Gustave Becker, a Jewish boy, who leaves Paris for the countryside with his parents during World War II. The family hides the fact that they are Jewish when they move to St-Georges-sur-Cher. They hope their stay will be short, planning to leave when their exit visas for America arrive. While St.-Georges is in the Free Zone, only the river divides it from the Nazi Occupied Zone. Nazi soldiers guard the roads and bridges along the river. When food becomes hard to find, Gustave’s father uses his Swiss passport to cross the border and bring food back. One of the delicacies he smuggles is the black radishes of the title. Meanwhile, Gustave makes friends with a classmate named Nicole, who seems to know everyone in the small village. Tagging along with her on bike rides through the countryside, he realizes she is doing more than getting exercise. In fact, she is a member of the Resistance, and carries messages between other members. When she becomes sick, Gustave becomes involved in the Resistance, helping smuggle supplies and people across the border. This book is an old-fashioned nail-biter. You will root for Gustave and his friends and shiver when they are trying to outwit the Nazis. This is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and war stories alike. ~Alexa Newman, Youth Services Librarian