A great read highlighting the importance of those left behind during war and the vital roles they play. We follow Ned and his mum as they protect priceless art work during WW2.
This book offers the perfect insight into the evacuees and refugees during the war and the impact they had.

I really enjoyed this second WWII mystery from Rhian Tracey. Starting at Bletchley Park, we follow Ned and his mother as they travel Wales to hide and protect the priceless paintings from the National Gallery collection.

Ned is a great character; full of bravery and interest. He makes lots of mistakes but in reading about his errors, we learn more about the relationship between the Welsh and the English during WWII and the lengths people went to to hide the valuable paintings. The adventure was really well written and the host of characters - Harry, Anni and guide dog Kip - were all really fascinating, adding extra layers to the story. In particular, learning the background story of Anni who is an Austrian Jew who has come as a refugee to Wales was a really valuable part of the story. Being set in Wales also made it stand out from the other WWII middle grade fiction that is mainly centred around London.

A great story, full of fascinating characters..

I didn’t love this book as much as the first, although I actually liked Ned as a main character more than the first book’s protagonist and I preferred the welsh characters that he meets in Manod. I loved learning about the protection of art during the Second World War. However, I didn’t get the “peril” I needed from this in a way that I found convincing - who are these people chasing him (explained at the end but feel like as readers we needed more foreshadowing to this) and we never found out who the leak to the newspaper was in the end which was a loose end I wanted tied up.
I loved the setting in Wales, and thought the author did a superb job building a whole community that felt so real to the reader. I’d love more of Ned, Harri and Anni’s stories which just goes to show how well I connected to the characters. But, for me, the plot needed more refining.

Hide and Seek: a Bletchley Park mystery
Rhian Tracey

‘Hide and Seek’ is the second adventure in the Bletchley Park Mystery series, set during World War II.

In February 1942 Ned and his mother travel to a remote location in Wales, as part of a secret project by the War Office to protect the nation’s artwork. Ned struggle as an outsider trying to fit into life in rural Wales and to protect the mission and his mother.

Rhian Tracey brings us an inspiring adventure story full of mystery and warmth, with engaging characters and a deep sense of community.

‘Hide and Seek’ is packed with immersive historical details about life on the home front - the Blitz, rationing, transport and keeping up morale. It tackles important issues around belonging, attitudes to women working, disability, and racism against German speaking Jewish refugees.

The depth and historical detail make this the ideal book to use as stepping stone to exploring life on the home front during World War II, art history and the lives of the real people woven into the story - scientist Miriam Rothschild, Welsh artist Gwen John and classical pianist Myra Hess.

#childrensbooks #childrenshistorybooks #newbooks #WorldWarII #childrensfiction.

Well researched and with amazing attention to detail, the second book in the Bletchley park mystery series was a joy to read. This was my first dive into Rhian Tracey’s series based around three young people working at Bletchley park during WW2. However, the second book takes us away from Bletchley and off into Wales. The story follows teenager Ned, who, desperate to escape his domineering father, travels with his mum to a top-secret location for a very important task. Their job, to look after priceless artwork from the National Gallery, being stored in a slate mine up the side of a mountain to keep it out of enemy hands. Everyone working there has signed the official secrets act, but with a small gossiping village nearby, it isn’t long before word gets out.
The story drew me in from the start. I loved that it is based on true events; the collection of the National Gallery, plus others, really were stored in a slate mine during WW2. While the author has obviously added in her own characters and used artistic license, she uses real characters, details and situations too and this really gives the story a ring of truth and makes it come to life. The author also often mentions events happening in the rest of the country or mentions real people. This is a great way to introduce young readers to WW2 history and get a better understanding of the full picture. Her attention to small details and descriptions makes the story feel like time travel. Teachers will love it and I can see it being used in lots of classrooms!
Ned is a likeable and dedicated ‘hero’. The fact that he also has an important job although he is just a teenager, and doesn’t go to school, will really appeal to the readers. It also shows them how different life was and how crucial it was for everyone to play their part.
Without spoiling the story, I love that not all the characters are likeable and often ‘good’ and ‘bad’ boundaries are blurred, (although sometimes ‘bad’ characters are obviously just that). This makes the characters all the more believable and realistic. Also, by including characters such as Anni, a Jewish refugee in a Welsh village, and Mrs Thomas who has a guide dog, young readers can experience different viewpoints and understand the range of people living in Britain at the time.
There really were Jewish refugees in Wales, and by including Anni in the story, the reader begins to understand the hardships the Jews in Britain went through. They had often come through untold hardship and were now living in strange environments where they were often seen as the ‘alien’. As shown in the story, in small villages in Wales, this could cause unwarranted suspicion and blame to be cast on them.
I really liked the author’s inclusion of historical notes at the end. I am a lover of history, and I think this really encourages young readers to explore history further, brings it to life and shows them how exciting it can be.
As I mentioned, I haven’t read the first book in the series, but will definitely now be going back to read it! I will be following this series with interest and look forward to reading further books!

I was so excited to get this follow up to I Spy . I knew that this would be of the same great standard, an exciting book based on real life events. I love the history and the old fashioned / classic famous five vibe. The children loved it.

'Hide and Seek' is a gripping middle-grade adventure story set during WW2 that introduces readers to a number of lesser-known aspects of the war effort. Although the novel is subtitled 'A Bletchley Park Mystery' (it is a sequel to the first novel in this series, 'I Spy'), the bulk of the action takes place away from Bletchley Park as Ned ends up accompanying his mother on a mission to the Welsh village of Manod, where the entire contents of the National Gallery are secretly being stored in a disused slate quarry (an incredible true story that is also the subject of Frank Cottrell Boyce's 'Framed'.)

Ned and his mother are billeted with Mrs Thomas, who is running the local school now all the men have gone off to war, and her son Harri, who is initially somewhat resentful of Ned's arrival. Mrs Thomas and Harri have also taken in Anni, a German Jewish refugee whose father is in an internment camp. As rumours spread about the secret activity in the slate mines, Ned, Harri and Anni start to investigate the source of a leak that could put the whole operation in jeopardy.

This novel is full of intrigue and suspense, and is bursting with fascinating historical details, including the Picture of the Month and Dame Myra Hess's famous lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery. It also explores a range of serious issues with a light touch, from Ned's dyslexia to his abusive father. And there are some lovely discussions of the importance of showcasing female artists who have been unjustly overlooked, including Gwen John and Lily Delissa Joseph.

This book will delight older primary and younger secondary readers who are interested in history and are keen to learn more about different wartime experiences. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

I Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery was one of my top books of 2023 so I was thrilled to find out there was a second book coming in February 2024.

Hide and Seek is a beautifully crafted story of the dangers and hardships faced by those with secrets to keep during the Second World War. Readers are reintroduced to Ned who lives with his parents at Bletchley Park. His father runs the funeral home while his mother spends her days at the brickworks smuggling priceless artwork out of London to somewhere where it will be safe. Ned and his mother have both signed the Official Secrets Act and can't talk about their work to anyone because "careless talk costs lives."

In February 1942, Ned and his mother are sent to Wales where she will restore the art hidden in a quarry inside the mountain. Ned is secretly glad to get away from his angry and overpowering father but has no idea what lies ahead. In the village of Manod, he meets a fascinating group of people. Some are more welcoming than others. Mrs Thomas kindly takes them in but her son Harri, tough on the outside but lonely and afraid on the inside, is suspicious of anyone different. There is a young Austrian girl, Anni, living with them as well. As a Jewish refugee, she faces regular anti-semitism and mistrust. And, of course, we musn't forget Kip - Mrs Thomas's guide dog. A huge golden retriever, Kip is the best friend in any kind of crisis.

Ned is such a lovely character. Full of kindness and empathy, he sees beyond what people try to present to the public and thinks about what they really need. Intelligent and so intuitive, he is a real asset to his mother and the war effort.

Rhian Tracey provides readers with wonderfully detailed descriptions of Welsh life during the 1940s. The reality of rationing and the creativity necessary to make recipes work is clear as Ned experiences cawl, welsh rarebit and other typical dishes. Mrs Thomas provides a cosy home for them all despite her vision loss and her worry about her husband at war. Ned falls in love with the peacefulness of the mountain and all the different shades of green he never realised existed.

Hide and Seek reveals so many issues faced by those on the home front during the war. The children are enthralled by news of US allies with the glamour of the American GI heroes as well as reports that Princess Elizabeth is joining the war effort. However, the true heroes of the war in this small Welsh village are the women who keep the nation running. The strength of women is celebrated throughout the story with Ned's mother standing up to her husband to leave and do her part to save the nation's treasures, the inclusion of Miriam Rothschild (the first woman to serve on the Committee for Conservation of the National Trust and the first woman to become a trustee of the British Museum), Ned's choice for Picture of the Month in artist Lily Delissa Joseph (a Jewish suffragette), and the focus on Welsh artist Gwen John who becomes a symbol of the power and independence of Welsh women.

The wartime setting and focus on great paintings provides teachers with unique opportunities to make links with history and art. Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Turner and so many more will spark readers' interest, encouraging them to find out what these paintings look like and why they are so special. It's inspiring to see how Ned's mother teaches the people of Manod to appreciate the paintings, see the details, and make links to their own lives. A connection with music makes it even more powerful.

On top of all this, Hide and Seek is a brilliant adventure story. Ned and Harri know they must take a huge risk to help his mother and protect a priceless painting. With Kip by their side, the set off on a dangerous journey where they can trust no one. Anyone could be a spy just waiting to find out their secrets!

Thank you to Piccadilly Press and NetGalleyUK for an early read of this fantastic book!

An interesting read for grown ups and children. It’s great for KS2 students and will keep their attention. I expect that it will make them want to learn more about life in Britain during WW2 and the efforts made to protect important works of art during this time. For myself, I learnt a lot as well.
I felt that it had a strong start and interesting characters, but I didn’t find the race against time as gripping as it was supposed to be. Some threads were left hanging which may be picked up in the next book. Thank you to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

An original war-time adventure story for middle-grade readers.

Set during World War II, the plot revolves - amongst other things - around the fate of National Gallery paintings that were hidden in the quarries of Wales.

The little explicative texts provided with the novel mean that this book would be well suited for in-class study at school and would provide great discussion material for history, literature, art and society classes.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book. Review available on Goodreads.

After reading (and loving!) “I, Spy” last year, I couldn’t wait to catch up with Ned and his Bletchley Park friends in this latest instalment. And thanks to the lovely folks at NetGalley for sending me an ARC, I got to read it a little bit sooner.

In this second Bletchley Park mystery, we see Ned and his mum leave their home and head to the Welsh countryside on a vital wartime mission. They have been tasked with protecting the country’s priceless works of art that are being stored in a slate mine in the village of Manor. To keep these national treasures safe from the enemy, it is imperative that their whereabouts are kept secret. But when it appears that someone in the village is trying to reveal the secret, Ned, his mother, and a young Jewish refugee, Anni, are prime suspects. Can Ned and Anni, along with their new friend Harri, prove their loyalty to the mission and keep the secret safe?

Wow - I loved absolutely everything about this book! Although it is the second in the series, you could read this book without having read the first (but I do love a series!). If you’re looking for a gripping wartime adventure story, with a good scoop of mystery and adrenaline thrown in for good measure, then look no further than this glorious, super readable tale.

A great book to recommend for reading for pleasure, but also one that provides so many hooks for studying WW2 at KS2 level - history being an obvious one, but also art - these are just two that spring to mind.

I really hope this isn’t the last we hear from Ned and his friends - fingers crossed, they’ll continue with their adventures. And one last thing… I absolutely love the idea of Miss Eliza’s pony library!

Definitely one to recommend to the small (and not so small!) people at school.

Hide and Seek
By Rhian Tracey
Published by Bonnier Books

Another thrilling historical adventure from Rhian Tracey, the author of I, SPY: A BLETCHLEY PARK MYSTERY.

All Ned knows is that his future is working in the family funeral parlour, but after the
covert operations at Bletchley Park begin his life is transformed.
Vital wartime missions take Ned and his mum into the remote Welsh countryside. No word can be uttered to anyone, not even Ned’s father.
Their task: to protect the priceless artwork that is being stored in a slate mine in the village of Manod. This top secret mission, to keep the national treasures out of the hands of the enemy is no mean feet. And so the team of fearless, loyal and brave characters are born. Ned, his mother, Harri a new recruit and a young Jewish refugee, Anni have everything to prove to keep their secret mission on track and the priceless art safe.

A gripping wartime story, full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of Phil Earle, Lesley Parr and Hilary McKay. A must for all KS2 teachers, sharing historical knowledge, full of compassion and loyalty to the last word.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley

I enjoy reading historical fiction so this title caught my eye. The story revolves around two families who join missions to protect the artworks that are being transported from London to a small village in Wales and hidden in a cave. The book didn’t grip me from the start, I found it quite a slow read but enjoyable. A little bit of the storyline was far fetched I felt, but I am an adult. Children may see it in a slightly different light, I guess, I didn’t engage with the story emotionally so the review reflects it - slightly lukewarm, apologies.

I am a huge fan of historical children's fiction particularly anything set in WW2 so was absolutely delighted to have been given early access to this latest offering from Rhian Tracey. Although part of a series, " The Bletchley Park Mysteries" it is possible to read this book as a stand alone. The story is set in the early part of 1942, and we join Ned (one of the characters from the first book in the series - "I,Spy") and his mum who are working for the National Gallery as part of their role for the war effort. They travel to Wales and Rhian does not fail to ensure that readers are aware of the effort the country had gone to to ensure that the enemy could not find their way should the Germans have successfully invaded Britain. Rhian manages to convey this real threat that faced the country whilst also conveying the 'war spirit' of the nation. There are many references to this throughout and thus making this not only a brilliantly engaging 'read for pleasure' book but also a fantastic text to further develop the Primary History curriculum.
As we read on, we very quickly learn what is being kept hidden in the wilderness of Wales. What follows is a hugely gripping story filled with espionage, adrenalin fuelled chases and truths. I love that this book focuses on an aspect of WW2 that is rarely referenced to, if at all in children's fiction, the protection of the nation's art. Without giving too much away, Ned has to help his mum - he believes she will lose her job if he doesn't - and so he makes a decision about a piece of art and this would provide the perfect opportunity for children to learn about the artists mentioned in the book (some lesser known national treasures) and have a discussion and develop enquiry about a piece of art they would have chosen. There is much scope in this text to not only address requirements in Primary UKS2 English but also other areas of the National Curriculum. This book is going to be a firm favourite on my reader radar and one that I can and will highly recommend. A brilliantly conceived and crafted tale that is pure genius.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Bonnier Books Piccadilly Press for an early read in return for an honest review.

Coming from a town that had treasures hidden in its hills during the war, I was excited to read Rhiannon Tracey's latest mystery adventure and it did not disappoint. The central race against time adventure is both thrilling and emotionally engaging as Ned and his new friends speed across country to take a precious cargo to London, evading traitors and not sure who they can trust. The seeds are sown for future mysteries and the activities at Bletchley Park, though in the background in this installment, are cleverly woven into the story. With a deft grasp of the historical setting and an authenticity of voice for all the characters, this is a skillfully written mystery story.

An absolute banger of a KS2 read - great to fit in with WW2 topic or as a very enjoyable pleasure read. Rhian Tracey has got a marvellous range of character flowing from her pen/keyboard that are both relatable and captivating. Brilliant book.

This book is just as high-quality as the first! I liked how art was a main theme here: I had and excellent time reading! :D Enjoy!