Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler ~ Blog Tour

Kate Heap

May 29

I'm thrilled to welcome author Liz Kessler to Scope for Imagination with a special guest post!

Bringing Yesterday to Life in Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler

In 2020, I wrote a book that had been close to my heart for many years. When The World Was Ours was inspired by a childhood experience of my dad's which enabled him and his parents to escape Nazi-occupied Vienna and Czechoslovakia in 1939.

During the research for that book, I came across a story of two sisters, Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, who, as teenage girls, had got involved in the Dutch Resistance. I found their story fascinating. I read as much as I could about them, and soon discovered that there were many others, too: young people who had fought in a secret movement to resist and help thwart the Nazi occupiers of Holland.

I was blown away by their bravery and knew I wanted to write a story inspired by these young people.

I decided that in my new book, Code Name Kingfisher, I would have a modern-day story running alongside the one set in 1942. It was important to me to draw comparisons between what a young person might experience today and what my characters went through during the war.

In one sense, their experiences would have been completely different. We might not be in the middle of a world war, but most of us know about bullying, many of us have experienced prejudice, and I wanted to write a book that explored themes around social justice that linked these experiences.

To further enhance the sense of the two stories being linked, I decided I would have one character who played a part in both narratives. The present-day story features a girl, Liv, and her grandmother, known as Bubbe. (A Jewish term of endearment for a grandmother.) Bubbe has a secret past and I loved exploring the relationship between Liv and Bubbe, how it develops, and how the past and present-day narratives reflect on and intertwine with each other.

I hope that Code Name Kingfisher will provide a bridge for today's young people to discover things they never knew about children from the 1940s. And in doing this, I hope that today's readers will ask questions of themselves, how they want to act, think and behave throughout their own lives, and I hope, above all, that they feel inspired and emboldened by the bravery shown by my characters.

Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler is out now in paperback (Simon & Schuster Children's Books)

My review:

Code Name Kingfisher is a powerful story of secrets, family and friendship. Spanning 80 years, it follows three girls on their quest to stay true to themselves and where their family has come from while searching for a happy future.

In present day England, Liv is struggling with changing friendships and her grandmother's dementia. When she's assigned a personal history project at school, she realises how little she knows about her family's past. Thankfully, her new friend Gabi agrees to be her partner and is an absolute lifeline when Liv is feeling excluded and alone.

In 1942 Amsterdam, sisters Mila and Hannie are being sent away. Their parents tell them "You'll be back before you know it." but they both understand this could be good-bye forever. War is coming closer and home is no longer safe for Jewish children. They must pretend to be someone else – not Jewish – and blend into their new surroundings.

Hannie has always rejected Nazi rules. Refusing to wear her Jewish star on her coat and being far too outspoken about how their family is treated has nearly landed her in trouble too many times. Now, in their new home, she finds like-minded people and a way to express her beliefs – the Resistence. There are many secrets to keep and danger in her actions but the risk is worth it for the lives she is saving.

As Liv investigates her family's story, she finds clues that lead her to Mila and Hannie. She is inspired by the girls who have come before her and takes strength from their example. If they can fight the enemy and have courage in the face of terrible circumstances, she can stand up to bullies and cope with hard times. This becomes so much more than a school project. As Liv discovers the questions she needs to ask and looks between the lines for the answers, she finds truth, hope and the power of love.

Liv's grandmother's dementia is difficult to cope with. Shadows of the past find her in the present causing upset and confusion. She relives some of her hardest moments and worries about being sent away. Will she ever find her sister? Will they return home when this war ends?

Code Name Kingfisher is a wonderful addition to the important collection of Resistence stories that has emerged over the past few years. It is essential that these stories are told and children realise the sacrifice ordinary people made to try to stop the Nazis from taking control of Europe. Liv, Mila and Hannie are genuine, relatable characters who share their stories in an emotional and engaging way. Readers will join with them as they feel the anxiety of making new friends, the weight of secrets, the fear of war and the depth of love for their families.

Don't miss the rest of the stops on the blog tour: