Fire in the Hills

Donna Jo Napoli has written an unforgettable sequel to her excellent World War II-themed young adult novel, Stones in Water (Dutton, 1997). Roberto, a young Italian boy, continues his dangerous journey home to Venice after his harrowing escape from a forced labor camp in Germany. His Jewish friend Samuele has not survived. After many hazards, he finally reaches Italy, but it is not his Italy. It is a dangerous Italy, populated by Nazis. Although the Allies are forcing the Nazi occupiers north, battles rage in cities and in the countryside. Roberto, who speaks English, a fact that saves his life, is taken as an interpreter by Kurt, a Nazi officer, and forced to interpret Kurt's commands as he searches out Italian "ragamuffins," who are really resistance fighters. At last Roberto escapes and joins the resistance himself, when he meets some unforgettable brave young people, especially the girl whose partisan name is "Volpe Rossa." Based on some of Napoli's friends' wartime experiences, she wanted American readers to learn about the Italian partigiani fighters, whose stories are not often told for young adults. Ages 11 and up. Reviewed by Marcia Posner

This is among the finest books I have ever read. It starts out a bit slowly with Roberto's escape from the Germans to his homeland of Italy. One frustration follows another until he is swept into the Italian resistance by Volpe Rossa, a young, beautiful, intensely devoted partigiani fighter. Like Roberto we cannot help but fall in love with her as we gasp at her daring. Roberto, Volpe Rossa and others gather and distribute weapons throughout the countryside, penetrating German operations without a care for themselves. Roberto has to reach deep within and stretch way beyond himself to keep up with Volpe Rossa's determination and his own growing sense of justice. Donna Jo Napoli based many of the events upon stories she heard from friends who had taken part in the Italian resistance. By the end of the German occupation it seemed like almost every Italian had joined the partigianis, and that they ,rather than the allies, had ended the war in Italy. This is a book about thousands of heroes that most of us have never thought about. Roberto and Volpe Rossa are unforgettable characters. I can't believe they are not real. I hope you allow yourself the opportunity to meet them. As a children's librarian I would recommend this book to mature 7th graders and up. It contains some very harsh realities, much sadness, and a sense of triumph that transcends it all.