For years in school, we have been educated about the horrors of World War 2, the propaganda of the Nazis, and how they used to torture people that disobeyed them. I’m sure that all of us would have shuddered just thinking about what other people would be facing during that time. However, in this new book Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz, the experience that you will be getting from this novel will be far greater than any you have experienced in school – with a storytelling art along with credible information about the War, this is surely a book to read. In this review, I will be recapping the book, giving my most favourite part, and then giving my final rating about this book.
This book is set in Nazi Germany, during the year 1943. The War has been going on for nearly 4 years, and mass destruction is starting to happen. During all of this terror, Micheal O’Shaunnasy, a 13 year old boy is living in Nazi Germany along with his mother and father. Micheal used to love Germany as he spent lots of his years growing up here, because his parents were Irish Ambassadors, speaking the native language, and also learning the cultural norms. He also stayed with high end Nazi leaders, listening to their plans to destroy the world, being allowed because Ireland is neutral in this war, and employed by the Nazi Youths, who are the “next generation of Nazi’s.” With all of this information, you may assume that Michael is a “normal” German during this time, believing and preaching the Nazi’s rule. But, you are incorrect. Micheal and his parents have an elaborate scheme. They are actually spies. Yes, they are spying on the axis, and reporting back their information to the Allies. At the beginning of this book, through some luck, Micheal meets a small boy named Fritz. Despite being the same age, Fritz is severely smaller than Micheal, but they become best friends instantly. Fritz wants to become a leader of the Nazi when he becomes older. He already has been brainwashed with this propaganda, and he thinks his life goals are set out. Although Micheal tries to convince him not to go down that path, it seems ineffective, as Fritz sticks to his original decision. Luckily for Micheal, they both spend lots of time together, as they are in the same Nazi school class, which makes a very close friendship for both of them. During the same time, Micheal continuously puts his guard of being a spy at risk, such as when rescuing an Allied fighter jet pilot, named Simon, and bringing it to his parents in the Irish Embassy, where Nazi’s are all around him. One day, when his friendship with Fritz grows, he finds out that Fritz’s dad is working on a secret project, Projekt 1065, to build a new fighter jet that is faster than anyone else has seen. Micheal knows that if that jet is built, the Allies will definitely lose the war. WIth a chip on his soldier, Micheal needs to give Simon the blueprint of Projekt 1065, so that the British can create this plane quicker, smuggle Simon out of the country, and participate in more missions to gather more information, all while keeping his profile hidden, and making rash decisions that could destroy his cover.
Main Ideas from this Paragraph:
- Micheal is 13 year old boy living in Nazi Germany with his mother and father being Irish Ambassadors – they are secretly spies
- Micheal meets this boy his age called Fritz who wants to be a leader of Nazi when he grows older. They create an inseparable bond
- Micheal risks his guard frequently. One example of this is when he rescued an Allied pilot named Simon and brought him back to his home.
- Micheal finds out that Fritz’s dad is creating a new plane project, to make the fastest plane, called Projekt 1065
- Micheal needs to give the projekt to Simon before he leaves so that he can tell the Allies about this plan and they can develop it quicker.
Personally, the most favourite part of this book for me would have to be when Simon dies. Although for many people this part may be the saddest, as a person dies, when Simon dies, he truly reflects his values, and his laid back personality. Before he dies, he was captured by the Nazis (I wouldn’t tell you why, as that would spoil the book), however, just before he dies, he makes a joke about British people, Irish People and Scottish People which reflects his happy and laid back personality. Also, he chooses to get killed by the Nazi people instead of being tortured and having to reveal all the secrets, which shows that he would literally take a bullet for someone.
Main Ideas from this Paragraph:
- My favourite moment of this book is when Simon dies
- His death shows that he has a laid back and happy personality, no matter the situation
- Also shows that he would take a bullet for anyone, to make their lives better
Overall, this is a brilliant book with a fascinating plot, adventures and has plenty of moments of heartbreak but also suspense throughout this whole novel, which makes it impossible to put this book down. Overall, I will rate this 9.6/10.