Rosie, an 11 year old girl with both English and Indian heritage, and an Indian Princess, works alongside her father as a spy during WW2. This adventure takes her to Cairo where her father goes undercover as an Egyptologist to foil a Nazi plot to invade Egypt.
I loved the style of this novel. It’s difficult to strike a balance when tackling weighty subjects for children, but Sufiya Ahmed manages it masterfully.
There is so much scope for historical research and debate here: colonialism and Ghandi, the Golden Age of Islam and Baghdad, the rights over cultural artefacts, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the bombing of Pearl Harbour and its significance in WW2. At one point, Rosie’s father explains to her that it is ok for British spies to try to convince German spies to be double agents because they are fighting on the right side; this would make a wonderful debate!
Do you have to suspend belief as an adult reader? Yes, of course you do; it wasn’t written for us. This is a traditional adventure story where the child protagonists would never have succeeded in real life. But isn’t wonder and imagination what all good novels are made of?

I enjoyed this book. Having read the first one in the series, I was excited to find out what Rosie was up to next. In the first book, it gives an interesting insight into life in France during the start of the war and how the resistance fighters were fighting back against the Nazis. In this book, Rosie is in Cairo so the danger of being caught by the Nazis isn't as close, but that doesn't mean Rosie is safe. Instead she and her father are on the trail of a traitor. This book is a great way to introduce the idea that not everyone who was British was against Hitler and his ideas and a good way to explore some of the darker aspects of Empire, such as the removal of objects of historical and cultural significance. I would definitely recommend.

Rosie's life has taken a curious turn following her exploits as ‘Churchill’s Spy’ in France. A new mission in Cairo is fraught with danger, and it could be a challenge too far for our bold hero.

I love how Ahmed has created a brave & inquisitive character who shows the reader a different view point of the second world war. Through Rosie’s eyes, we are also seeing the disquiet that is brewing about the various complexities of the British Empire. With this Egyptian setting, this sequel focuses on a wider aspect of the war that is overlooked as the majority of stories are set in Europe. As a subplot, antiquities being removed from their countries of origin by the British was a highlight for me. It’s one of the many stains on British history, and it being touched upon in this story was handed in a skilful way.

Readers will be entertained by the drama of the espionage but, like all good historial fiction, will be enlightened by the honesty of the story.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think the children I teach will too. It touches so many areas including a bereavement, Ancient Egypt, religion, WW2 to name a few. This would work so well as a class reader alongside Ancient Egypt as a topic. I will be recommending this to my class.

This second adventure for Rosie Raja takes her and her father to Cairo, where they are involved in trying to seek out double agents for the Germans. It is full of intrigue and excitement , but also highlights the growing dislike of British involvement in Egypt and also India. It is a fascinating story on so many levels and is bound to be a great talking point.

This book features the adventures of a young spy whose efforts are recognised by Winston Churchill. Travelling around the world with her widower father who is a British spy, Rosie Raja is having an exciting if unconventional upbringing.

Having done their part against the Nazis occupying France in their last assignment, Rosy and her father are now in Egypt, considered strategically important to the British government because of the location of the Suez Canal. Their aim is to root out a traitor hiding in the company of the British agents working there - a task that is easier said than done, given the diversity of the people and personalities that Cairo is replete with.

With her father posing as an Egyptologist, Rosie initially faces hostility from the daughter of one of their local allies. Fatima is planning to become an Egyptologist herself and is furious about the rumours that Rosie's father is there to take Tutankhamun's remains back to England. There is no way Rosie can tell Fatima that the mummy is in no danger of being removed without giving away her father's cover story.

Soon enough though, they all have bigger things to worry about, and Rosie proves yet again why she is worthy of the recognition she has already received that such a young age! This story will be interesting and also quite educational for many young readers. I give it 3.5 stars rounded off to 4 for effort, but would have liked it better if the cultural information was shared more subtly or sparingly, with more focus placed on the adventure part of the storyline.