Author: Marsha
The War Below (previously: Underground Soldier)

A companion to the award-winning books Stolen Child and Making Bombs for Hitler.
Fourteen-year-old Luka works as an Ostarbeiter in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe, alongside Lida from Making Bombs for Hitler. Desperate to escape the brutal conditions of the labour camp, he manages to get away by hiding in a truck under a pile of dead bodies.
Once free, Luka joins a group of Ukrainian resistance fighters. Caught between advancing Nazis in the west and Soviet troops in the east, they mount guerilla raids, help POW escapees, and do all they can to make life hard for the Nazis and Soviets. After the war, Luka must decide whether to follow Lida to Canada — or stay in Europe and search for his long-lost mother.
Underground Soldier is a companion book to Stolen Child and Making Bombs for Hitler, and a perfect entry point into the series for new readers, as the books can be read in any order.
Continue reading “The War Below (previously: Underground Soldier)”
Skyping with students in Brazil
Adrift at Sea shortlisted for Golden Oak Award!
The War Below — cover reveal!
Skyping with #CISDlib #teampinkcisd
The lullaby that Lida and Luka sing in Making Bombs
Don’t Tell the Enemy — cover reveal!
Krystia’s family is hiding Jews from the invading Nazis, but the risks are immense. How much will she risk for her friends? A gripping story based on true events.
During the Soviet occupation of Ukraine during World War II, some of Krystia’s family are harrassed; others are arrested and killed. When the Nazis liberate the town, they are welcomed with open arms. Krystia’s best friend Dolik isn’t so sure. His family is Jewish and there are rumours that the Nazis might be even more brutal than the Soviets.
Shortly after the Nazis arrive, they discover a mass grave of Soviet prisoners and blame the slaughter on the Jews. Soon, the Nazis establish ghettoes and begin public executions of Jews.
Krystia can’t bear to see her friends suffering and begins smuggling food into the ghetto. When rumours circulate that the ghetto will be evacuated and the Jews will be exterminated, Krystia must decide if she’s willing to risk her own family’s safety to save her friends.
Skyping with students in New Delhi!
New teacher’s guide for Prisoners in the Promised Land!
Thank you so much, Kim Therriault and internmentcanada.ca for creating this guide!
Want to see my other Teacher’s Guides? Go here.
















