Zinc
Written by Sue Klauber
Publication date: October 2022
Ages: 10+
Format: Paperback / 198 x 129 mm / 192 pages
ISBN: 978-1-912745-04-3
Rights available: World
UK retail price: £8.99
An exciting middle-grade novel set in the Second World War.
John, George and Eva are three siblings involved in the war in contrasting, but equally dramatic, ways. George is a secret agent parachuted into Slovakia to blow up trains in an operation codenamed ‘Zinc’. Eva, living in Hungary, is involved with the Resistance, while John is a code-breaker at Bletchley Park.
Based on the extraordinary real-life experiences of the author’s father, uncle and aunt, Zinc was written for the author’s son to show the active and heroic participation of their North London Jewish family in the wartime struggle against tyranny.
Resources & extras
Sue is available for author events in a variety of contexts, such as schools, libraries and community groups. Find out more, including contact details to discuss an event, in this flyer: Zinc by Sue Klauber: author events.
Take a journey with Sue Klauber on the ‘Words & Pictures’ webzine where she delves behind the scenes of Zinc and talks about the real-life family story that inspired the book: www.wordsandpics.org/2022/11/debut-journeys-sue-klauber
“It’s quite original in children’s and teen fiction to present a Jewish family’s involvement in the war in terms of active service as British citizens, rather than as victims.” View / download Two spies and a code-breaker in the family, Sue’s interview with the Jewish Chronicle.
You can also read about Sue’s learning journey as a debut author - from braving the world of self-promotion and social media, to visiting schools and giving talks - in her interview ‘After the Whirlwind’.
Reviews
“Zinc is a triumph... a thrilling adventure, full of daring, danger and rich authenticity, which explores the lives of three ordinary young people at an extraordinary time of war when life was anything but normal. It’s a story that reveals how our relationships and decisions are shaped by our experiences and how those decisions impact on our future lives. Written straight from the heart, and with many themes that will strike a chord with contemporary readers, this is a gripping story of one family’s heroic and selfless part in the battle to defeat a brutal enemy.”
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