Tamar by Mal Peet is a masterfully crafted YA historical novel that moves seamlessly between past and present, weaving a story of love, betrayal, and buried family secrets. When sixteen-year-old Tamar receives a box of coded messages after her grandfather’s death, she is drawn into a decades-old mystery. As she deciphers each clue, a hidden history begins to surface — one tied to the Dutch resistance during Nazi-occupied Holland in the Second World War.
The novel introduces readers to another Tamar, a British agent operating under an alias within the perilous underground world of resistance fighters. Amidst the constant dangers of war, this Tamar’s life becomes entangled with passionate love, jealousy, and devastating choices. As the threads of both timelines converge, Mal Peet delivers a deeply moving and evocative exploration of identity, loyalty, and the lasting weight of history. Winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal, Tamar is widely praised for its intelligent narrative and vivid, atmospheric storytelling.
