I have been increasingly interested in historical fiction set during WWII in the last year or so. The Book Thief, Between Shades of Grey and Salt to the Sea were all wonderful books that took place during this time and all three were among my favorite books of 2016. If I'd read Projekt 1065 a couple months earlier, it definitely would've joined those books.

Michael is 13 years old. His father is the Irish ambassador to Germany, in the middle of the Second World War. Michael and his mother are working in Irish intelligence to aid the Allied Powers during the war. As a part of his cover, Michael belongs to the Hitler Youth.

This book is quite interesting. Michael was a very relatable character, even in the fantastic circumstances in which he finds himself. It is told first person through his perspective, and I really enjoyed his voice. Some have criticized this book because Michael continually talks about what would happen to him if he were caught. My response: if you were 13 years old and living as an undercover spy in Nazi Germany, what else would you be thinking of?! If it were me, I wouldn't be able to think of anything else. I felt like his worry about what will happen if he is caught is very authentic.

The pacing of this book is very good. I read it in just a few hours. The chapters are very short, which can be hit or miss for me. I feel like it works in this book. And even when the situation isn't scary, there is a tension that lies just under the surface throughout this book. You know that at any time, he could slip or be caught or just be inadvertently killed by something that has nothing to do with the fact that he is a spy.

I really want to check out Alan Gratz's other works now. This was my first time reading a book by him, but it won't be the last.