THE SECRET BUTTONS

In Shapiro’s historical middle-grade novel, Austrian sisters adjust to their new lives in WWII-era England as the world braces itself for war.

Twelve-year-old Anni Blum and her younger sister, Rosie, board a train in Vienna. Because Germany has taken over their country, the Jewish girls can only leave by traveling under forged Domestic Worker Visas. These visas are solely for people 25 and under, so their parents can’t go with them. Fortunately, the girls make it safely to Tuppington, England, where they stay with their uncle, aunt, and cousin Ronald. But plenty of challenges still lie ahead; Anni and Rosie, for example, are German speakers who struggle with certain English words. War is officially declared months after their arrival, soon followed by German planes regularly dropping bombs. The sisters are resilient. They can knit well, a skill they use for the benefit of numerous families. All the while, they await the day they’ll be reunited with their parents. Shapiro’s wartime tale is unexpectedly lighthearted. The sisters’ relationship is endearing—quick-witted Anni always has eyes on Rosie, ready for potential tantrums and eager to ensure the younger girl’s happiness. (It’s not long before their Tuppington family warms up to them.) The best moments involve the girls acclimating to their new environment, whether it’s the food or their household work (“Are we supposed to be the maids, or relatives?” Rosie wonders). The signs of World War II are as startling as they are compelling; Anni and Rosie get ration books (like everyone in England), are dubbed Nazi spies by local boys, and worry about their father, who’s at a Nazi “work camp.” Baldi’s black-and-white artwork shines throughout, especially the illustrations that preface each chapter, depicting such subjects as an aerial view of German planes and an umbrella-wielding Anni standing in line in the pouring rain.

A delightful cast of characters brightens this portrait of a dark time in history.