A mystery set during WWII. A small town boy wants to be a newspaper writer. Henry desperately wants to have the best article in his school news paper. The only problem is finding a story that is the inside scoop and not already taken by another. Henry accidentally stumbles into just that. Swept up in the mystery of a life time he is chasing spies and dealing with war criminals. He must uphold his families name while trying not to become a victim of this evil plot.

The story starts off a tad slow, stick with it it gets good!

I will recommend this story to my students, I believe they will like it. Also the real life tie in is a bonus.

I began "Dark Skies Mystery" with high expectations due to its intriguing premise set in 1942, centered around the inquisitive twelve-year-old Henry Hamilton. The promise of a story featuring a young, aspiring reporter who uncovers secrets within the famous Biltmore Mansion during WWII piqued my interest. The book also offered a rich setting of the American home front, complete with blackouts and the looming threat of enemy saboteurs, which seemed like it would create a tense and captivating backdrop for the mystery. Unfortunately, despite these promising elements, I found it difficult to remain engaged with the story.

The pacing of the book was slow, and I struggled to connect with the characters and their adventures. Henry's investigation, which should have been thrilling, often felt bogged down by excessive descriptions and a lack of action. While the historical context and details about the Biltmore Mansion were fascinating, they sometimes overshadowed the narrative, making it hard to maintain interest. The story's potential for excitement was frequently undermined by a lack of urgency and suspense. Regrettably, I decided to put the book down before reaching the conclusion, feeling that it did not live up to its initial promise.

Very interesting!
Well plotted and paced!
Mysterious and dangerous (and a little bit reckless... in the name of journalism and protecting your fellow citizens of course)!

Middle grade readers are going to get hooked by this one, and keep on turning the pages without wanting to put it down just like I did.
I will definitely add it to my K-5 library and likely will suggest it as a possibility for the next districtwide Battle of the Books list.

What a winner of a read!
This book had everything a great novel for middle-grade readers should have:
Page-turning mystery☑️
Historical fiction based on true facts☑️
A protagonist that’s just an ordinary kid, but has to face some big fears in order to assist his country during WW2☑️
Interesting author notes at the end☑️

I dare anyone of any age to read this book and not feel a surge of interest in historical events!

* I received a digital copy from. Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*