ISLAND OF SPIES

Narrator Kristen DiMercurio brings a little known piece of North Carolina's WWII history alive for middle graders. Neb, Rain, and Stick, the Dime Novel Kids, are best friends who look for mysteries to solve. Stick, the story's curious and observant narrator, has a strong voice as she introduces listeners to life on Hatteras Island in the 1940s. Neb is a clever problem solver with a confident voice. Rain, a non-native of the area who always sees the best in others, has a voice filled with compassion and kindness. When an explosion rips the night, rumors of U-boats off the coast become more real. Susan Turnage's author's note shares the story's seed, planted on a visit to North Carolina when she was 9, and clearly separates history from fiction. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2022]