Two girls. Two different time periods. One mysterious painting connecting them across 80 years. Today's First Chapter Friday read aloud is Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski—a page-turning middle grade historical fiction mystery that takes readers between present-day Paris and Nazi-occupied France during World War II.
If your students love historical fiction, WWII stories, art mysteries, the French Resistance, dual-timeline novels, or books that uncover secrets from the past, put this one on your classroom TBR!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
PARIS, PRESENT DAY - Thirteen-year-old Penny Marks isn't exactly thrilled to be living in Paris. Her mom's new job has taken Penny away from Wisconsin, her friends, and everything familiar. Even worse, Penny has walked away from something she once loved—making art.
Then a mysterious painting from 1944 is discovered hidden inside the wall of a Paris apartment. Alongside it? A letter from someone named Marie Bonnet. Suddenly, Penny has a mystery to solve.
PARIS, 1943 - Thirteen-year-old Marie Bonnet is living through something very different: the Nazi occupation of France. Her father has been taken away, and Marie soon discovers that her older sister, Héloise, is secretly helping the French Resistance. Marie desperately wants to help, too. But even the smallest act of resistance could put both sisters' lives in danger.
THE CONNECTION - Separated by more than 80 years, Penny and Marie become connected through a work of art—and Penny begins uncovering the story of a girl who refused to stand by while terrible things happened around her. But what happened to Marie? And why was her painting hidden for all those years?
ELA TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: Each and Every Spark offers so much to explore: dual timelines, historical fiction, mystery, character perspective, symbolism, theme, primary-source connections, and the way authors weave real history into fictional stories.
SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS: This story provides an accessible entry point into conversations about World War II, Nazi-occupied France, the French Resistance, civilian life during wartime, resistance movements, and the roles ordinary people—including women and children—played during WWII.
ART TEACHERS: There's an especially fascinating cross-curricular opportunity here. The mysterious painting isn't simply a plot device—the story explores art as expression, communication, historical evidence, resistance, memory, beauty, and hope. Consider pairing the novel with a lesson about artwork created during times of war or asking students how artists can communicate ideas without words.
Listen to the first chapter and see if YOU can begin unraveling the mystery connecting Penny and Marie!
QUESTION FOR READERS:
If you discovered a mysterious 80-year-old painting hidden inside a wall, what would be the FIRST thing you'd want to know about it?
MORE FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY!
First Chapter Friday Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVe6VlpCwJZCLWm7CR4yX93l3xN2conB
FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
FULL First Chapter Friday Worksheet Bundle:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Engaging-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-8469855
Find even more middle school ELA resources, book recommendations, and student engagement ideas inside Word Nerd Collaborative:
www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
Get your copy of Each and Every Spark here: https://amzn.to/4dKNlww
Connect with Claire here: https://www.claireswinarski.com/
Music Credit: Amanda Zieba and Suno Pro (2026)
#EachAndEverySpark #ClaireSwinarski #FirstChapterFriday #MiddleGradeHistoricalFiction #WWIIBooksForKids #WorldWarII #FrenchResistance #HistoricalFiction #ArtEducation #ArtTeachers #MiddleSchoolELA #SocialStudiesTeachers #SchoolLibrarians #MiddleGradeBooks #ReadingEngagement
If your students love historical fiction, WWII stories, art mysteries, the French Resistance, dual-timeline novels, or books that uncover secrets from the past, put this one on your classroom TBR!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
PARIS, PRESENT DAY - Thirteen-year-old Penny Marks isn't exactly thrilled to be living in Paris. Her mom's new job has taken Penny away from Wisconsin, her friends, and everything familiar. Even worse, Penny has walked away from something she once loved—making art.
Then a mysterious painting from 1944 is discovered hidden inside the wall of a Paris apartment. Alongside it? A letter from someone named Marie Bonnet. Suddenly, Penny has a mystery to solve.
PARIS, 1943 - Thirteen-year-old Marie Bonnet is living through something very different: the Nazi occupation of France. Her father has been taken away, and Marie soon discovers that her older sister, Héloise, is secretly helping the French Resistance. Marie desperately wants to help, too. But even the smallest act of resistance could put both sisters' lives in danger.
THE CONNECTION - Separated by more than 80 years, Penny and Marie become connected through a work of art—and Penny begins uncovering the story of a girl who refused to stand by while terrible things happened around her. But what happened to Marie? And why was her painting hidden for all those years?
ELA TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: Each and Every Spark offers so much to explore: dual timelines, historical fiction, mystery, character perspective, symbolism, theme, primary-source connections, and the way authors weave real history into fictional stories.
SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS: This story provides an accessible entry point into conversations about World War II, Nazi-occupied France, the French Resistance, civilian life during wartime, resistance movements, and the roles ordinary people—including women and children—played during WWII.
ART TEACHERS: There's an especially fascinating cross-curricular opportunity here. The mysterious painting isn't simply a plot device—the story explores art as expression, communication, historical evidence, resistance, memory, beauty, and hope. Consider pairing the novel with a lesson about artwork created during times of war or asking students how artists can communicate ideas without words.
Listen to the first chapter and see if YOU can begin unraveling the mystery connecting Penny and Marie!
QUESTION FOR READERS:
If you discovered a mysterious 80-year-old painting hidden inside a wall, what would be the FIRST thing you'd want to know about it?
MORE FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY!
First Chapter Friday Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVe6VlpCwJZCLWm7CR4yX93l3xN2conB
FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
FULL First Chapter Friday Worksheet Bundle:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Engaging-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-8469855
Find even more middle school ELA resources, book recommendations, and student engagement ideas inside Word Nerd Collaborative:
www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
Get your copy of Each and Every Spark here: https://amzn.to/4dKNlww
Connect with Claire here: https://www.claireswinarski.com/
Music Credit: Amanda Zieba and Suno Pro (2026)
#EachAndEverySpark #ClaireSwinarski #FirstChapterFriday #MiddleGradeHistoricalFiction #WWIIBooksForKids #WorldWarII #FrenchResistance #HistoricalFiction #ArtEducation #ArtTeachers #MiddleSchoolELA #SocialStudiesTeachers #SchoolLibrarians #MiddleGradeBooks #ReadingEngagement