PJ Our Way Books Set in Great Britain
This month we’re delighted to offer readers Sweep and The British Escape, two books that both take place in Great Britain. From historical fiction to contemporary stories and even fantasies and choose your own adventures, PJ Our Way has a variety of books that will appeal to all of our middle-grade Anglophiles!
Ben’s Bonkers Bar Mitzvah
by Ivor Baddiel
Something very strange is happening in Ben’s universe. His bar mitzvah is on Saturday, but the synagogue has disappeared! And that’s only the beginning… This is a silly book with plenty of humor, but also more serious moments of kindness and courage.
The British Escape
by Leah Sokol
It’s 1939. You’ve just heard the code words “Pied Piper” over the radio. England is at war! All of the children are being sent out of London. But where is your little sister Ruthie? Will you find her and escape in time? Only YOU can decide!
A Candle in the Dark
by Adele Geras
Germany is Clara’s home, but in 1938 Jews are no longer safe there. Clara and her little brother, Maxi, have to leave everything behind and go to England to start a new life with a family they have never met.
How I Became a Spy
by Deborah Hopkinson
Bertie and his dog stumble across a notebook in code on the streets of World War II London. Is the notebook’s owner a spy? Can Bertie and his friends crack the code before something terrible happens?
Lily Renee, Escape Artist
by Trina Robbins
This vibrantly illustrated graphic novel tells Lily Renee’s real life story, from her idyllic pre-war 1930s childhood in Austria through her challenging experiences as a refugee in England and, finally, as she begins her new life as a comic book artist in America.
Rip to the Rescue
by Miriam Halahmy
Fooling the Air Raid Warden into thinking Jack’s old enough to be a Messenger was easy. But what if Mum and Dad find out he’s bicycling around London in the middle of a war?
Saving Hanno
by Miriam Halahmy
German-Jewish refugee Rudi can’t wait for his dog, Hanno, to join him in his foster home in England. But with food scarce and the country preparing for war, the animals’ lives are in danger! Can Rudi find a way to save Hanno?
Striker Boy
by Johnny Zucker
For 13-year-old Nat, the only good thing about moving back to England is being near his favorite soccer team. After a scout spots Nat's incredible soccer skills, it looks like his dreams are about to come true! But when Nat uncovers a shady plot, he must find a way to save the team – and himself.
Sweep
by Jonathan Auxier
Eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow is one of the best chimney boys in Victorian London, even though she’s a girl. It’s a dangerous job, and when Nan gets caught in a fire, she’s sure the end has come. Enter the mysterious and magical Charlie: smoldering knight in sooty armor, guardian angel, golem.
The War I Finally Won
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
When war breaks out, Ada moves to the British countryside with her younger brother and their guardian into a small cottage owned by the bossy Lady Thornton. Then Lady Thornton moves in, too, with her daughter, Maggie. With the arrival of Ruth, a German Jewish refugee, the cottage becomes even more crowded and uncomfortable. Luckily, Lady Thornton’s got beautiful horses for everyone to ride. Everyone except Ruth. Because she’s German.