Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Less mystery, more romance as Hitler consolidates power.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Having escaped Hitler's clutches in Prisoner of Night and Fog, Gretchen and Daniel have been hiding in England under assumed names for the past 18 months. In the meantime, Hitler has risen to national prominence in Germany and been named chancellor. Events there draw Daniel back to Germany, this time to Berlin, where he's been falsely accused of murder. Gretchen soon follows to help, despite the danger of being recognized as one of Hitler's former favorites. Can they find the real killer, clear Daniel's name, escape Hitler's notice, and get back out of Germany safely?
Is It Any Good?
The historical events that serve as a backdrop provide a lot of food for thought, and the lively, engaging characters and compelling events will draw teens in and keep the pages turning. Suspense, particularly in the stronger second half, is surprisingly well maintained despite the reader knowing that one of the heroes' main objectives (bringing down Hitler) is doomed to fail.
CONSPIRACY OF BLOOD AND SMOKE has a lot of the same strengths as its prequel, Prisoner of Night and Fog: danger, excitement, and relatable characters grappling with coming of age at a crucial turning point in history. But added melodrama (finding the real killer will bring down the National Socialist Party and disgrace Hitler) weaken the structure; the murder mystery becomes less compelling as it's swept up into other events; and phrases such as "the familiar feel of his lips on hers" make it read more like a romance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about historical fiction. What's the appeal of seeing imaginary characters in the middle of real events?
How does controlling and infiltrating the police department help the National Socialist (Nazi) Party exercise greater control over the people of Berlin? How does it make the party more powerful and harder to stop?
How are the ways in which the United States responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks similar to how the Reichstag responded to the burning of the Reichstag building? How are they different?
Book Details
- Author: Anne Blankman
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: April 21, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 416
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate