Ming and Marie spy for freedom by Jackie French

'I will send you to a world without men, where thousands of heroines face danger you never dreamed of.' (Page 14)

Ming & Marie Spy for Freedom is the second book for upper middle grade/early YA readers in The Girls Who Changed The World series written by well-known author Jackie French. Ming has angered the mysterious Herstory whom readers were introduced to in the first book, Ming & Flo Fight for the Future. She and her twin brother Tuan are transported back to January 1916 where they face extraordinary danger and hardship but show immense courage.

Set in Belgium, the story begins with Ming and her twin brother Tuan trapped in an underground cellar with explosions and fire all around them. Tuan is badly injured, and Ming leads him to safety with the help of experienced spy, 12-year-old Marie who becomes Ming’s friend and ally. Through Marie, Ming is found shelter, food and clothing as well as gaining a deep understanding of the appalling conditions imposed on the country of Belgium by the invading German Army. Tuan is hospitalised for concussion and a broken leg and is separated from Ming but through the bravery of the secret women’s resistance in the town, they are eventually reunited after a series of horrific events that Ming plays a pivotal role in.

While staying with Marie, Ming becomes part of La Dame Blanche, The White Lady, a group of women and girls who sabotage the Germans at every opportunity. The organisation is very much one that works in complete secrecy - the little you know the better and Ming only follows Marie’s instructions. Her first role for the organisation is to spend time knitting at the train station to monitor the movements of German troops. Within the knitting are a series of codes to be passed onto British Intelligence. It is while Ming is there that she learns of a devastating train delivery taking place one Friday evening. Using knowledge from the future she is able to impress upon the saboteurs that this train needs to be stopped. But at what cost to those who have taken her in.

For those readers who are fascinated by war genre, this story based on true facts is a must read. It is full of danger, apprehension, excitement, and the opportunity to learn about the roles women and girls played in major historical events and can play in the future. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Themes: Women & Girls in History, Time Travel, World War 1, Danger, Belgium, Resistance, Saboteurs, Hardship.

Kathryn Beilby