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Friends in Strange Places is the second book in the Heroes on the Homefront Mysteries series by Nell Branum, published by Moody Publishers. While it continues with the same characters we met in Keep ’Em Flying, this mystery stands on its own and can be enjoyed without having read the first book. It’s a fun choice for middle-grade readers who love both history and mystery, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into an American POW camp for German soldiers during World War II.
I am so grateful that Moody Publishers is putting out middle-grade fiction like this—books that teach while they entertain. The historical content here is excellent, and the mystery itself is well-paced and perfectly suited to this age group. Riley, the main character, is a wonderfully relatable middle school girl with a cell phone, a circle of friends, and a heartfelt wish for a dog. Her father is deployed overseas, but her grandmother lives nearby, giving Riley plenty of opportunities to spend time with this wise and adventure-loving woman. Riley’s impulsiveness and tendency to leap to conclusions feels true to life, but her grandmother’s consistent cautions and wisdom give the story good balance.
In this second book, Riley’s love of mystery, and her desperation to adopt a dog lead her back into her bad habit of jumping to unfair conclusions about people she doesn’t know or understand. But, in this book, she also meets a new friend who shows her how to chart her suspicions, track evidence, and separate facts from feelings. This addition makes the story even stronger, modeling thoughtful investigation for young readers.
I was fascinated to learn that German POWs in America called themselves “guests behind the wire,” and that they formed such close bonds with guards and townspeople that they held annual reunions on both continents for decades after the war. This story explores those relationships (both during the war and in modern times) beautifully, pulling back a curtain on a history that most Americans are probably unaware of.
Middle-grade readers will enjoy Riley’s relatable voice, the compelling mystery, and the surprising history tucked into every chapter. This is exactly the kind of series I love to have in my library—smart, entertaining, and wholesome.