A Prince Without a Kingdom

Gr 7 Up—In de Fombelle's action-packed sequel to Between Sky and Earth (Candlewick 2014), Vango continues to search for the man responsible for the death of his parents when he was a baby. The World War II-era story is an intricately woven tale of a young man whose courage is tested in countless ways as he pursues the truth, seeks to understand his own tangled past, and makes sacrifices to help his friends and allies. Familiar fictional and historical figures return in this volume, including police detective Auguste Boulard; Ethel, the Scottish heiress who is in love with Vango; Emilie Atlas, the "Cat," whose walks across the rooftops of Paris allow her to provide valuable information to Vango; Padre Zefiro, Vango's guide and friend; and Commander Hugo Eckener, the airship commander. There's even an appearance by Joseph Stalin. One of the most important scenes centers on the 1937 Hindenberg disaster, which in this installment is a catalyst for one of many plot twists and cliff-hangers that make reading the book a dazzling and demanding experience. The characters move among Paris, New York, and Moscow and experience acts of great loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. It is Vango's certainty in his mission that propels this novel to a satisfying conclusion. "Deep down, this was the only treasure that Vango was after: the secret of his life."