Hero on a Bicycle (YA)

Book #83 Read in 2013
Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes (YA)

This book is set in Florence, Italy in 1944 and tells of the Nazi occupation in that country.  Paolo is a young boy whose father is a soldier and has left him in charge of the family.  He longs for action and adventure but when he gets some in his life, it is slightly more than he bargained for.  Paolo's mother is English and is doing her own war duty in their hometown.  This book was a good, quick historical fiction read, especially for middle school boys.  There was action enough to keep the book moving at a good pace.  Also, with Paolo's sister and her attraction to a Canadian soldier, there was enough romance to hook girls as readers too.  I enjoyed it.