91 pages · Released Mar 3, 2015 · Roaring Brook Press
Content report card
Kursed parent’s guide: what’s inside
Medium confidence
LGBTQ+ themes
None · 0/5
Substance use
None · 0/5
What it offers
A note for parents
Kursed is a WWII-era spy thriller set during Nazi Germany and Soviet oppression, featuring young characters forced into dangerous espionage. While the 91-page length keeps scenes relatively brief, the historical context and themes of totalitarianism, manipulation, and moral compromise create mature emotional stakes. The story emphasizes resilience and hope amid systemic cruelty, making it suitable for engaged teens familiar with historical fiction but not younger middle-grade readers.
This thrilling prequel to Lindsay Smith's SEKRET tells the story of how Yulia's parents met while fighting Nazis in World War II. Antonina never meant to become a cog in the Soviet machine. She only wanted an opportunity to conduct her research on genetic mutations and psychic ability. But now her research is being use...This thrilling prequel to Lindsay Smith's SEKRET tells the story of how Yulia's parents met while fighting Nazis in World War II. Antonina never meant to become a cog in the Soviet machine. She only wanted an opportunity to conduct her research on genetic mutations and psychic ability. But now her research is being used to find other psychics to carry out Stalin's demands. And together they are being sent deep into Nazi Germany to steal secrets. Antonina fears there is no escape from her life of lies and subterfuge, until she meets Andrei, who gives her hope that she is gifted, not KURSED.
