Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

Here's a link for a Goodreads giveaway for this book, through Sunday, May 17, 2015.

ODIN'S PROMISE, Goodreads Giveaway

Odin’s Promise is a story of the first year of German occupation of Norway in World War II, as seen through the eyes of a young girl. At her side is Odin, her faithful Norwegian elkhound.

Mari is soon drawn into the activities of the underground resistance movement, as young and old find a way to oppose the occupying forces and show their love for their native land.

“Love of dog, love of family, and love of country ... are woven together in this beautifully written novel of one girl’s coming of age during war time.”
– Gayle Rosengren, author of What the Moon Said

Thanks for offering ODIN'S PROMISE to celebrate the one year anniversary of its release.
I found the voice of my main character, Mari, in the research of Kathleen Stokker (Folklore Fights the Nazis). Journal excerpts written by young people during the occupation allowed me to see the story through Mari's eyes. Through her voice I met her family and the village of Ytre Arna became her home. Mari even made room within her story for an older-focused, mature plot line of a defiant wedding in the face of the enemy.
In the year since ODIN’S PROMISE released I’ve heard countless details of the occupation years and read additional resources, many of them memoirs or autobiographies.
Work on a sequel is advancing well and I’m optimistic that more of Mari’s story will be told. Woven throughout it are slivers of the various stories and historic details I’ve been privileged to learn. I hope, too, that the courage of those who persisted and resisted and retained their national and cultural identities will continue to resonate through the lives of Mari’s fictional story.

A note that this book just won the 2014 Midwest Book Award for Children's Fiction. Yaay!

Here's a link to more about that award:
2014 Midwest Book Award for Odin's Promise