The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough

The Bicycle Spy Reviews

• 
  Sheri

  I found The Bicycle Spy to be very relatable, readers will not only be able to identify with a friendship over a shared interest, but also with the emotions that the main characters experience. It is a good introduction to everyday life during WWII and as a bonus, a short history of the Tour de France is included also.
• 
  Kate Willis

  I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author, so when my sisters brought this home from the library (and I suddenly remembered it was on my TBR XD), I was excited to read it. ;)
  
  This book covers a time period in history I knew next to nothing about, so frankly--I was geeking out. :D 1939 France in the “free zone”. Also, the Tour de France? Why have I not heard of this?? :D :D
  
  Because this was packed with fascinating history, it was a little slow in spots, but the author did a good job keeping the historical facts mostly to some pretty cool appendices in the back.
  
  Marcel was a nice, relatable character. I liked his ordinary bravery and his courage to push himself for the sake of others. Also, three cheers for a great relationship with his parents! And their delivery system they had worked out was amazing. (Sidenote: I want some of that spice cake.)
  
  Best quote: “Dark came quickly, along with a cold and stinging rain. The bike he had traded for was not as good as his old bike, so he had trouble maneuvering over some of the rougher patches. Still, Tour de France riders didn’t stop for rain, and neither did he.”
  
  Altogether, this was an interesting story of bravery, determination, and compassion. I hope this author writes more soon. ;)
  
  (And that COVER!! <3)
• 
  Mrunal

  This book was gifted to me about two years ago. But I did not read it until recently. Mainly because of the size of the font or something that made me think that this book is for people younger than me. But recently because of the Lockdown and my Board Exams coming up, I was not allowed to buy any new books. So, l had to pick this book because I had no choice. And I really liked this book, to be honest. Here are my thoughts on the book.
  
  1. Setting :
  This book is set in during the time of WW2 when Germany had occupied some parts of France. It is set in a town called Aucoin.
  
  2. Characters :
  
  A) Marcel - This little guy is our protagonist. He loves cycling (just like me) and is a big fan of Tour de France. He idolizes The French winners of the above mentioned contest. He is bullied by people at his school because he is a little short. But let me tell you that this little guy has enormous amount of determination and bravery(I should learn that from him). His parents run a bakery and he goes to deliver the breads for them all around the town.
  
  B) Delphine - This little girl has recently shifted to the town in the middle of the academic year. She is a very bright student but when it comes to religious studies, she is very bad at it. She claims to be a Christian but is never seen visiting a church. She, like Marcel, is also very interested in Tour de France. She's also the best cyclist Marcel has ever seen (apart from the contestants of the Tour de France). (*whispers* her family has a secret that can cost them their life)
  
  C) Arnaud and Guillaume - They are Marcel's Best friends. They and Marcel go on a cycling race every day after school. They both are better then Marcel at cycling. (But no one can beat Delphine, she's the best!!)
  
  D) Marcel's Parents - They run a bakery that is famous in all Aucoin. They have been facing financial problems recently because of the German invasion of France, but they do their best to keep Marcel happy. (P. S. They also have a secret, thought its a little different than that of Delphine,but it's still as fatal.)
  
  E) Mademoiselle Babineaux - She is a teacher at Marcel's school. She is the kindest teacher and loves all the children in the class no matter how bad they are. She is everybody's favorite.
  
  3. What I think about this book :
  This is great. I am not very satisfied with the ending but it makes sense. At the beginning, I did not like this book much but as it progressed, I kinda started enjoying it.
  
  
  Did I like this book?
  Yep
  Would I suggest people to read it?
  Probably
  Would I re read it?
  I don't think so.... Unless I don't have a choice.
  
  Tell me your thoughts about it in the comment section below.
• 
  Charlie

  Won this well-written book from Goodreads.com.
  As a member of the older generation, I got a pleasure reading this kids book. It would have helped me to understand WW11 ( a bit better) if I had read it during my much younger days. The WW11 kids in Europe were at war too. This story about the bicycle spy is one of them. Great story.
  
• 
  Sadie Forsythe

  Now, this is written for 3rd to 7th graders, according to the info page in the front of the book. So, I’m hardly the target demographic, being almost 40 and all. But I want to give it to my 9yo and be able to discuss it with her, so I went ahead and read it too. The writing is appropriately simple and it trims some very thick themes into fairly thin ideas, such that a child can grasp it.
  
  I do think it shies away from really engaging the subject matter. Because of this I think they’d need a little knowledge of WWII to really understand it. A lot is explained, but I still feel a minimal base knowledge would be needed or at least appreciated. But Marcel is a sweet character and his story is interesting enough, though again fairly simplistic. I think a 3rd to 7th grader would likely enjoy the book. I’m hoping mine will, especially given the state of the world at this moment.
• 
  Carly Friedman

  I really enjoyed this brilliant little book. Marcel is a young teenager in France during WWII. He figures out that his parents, who own a bakery in the small town of Aucoin, are part of the French Resistance. He begins to help the cause as well and then has to be even more brave to help a dear friend. I loved the parts about bicycles and the Tour de France.
  
  This was a great reading experience with my daughter. We loved the characters and the themes of courage, friendship, self-sacrifice, and justice. The book was very well-written. I look forward to reading more by this author.
• 
  Amy

  Under 200 pages + male protagonist + vague cover = a book I am going to read with student-readers in mind.
  
  ONCE is a huge Holocaust-themed success in my classroom for a variety of reasons: short chapters, brisk pacing, some hair-raising moments, but all in all satisfying and fairly innocent. THE BICYCLE SPY maintains the innocence of ONCE but doesn't have the pacing or the intensity that my readers tend to look for in their books. The main character Marcel's scrapes with danger are really only that - scrapes -- whereas my students are old enough that they tend to like a full body slam of intensity when it comes to danger.
  
  ONCE has memorable if cookie-cutter characters .... here I felt the characters were not memorable or interesting, either.
  
  What THE BICYCLE SPY does offer, on the other hand, is a decent exploration into the importance of bravery, courage, risk-taking, and even lying in the face of fighting evil.
• 
  Brooke

  Twelve-year-old Marcel loves the tour-de-France. Unfortunately it is during World War II and the race has been suspended. Still Marcel delivers packages for his Mother- loaves of bread from their bakery, racing his bike around his French town and countryside at full speed, imagining it is him in the race. One day he is so hungry he breaks open a loaf before delivering it to his aunt. Inside he finds a message that seems to be in some sort of code. Could his parents be part of the French Resistance? then Marcel meets a new girl who also likes to race bikes. But things just don't add up about her and soon Marcel finds himself racing to help save his new friend. Marcel is the only one who can help his friend and her family find safety. Is he brave enough? Is he strong enough or will he fail? Loved this historical fiction.
• 
  Mr. Gottshalk

  This is the second book I've read this month that has to do with the Nazi occupation of France in the early 1940's. Imagine a world where you can't talk on the phone because someone is listening in, you can't really travel anywhere because there are soldiers patrolling the streets, and you can't be friends with Jewish people. Marcel, the boy in this book, takes a lot of risks riding his bike all around the place, secretly delivering messages that he doesn't know about at first. But things get a lot more complicated when his bike-riding partner needs to escape France just because she's Jewish. This book has a lot of tense moments but I found to be rather predictable with two-dimensional characters.
• 
  Keisha | A Book Like You

  3.5 stars - this is a good middle grade book to introduce children to life in France during WWII. Marcel was a great character to follow!
• 
  Alex Baugh

  It's November 1942, and Marcel Christophe, 12, has one dream - to ride in the famous bike race the Tour de France when he gets older. For now, though, he must be content with practicing on his bicycle, riding to school and delivering bread to customers of his parents' bakery. The race has been cancelled since the Nazis began occupying northern France in 1940, but Marcel knows it will be back after the war is over. Now, however, the Nazis have also invaded the southern part of France where Marcel lives, making things difficult for everyone. Not only are there shortages and rationing, but soldiers are stopping people to question where they are going and why.
  
  The first time Marcel is stopped by a guard, his parents want to know all about it. The next time they ask him to deliver bread to his aunt and uncle. his mother gives him some pain d'epice (gingerbread) to offer to the guard if he is stopped again. Sure enough, the guard is there, and more than willing to let Marcel go by in exchange for the gingerbread. Afterwards, Marcel decides to slice off a little of the bread to eat and discovers a note written by his father baked into it. Suddenly, Marcel realizes he has been making a lot more bread deliveries these past few weeks, but why? Stunned, Marcel realizes his parents are in the resistance and his is delivering messages for them. Realizing the danger for everyone concerned, he decides to keep this to himself.
  
  Meanwhile, at school, there is a new girl named Delphine Gilette who is not only a very good student, but knows all about the Tour de France thanks to her brother and father's interest in the race. It doesn't take long before she and Marcel become fast friends, riding their bikes together, playing together and doing homework. But just as Marcel has a secret, so does Delphine and when a boy in their class discovers a revealing photograph in her school satchel, her secret is exposed. Delphine and her family are Jews from northern France who had traveled to southern France using forged papers when it was still free of Nazis soldiers. Now, they will need new papers to try to get out of France to safely.
  
  Marcel realizes he must confess to his parents that he knows that they are part of the resistance in order to help his friend escape France. Luckily, his parents are more than willing to help, but they must send Marcel to a fellow resistance contact on his bicycle. What should have been a simple trip, however, is anything but. Everything that could go wrong does, including a flat tire that forces Marcel to trade his beloved bike for a beat up replacement that will take him further from home than he has ever been seeking the right people who can help Delphine and her family get out of France.
  
  But the Nazis have already begun rounding up all the Jews in the area. Will Marcel make it to his final destination and home again before Delphine and her parents are found and deported?
  
  At first I thought The Bicycle Spy was not going to be a very interesting story, but that quickly changed and it proved to be a very accessible, exciting narrative of courage and friendship. The language is direct and clear, and terms that might be unfamiliar to readers are defined in the glossary at the back of the book. Told in the third person, Marcel's story unfolds simply and believably. I say believably because after reading so many stories about the courageous acts of children to help other, I can easily see how this could have happened.
  
  As a protagonist, Marcel is a typical, unassuming 12 year old, who is happy riding his bike, racing his friends, and dreaming about his big Tour de France wins, yet he also seems surprised by his own bravery. Delphine, a girl who has had to move around because of the Nazis, feels a little more down to earth but the reader will definitely feel her underlying anxiety, even when she appears to be so confident.
  
  I really liked the way Yona Zeldis McDonough managed to keep the tension building slowly right up to the end of the novel, making it a deceptively simple, thought provoking story. I also like the way she incorporated information about the Nazi occupation of France, WWII and even the Tour de France so easily that it felt like a natural part of the narrative, and not like she was teaching her readers a lesson.
  
  McDonough has also included a short history of WWII, as well as a Timeline, a short history of the Tour de France (something I found very interesting since all I know about this race has to do with the disgraced Lance Armstrong) and books for further reading.
  
  There is much in The Bicycle Spy that will appeal to young readers and for that reason, I highly recommend it to them.
  
  This book is recommended for readers age 8+
  This book was sent to me by the publisher, Scholastic Press
  
  This review was originally posted on
  The Children's War
• 
  Riley Thomas

  1. The US President has learned that you’ve read this book and wants to know one thing a main character discovered about life that you think all Americans should know. What would you tell him? Why?
  
  In 1942 Marcel is a young boy going through life during World War II. He is fascinated with the Tour de France and loves to ride his bike, “training” to someday race in the big event. He ends up using his bicycle skills by helping his parents fight/resist the Nazi’s by delivering baked goods to other Nazi resisters. The secret, though, is that he is actually delivering secret messages back and forth inside of the breads and other goods. This way he won’t get caught by soldiers. Marcel ends up meeting a young lady named Delphine and they strike up a friendship with their love of the Tour de France in common. Come to find out, Delphine and her family are Jewish, putting them at huge risk! Marcel tells his parents about the situation and they all agree to help her and her family. Delphine even asked Marcel at one point why he was helping her. Marcel replied that he simply had to because it was the right thing to do. I think that the most important thing that Marcel learns about life throughout this book is compassion. He learns that there is always someone out there who is worse off than you and when you can, you should help them. He learned the power of friendship and courage as well as he and his family stood up to Nazi soldiers and their injustice to the Jews.
  
  Why I chose this assignment: I think that this prompt fit with the book very well. Given the circumstances, Marcel learns an enormous amount about himself and the world around him throughout the entire book. It was easy to have to think about the most important things he learned in his journey and compassion, friendship, and courage are all things that every American should have. The fact that this young, 12 year old boy was able to comprehend what was happening to Jewish families during WWII is fascinating and his character grew tremendously throughout his story. Referring to The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller, teachers could incorporate this prompt into a post-read activity for students to complete after they’ve finished reading the book. In order to keep track of what students are reading and check their progress, a teacher could give this prompt to students. On page 135, Donalyn Miller talks about how the entire goal of book reports is to make sure students are actually reading and retaining the information they’re getting from books. Giving a prompt like the one above, or from the Alternatives to Book Reports list, students would technically still be doing a book report, but in a different, fun, and more engaging way. As a teacher, I would give this prompt to students along with instructions for length, and I would have the students write in letter form as if it was actually being sent to the president.
  
• 
  Anastasia Tuckness

  Marcel, who lives in southern France in 1942, loves riding his bicycle and dreams of someday racing in the Tour de France. Unfortunately, the race has been cancelled the last few years because of World War II. Otherwise, his small town seems mostly unaffected by the war, up until two events change Marcel's life quite drastically. First, his parents (who own a bakery) start asking him to deliver bread on his bicycle, and these deliveries often seem sort of strange--until Marcel figures out that each loaf contains a secret message for other members of the French Resistance. These bicycle trips then take on new urgency, importance, and danger, as he must pass soldier checkpoints each time. Second, a new girl joins his class, and after a while, Marcel begins to suspect there is something different about her family. Could she be Jewish? If so, what would that mean for their growing friendship--after all, finally he's met a girl who loves biking and is super smart, which makes her a great friend.
  
  Marcel has lots of hard decisions to make and hard roads to follow after he makes these decisions! This book would make a good family read-aloud as well as a great book for any readers who like history or gripping stories. I will admit it starts a little slow, so readers may need to give it a little time.
• 
  blackplume

  Full review posted on my blog,
  Blackplume
  
  Set in France during World War II, The Bicycle Spy tells the story of a 12-year-old Marcel Christophe. Marcel is a good biker and he dreams of entering the Tour de France someday. But with the German ruling his country his dream suddenly becomes impossible. The race has been canceled indefinitely, Nazis are everywhere, soldiers are guarding every streets and they no longer feel safe in their own place. And It become more complicated when he found out that his parents are part of the Resistance and his new friend, Delphine Gilette and her family are in danger for being a Jewish. What a young boy can do against the Nazi soldiers? Can he save his friend before the Gestapo get hold of her and her family?
  
  Marcel as the protagonist is very brave. Though his train of thought sometimes sounds too mature for his age I still find him and his situation believable. His friendships with Delphine is sweet and his relationship with his parents is endearing.
  
  Continue reading
  here
• 
  Linda

  This is a good book that meets one of the challenges of how to portray the Nazi era for those just beginning to learn about it. It highlights one boy's struggle in a small French town after German occupation. After delivering several loaves of bread for his mother who runs the town's bakery, he figures out that secret notes are being baked into the bread, and realizes his parents are part of the resistance. He keeps the secret even from them, but with the entrance of a new girl in his class at school, the events become more complicated. He is a regular kid that loves bicycle racing, especially imagining that he may race in the wonderful Tour de France. He's seen one of the races, but they're now canceled because of the war. Bicycling plays a big part in this tale, and in one harrowing challenge, Marcel's inspiration from what he knows of the racers helps to keep him going. There is an escape too, and a sad goodbye, but during all the scary moments, Marcel learns courage helps in every part of his life. Yona Zeldis McDonough adds a brief intro to World War II, a timeline and information about the Tour de France.
• 
  Reading is my Escape

  Audience: Middle Grade
  Format: Audiobook/Library Copy
  
  
  A gust of wind cut across Marcel's face as he cycled furiously down the street.
  - first sentence
  
  Marcel lives in German-occupied France in 1942. He is obsessed with cycling and with the Tour de France (which has been canceled for the past two years). But he soon discovers two secrets that make the race seem unimportant. First, his parents are part of the revolution and second, his friend Delphine is actually Jewish. Riding his bike, Marcel carries messages for the resistance hidden in the bread his parents bake. When he discovers Delphine and her family are in danger, he will risk his life to save them.
  
  This is an imaginative historical adventure. Marcel uses his cycling to help him get through his fear and both Marcel and Delphine are authentic and likable characters. The story is enriched by the historical background and details of the story.
  
  Overall, this is a well-written, sensitive read that children in grades 4-8 will enjoy. It encourages children to stand up for others and for what they believe in. It would make an excellent addition to a World War II curriculum.
• 
  Pauline

  There are many books written for children about World War II and Nazi Germany and it is a period of history that fascinates children and adults alike. Yet there are not many books written for children from the perspective of the resistance fighters in France and McDonough has crafted a well-constructed and engaging novel. The greatest strength of this novel can be found in its characterisation. Marcel and Delphine engage in a friendship borne out of a common interest in bicycle riding and the Tour de France although both are harbouring secrets that could potentially have disastrous consequences for them and their families. In a time of darkest evil courage, true bravery and heroism emerge in the smallest of actions from children and adults alike. We could not put this down and readers who like their stories substantiated with true facts will appreciate the glossary of terms at the end.
  
  Suitable for 9+ - themes of war, anti-Jewish sentiment, courage, friendship, Tour de France, French resistance.
• 
  Traci

  Good introduction to life in Europe during WWll.
  There is enough suspense to keep the book interesting and enough facts to inform readers about some of the hardships of WWll without being too graphic for younger readers.
  Different voices used by the reader added to the enjoyment of the book.
  Interesting facts about bicycling and the Tour de France would appeal to kids who enjoy cycling. Marcel's love of cycling and his dream of one day competing in the Tour de France helped him when he felt scared. I think young readers will identify with this aspect of Marcel's character no matter what dreams/interest they have.
  
• 
  Amanda

  Although I'm not sure I'd call this book a big stand-out in comparison to other books of its type, I do think it's important for kids to read pieces of historical fiction like this one, starting at a young age. I've always been interested in WWII and the Holocaust, even as a child, so I'm sure I would have enjoyed reading this back then as well. I could have done with a bit more tension and a few more plot twists, but considering the age group the book is targeted at, it's definitely a solid effort.
• 
  Hazel (Stay Bookish)

  The Bicycle Spy is a simple middle grade story that transports the reader to Paris during the German's invasion and shows hope and friendship during a time of tension and distress. Although I think this may be a good historical fiction starter for young readers, I do feel that it won't be as impressive for those seeking depth and excellent prose. I did like the strong setting and compassionate characters though!
• 
  Susan

  This is a real gift to my fourth grade classroom. I have many students who are interested in history, who are ready to think about themes like courage in the face of darkest evil, but still require accessible language. This is the perfect next step for students who have exhausted the I Survived series but aren't quite ready for Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan. McDonough hit the sweet spot . This will surely be a classroom favorite this year.
• 
  Jennifer

  This middle grade novel was a little too simplistic for me to really enjoy. There's some good material to discuss bullying and courage and doing the right thing even when it's hard and scary. But, I would definitely put this in the 8-10 range instead of the 10-12 range. If you're looking for a good WWII book, Number The Stars by Lowry or The Winged Watchman by Hilda von Stockum are both more engaging. But, this one is not bad, it was a quick, easy read.
• 
  Dana

  Final selection for my classroom book clubs (6 in all for my first year) and this goes into the "favorite" pile! Set in a small French town during World War 2, Marcel helps his parents (who are part of the French Resistance) pass notes to other Resistance members, and in turn helps a friend escape to the safety of Spain. Great read!
• 
  Woff

  Pretty tame, but probably a good way to introduce younger readers (pre-middle grade) to WWII - especially those who aren’t ready for the really harrowing stuff.
• 
  Erin

  3.5 stars. Nice story, well written, good characters, positive theme. It’s basically Number the Stars with a boy, a bicycle, and France. But enjoyable and a good read.
• 
  Jessica Moore

  I'm trying to read more books I might suggest to future students. I'm also trying to expand my historical fiction reading experiences. This book was an interesting blend of WW2 and the sporting event Tour De France. A boy finding his values, taking risks for the sake of others, and growing up just a bit. I like the perspective of this story written from a non-Jewish French Resistance member!