The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin (Review)

The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin is a magnificent triumph of a book! With themes of resilience, courage, bravery and passion, the author has intricately woven together the stories of two strong women, Ava and Elaine, and the circle of comrades, friends, and family who bring their stories to life. Ava is a librarian at the Library of Congress and finds herself on an unexpected journey to Lisbon where she poses as a librarian while secretly gathering intel to take down the Nazis during WWII. Little does she know that she will hold the lives of a Jewish mother and her young son in her hands as she seeks to help rescue them and reunite them with their family in America. Ava skirts around danger from all sides, as she fights to see justice and freedom become a reality for this young family. Elaine’s story is one of exceptional bravery, fortitude, and redemption, as she fights with the Resistance to print newsprint outing the atrocities happening at the hands of the Nazis. She and her team of clandestine printing press operators, sacrifice and work tirelessly for the French people against their oppressors, the Nazis. Their losses are immense, yet they find the courage to continue their mission. Ava and Elaine become intrinsically connected through the rescue of Sarah and her little boy. The world is really rather small, as the saying goes, and it turns out that through their shared passion for helping war-torn families, they find that they both play an integral part in the future of Sarah and her son. Madeline Martin’s writing is superbly researched and beautifully written. You are drawn into the lives of these brave characters with their sorrows, along with their triumphs, and they become your own. The story is at times heart wrenching yet hopeful and it speaks to humanities’ incredible ability to heal when love, friendship and family are at the forefront. Love does conquer hatred. Good does conquer evil. Justice overcomes injustice. Pain can be healed and joy can be ever present through it all.