Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry
Historical Fiction; 232 pages
Six months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, three eighth-grade girls living on an American military base with their families in Berlin try to save a Russian soldier, who has been beaten and left for dead, by smuggling him to Paris.
Sam’s review:
Jodi, daughter of an officer stationed in Berlin in 1990, tells the story of her adventure with Giselle and Vivian, also from army families. Their love of classical music has brought them together, and they are anticipating the competition in Paris that their trio has entered. They are totally distraught when their German instructor tells them that he cannot take them to Paris. Devastated, they meander along the river as they slowly make their way back to the base. As they mull their fate under a bridge, they witness a Russian soldier being savagely beaten and thrown into the river. After his assaulters leave, they rescue the soldier and discover that his identity must be kept a secret. Their decision to help him launches them into an adventure of deceit, espionage, and danger. As their good intentions lead them into deeper and deeper trouble, the three girls use their talents and ingenuity to save themselves. It’s a thrilling mystery with colorful characters and much insight into an important but largely forgotten historical period.