Strawberry Fields #799317

Ambitious young reporters Josie and Laurent arrive in Prague in 1968 at a time of upheaval, keen to cover a revolution unfolding behind the Iron Curtain. It’s the story of a lifetime. A dream come true.

A dream that’s about to become a nightmare.

At dawn on a mist-covered bridge, Josie receives a cryptic message concealed inside a song. Before she can make sense of it, Soviet tanks thunder into the city, changing everything.

Thrown together by a desire to decipher the riddle and uncover the truth behind it, she and Laurent find themselves propelled on a collision course with nefarious villains and unstoppable forces. Uncertain who to trust, including each other, they race against time to solve an impossible puzzle before the city falls.

Strawberry Fields drops middle grade and older readers into an adventure happening real-time against the historic events of a heroic resistance. Cliffhanger chapters deliver pulse-racing chases, unexpected twists, and heart-rending double crosses.

A prequel to the author’s Back in the USSR (either book can be read first), it’s perfect for fans of Jennifer Nielsen, Alan Gratz, Ruta Sepetys, Steve Sheinkin, and James Ponti.

"Vivid setting, richly drawn characters, and a forceful historical context ... Vibrates with authenticity" -The Booklife Prize by Publishers Weekly

"Breathless chases, cryptic clues, a heroine with grit, and a little romance ... A bang-up job of keeping the pages turning and vividly rendering the sights of Prague" -Melissa Joulwan, Strong Sense of Place podcast 

"A gripping read with a satisfying ending, set during the 1968 Prague Spring and the brutal Soviet crackdown. I’ve never been to Prague but I felt like I was there." –Jennifer Roderick, Content Producer for the Emmy award-winning High School Quiz Show on PBS