Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action

Amanda Travels #7

by Darlene Foster

"Be prepared to learn a lot about the culture while you follow Amanda on her adventure.” ― Laura Best, author, Bitter, Sweet

“What a great way for a young person to learn about a culture and to be inspired to experience other countries themselves." ― Irene Butler, author, Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle Footsteps

Amanda is in Holland to see the tulips with her best friend, Leah. They travel the canals of Amsterdam, visit Anne Frank House, check out windmills, tour a wooden shoe factory, and take many pictures of the amazing flowers of Keukenhof Gardens. She is keen to find out what happened to her great uncle who never returned from WWII and was declared missing in action. What she doesn’t expect to find and fall in love with is Joey, an abandoned puppy. While trying to find a home for him, she meets Jan, a Dutch boy who offers to help, a suspicious gardener, a strange woman on a bicycle, and an overprotective goose named Gerald.

Follow Amanda around the charming country of Holland, filled with colourful tulips, windmills, and more bicycles than she could have imagined. Once again, intrepid traveller Amanda encounters danger and intrigue as she tries to solve more than one mystery in a foreign country.

Be sure to read all the books in this exciting Amanda Travels series!
1. Amanda in The Perfume Flask
2. Amanda in The Girl in the Painting
3. Amanda in The Missing Novel
4. Amanda in The Writing on the Stone
5. Amanda on the The Sounds of Music
6. Amanda in New Ghosts in the Wind
7. Amanda in Missing in Action
8. Amanda in The Sleeping Lady

Genres: Mystery, Travel, Middle Grade

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

About the author

Darlene Foster grew up on a farm/ranch in Alberta, Canada, where she dreamt of writing stories, travelling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children's adventure series about a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her Amanda Travels series, Darlene enjoys spending time with her family in Canada, and with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia, in Spain.

Reviews

[Sue]

This latest of the Amanda series has the 12 year old visiting Holland, meeting her English friend, Leah, who is there with her father. While he does some business, they will sightsee. Another goal of Amanda’s is to see if she can learn anything about her great uncle who was missing in action in the Netherlands during World War Two.

As in the last book I read, the history and geography of the area is enveloped into the story quite seamlessly. Amanda and Leah visit Anne Frank’s house and learn information useful and appropriate for their age. There is also cultural detail, mention of the dikes and water situation and environment. And tulips of course. And Amanda learns of the role of the Canadian forces in liberating Holland, driving out the German army during WWII.

There is a rather convoluted plot involving dogs and tulips which I found a bit exaggerated but young people might not. It brought intrigue and excitement to the story and I know I loved that in the books I read at that age.

All in all Amanda is an interesting character who exposes the reader to new people and places. And that is to be applauded!

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[BookNightOwl]

Amanda in Holland is a story about a 12 year old girl who takes a trip to the Netherlands and while on her trip there is she not only finding out information about her uncle who was a solider during WW2 and went missing in action but she does a lot of sight seeing. While sight seeing she starts to notice that something strange is going on with people she keeps on repeatedly meeting with.

I want to start off by thanking Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I requested to read this book because my name was in the title. I was highly impressed with this book. I loved how the author wove facts about the country along with the storyline and kept it so interesting. This book is recommended for children but highly enjoyed traveling to the Netherlands with Amanda!

[Jacqui]

Darlene Foster's Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action (2019) follows the heroine, Amanda Ross, as she makes a trip to Holland to visit friends and try to unravel what happened to an Uncle who never returned from WWII--declared missing in action. If you follow the Amanda series, you know that Amanda cannot travel without getting into trouble, causing mischief, or solving mysteries despite her young age. In this story, Amanda rescues a thrown-away puppy named Joey, tracks down a missing gardener, and helps to solve the theft of rare tulip bulbs. She does all this while exploring the culture and excitement that is found nowhere but Holland. Besides the Anne Frank house and the famous Holland canals, Amanda enjoys:

"...banket, a puff pastry filled with an almond paste."

"...Hotchpotch Stamppot, a traditional Dutch dish of mashed potatoes mixed with carrots and onions,"

"...Bloemenmarkt. It is the world’s only floating flower market.”

The story is told in a conversational voice that will draw all readers in and deftly mixes the cultural details with how Amanda engages in and solves the mystery.

This book is available for pre-sale now for delivery in September 2019. This would be a great gift for a child to celebrate the end of summer or a favorite teacher to add to their classroom library (or the school librarian, of course). It's an uncommon book in that it takes children through the clever bits and pieces of Holland not found in any other nation without feeling like a travelogue.

The series includes:

Amanda in Arabia

Amanda on the Danube

Amanda in Spain

Amanda in New Mexico

...and more. This book and the entire series is highly recommended for elementary age and Middle School children and parents.

[Blaine DeSantis]

Thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review. I must be honest with you, this book exhausts me! This is the 7th trip for Amanda, I had never read the first 6 books in the series but it is easy to follow nonetheless, and here she goes on a trip to Holland. Now Amanda lives in Canada, and I gather that she has made friends with a similar aged girl named Leah who lives in England. Also, I gather that Amanda's mom must allow her to fly off by herself to meet her friend for these journeys. Here she is meeting Leah and her Dad in Holland, and so begins this young girls travelogue, adventures and misadventures. I gather Amanda must be somewhere between ages 11-13. Here Leah and Amanda get the run of the country as Leah's dad is in meetings all day, every day. I find it rather scary that these two young girls are allowed to roam all over Holland without any parental supervision, and they also see every sight possible. If they are not sightseeing they are eating, and if they are not eating Amanda constantly gets into trouble. I find this entire book a little hard to believe as adult reactions are not normal, and the book is just the girls racing to one tourist site to another, eating again and again, and getting into some pretty serious problems. Maybe pre-teen girls will like Amanda and consider her plucky, I consider her spoiled and lucky.

[Moonkiszt]

Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action

A delightful travelogue, with a mystery tied in! It reminded me of Nancy Drew between ages 8 – 12, and set down in recent times. Amanda has the same kind of independence, bright-eyed thinking and mature, thoughtful communication with others, known and unknown. And who can resist puppies? Yes, a puppy is involved, along with windmills, Dutch accents, and baked goods.

This will most appeal to young readers, but as an adult reading through the fast-paced story, I loved the descriptions of all the places through which Amanda traversed. The details were many and specific and helpful. There were Dutch language bits sprinkled throughout, and colorful culture details added in by passersby who were overhearing narrative, leaned in and gave the girls explanatory tips, and that was fun. Felt almost like a fourth wall breach. . . but not quite, since it wasn’t done by a named character with more standing to do so.

The older readers will appreciate the historical notes and memorials that the girls travel to, including the house that was home to Anne Frank's family during WWII. Amanda's tender feelings reach out to Anne through time, a nice moment captured by the author; many readers have done the same at one time or another when considering Anne's wistful too short life.

I was amused and mildly concerned at Leah’s father’s constant meetings. The amount of time the girls were left to themselves was concerning. Still, they had a lot to do, which couldn’t have done it without a generous dollop of guardian neglect.

I enjoyed this book for Amanda herself, but also for all the other parts and pieces. This was my first Amanda Ross book. I’m going to seek out more to see all the places Amanda travels, and I’m definitely introducing my granddaughter to Amanda this summer!

Sincere thanks to Darlene Foster, Central Avenue Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC copy I was given to read and review!!

[Sue]

Having read Amanda in Holland I feel as though I have been on a whirlwind tour of the Netherlands. Darlene weaves both historical information into her never-a-dull-moment for Amanda and friends mystery. I appreciated the honesty of the reality and suffering of WWII. The book kept me guessing to the final pages.

[Em (Makenna)]

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I have not read any of the other Amanda books at this time.
Things I liked:
-Holland is a pretty cool setting, and I liked how some of the local places were mentioned.

Things I didn't like:
-Amanda seemed a little young. Also it seemed like she fell into or got locked in places quite a bit.
-the mystery was really obvious in my opinion.

Overall: younger readers may enjoy this, as it is a mystery in a foreign country, so that adds a little excitement.

[Robbie Cheadle]

Amanda in Holland is the latest addition to the exciting Amanda series of books written by Canadian author, Darlene Foster. Each book in the Amanda series is set in a different country and details some of the amazing cultural and historical sites as well as dishes, drinks and clothes that are specific to that country. This aspect of the series makes it unusual and appealing to young and older readers.

Amanda, who lives in Canada, travels to Holland to meet up with her best friend, Leah Anderson and her father, who live in England. Mr Anderson is in Holland for business purposes and the two teenage girls are free to enjoy themselves seeing all the wonderful historical and cultural sites Holland has to offer. The story starts with a bang when Amanda is nearly ridden over by a woman on a bicycle on her first morning in Amsterdam. The woman's behaviour is a bit odd and this event is followed by Amanda and Leah discovering a young puppy which has been abandoned in a box next to a rubbish bin around the corner from a cheese shop they are visiting.

Mr Anderson agrees for the girls to keep the dog until it can be taken to an animal shelter and this decision sets in motion a series of occurrences that draw Amanda and Leah into an exciting adventure involving selling animals from puppy farms and stealing rare tulip bulbs. While the two girls investigate the mysterious circumstances of the abandonment of the puppy and the strange behaviour of various individuals who keep turning up, like the woman who nearly ran Amanda over, they also visit a number of interesting places such as the hide out of Anne Frank of The Diary of Anne Frank fame, the Keukenhof Botanical Gardens and a Canadian war-memorial cemetery. Amanda has the picture of her great uncle Harold who disappeared in Holland during the war and whose grave she is hoping she might find. The two girls meet a number of interesting people and get to spend time with a number of Dutch people who introduce them to some delicious Dutch treats.

The book is action packed and filled with interesting titbits of information about life in Holland, WWII and perseverance and determination in unraveling a mystery.

Amanda is a clever and kind girl who will appeal to middle school and young teenagers who will admire her pluck.

[Alisha]

This book had a little too much going on (a puppy/tulip mystery, a family history to uncover, and a whole lot of sightseeing). However, that might be about right for the 8-12-year-old crowd.
The book did a great job of briefly introducing readers to important places and facts of the Netherlands. All the highlights are here: the tulips, the Anne Frank House, Rembrandt, wooden shoes, cheese, bicycles, stroopwafel, the cat boat, the floating flower market, windmills, and the list goes on and on). Any child who has a bit of interest in travel and learning about other countries would probably be fascinated by this whirlwind tour of Holland.
It also hits lightly but skillfully on the emotional punch that places like the Anne Frank House can have, which is good even for younger readers to contemplate. Since not all kids can travel and experience firsthand the power of walking in the footsteps of history, the next best thing is reading about a girl who does it for them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this digital review copy!

[Beth Ann]

Amanda is at it again! This time author Darlene Foster writes a fun and engaging story about Amanda's adventures in Holland. This middle school reader book is a charming read and one that I enjoyed probably every bit as much as someone in the target audience will. The Amanda series gives readers a really fun adventure every time.

Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action has a great conversational read style and one of the things that I loved the most is that Ms. Foster incorporates a lot of history and facts into the story to give the reader a lot of information about the country that Amanda is exploring. From Anne Frank to tulips to wooden shoes to windmills Amanda experiences.

Of course there has to be a little adventure and mystery thrown into for excitement and this book does not disappoint in that area. Add a lost puppy into the mix and the story takes on even more fun.

I loved this book and know that young readers will race through the pages quickly to discover a fabulous ending. Thanks to Darlene Foster for an ARC of this adorable and fun book

[Lynn Davidson]

In this book about Amanda Ross, a young adventurer and traveller, the author has put in such interesting descriptive details about the country of Holland. In this story, Amanda is visiting the country with her friend, Leah, and Leah's father who is there on business. The reader is taken on a tourist's view with the girls as Amanda tries to find out information about her great uncle who, as a very young man, was reported as missing in action during WWII. They also rescue an abandoned puppy, and that leads them into confusion and a mystery to solve.
Amanda is never long from getting into a mess somewhere. Great story. I especially appreciated this trip into Holland because my dad was one of the Canadian soldiers who liberated the Netherlands during WWII. We visited there in 2005 and loved it.

[Alex Baugh]

This is the third Amanda Travels I've read, and in it, Amanda, 12, is heading to the Netherlands to join her British friend Leah Anderson and her father, who is there on business. Of course, the girls are there to see the sights, learn about Holland's history and culture, but Amanda has another purpose to be there. She would like to solve the mystery of what happened to her great uncle Harold, who went to the Netherlands with the Canadian army during World War II and never return home.

No sooner do the girls meet up in Amsterdam, then Amanda spots a cardboard box sitting beside some smelly garbage after hearing a cry come from it. Inside is a little brown and white puppy. When they ask a girl named Lisa working in a nearby cheese shop if she knows anything, she tells them no but it has been happening to dogs a lot lately.

Amanda and Leah decide to try and find a home for the puppy, now named Joey, which leads to meeting Jan. In fact, they seem to run into Jan everywhere they go, even giving him a ride to his grandparents home in the country when Mr. Anderson heads that way for a business meeting. Once in the country, the plot thickens and soon Amanda is involved in solving the mystery of a missing gardener, the theft of some rare tulip bulbs, and the mysterious woman bike-riding woman who keeps turning up. And is Jan involved in the tulip bulb mystery, despite his wonderful, welcoming family?

I didn't find the mysteries in this book as interesting as in previous books. They felt a little forced and therefore convoluted. I think solving the mystery of what happened to Uncle Harold would have been sufficient, given what Amanda discovers about him. And just finding a home for Joey would a nice subplot that exposed the cruelty of puppy farms. Added to these, sightseeing and accompanying information about the Anne Frank House, the tour of the wooden shoe factory, the visit to a windmill, the magic of the tulip fields, and rides through Hollands famous canals in a long boat really make the story interesting and gives readers a nice armchair journey to the Netherlands.

And that is what I like about the Amanda Travels series. It take young readers to places of interest, and provides usual and unusual sightseeing as Amanda meets different people and learns about their culture, and enjoys traditional foods in each place. In Holland, she ties such things as Hotchpotch Stamppot, a "Dutch dish of mashed potatoes mixed with carrots and onions, a meatball, sausages, and bacon," a meal I wouldn't mind trying.

So even though the mystery in Amanda in Holland is just ok, I would still recommend it, but especially to any readers interested in travel and mysteries, family, and friendship.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was provided by the publisher, Central Avenue Publishing, through NetGalley

[Debra]

Amanda in Holland is a story about a thoughtful, adventurous Canadian girl with a strong moral compass and a quest to do what’s right. Those traits are certainly highlighted during Amanda’s trip to Amsterdam to visit her friend, Leah. Mishaps and mysteries test their friendship when Amanda goes to great lengths to locate the abandoned puppy she found, but then lost to a thief.

The vivid narrative provides readers with a vibrant atmosphere filled with color and movement that makes me want to visit the city all over again. Descriptions of landmarks and local cuisine fully immersed me in the story.

The book’s not only entertaining but educational for younger readers as the ramifications of World War II on Dutch citizens are introduced in the book. The author creates a personal element for Amanda when she learns that her great uncle was a soldier who went missing in Holland during the war.

At age twelve, Amanda has reached an interesting age. Part of her seems mature for her age, yet part of her is still childlike, and sometimes the two states of mind are at odds. Although she always has good intentions, her methodology lands her into scrapes. There’s no doubt that readers of all ages will enjoy reading this book and the other six in the series.

[D. Peach]

This book was quite a bit of fun. Foster combines a middle-grade fiction plot with a colorful tour of Holland, including its famous sites, snippets of history, and its wonderful flowers and food. I had the great fortune of visiting my grandparents in Holland when I was Amanda’s age, and her experiences in the book mirror my memories in great detail. It was a blast to traipse along beside Amanda and enjoy the country once again.

The main plot focuses on the recovery of a lost puppy, but secondary plots weave through the story, and all come together nicely at the end. There’s a bit of mystery and some danger to keep the tension up. There are also some very moving scenes when Amanda visits Anne Frank’s home and a war memorial dedicated to the Canadians who helped liberate Holland during WWII.
A lovely book for young readers and absolutely perfect for readers who plan to travel the world.

[Ileana Renfroe]

Amanda has traveled all over the country. In this trip, Amanda in Holland, perfect for middle-grade readers we see her traveling through the canals of Amsterdam with her best friend Leah. She is happy seeing all the sights around the city until the unexpected happens. She falls in love with Joey an abandoned puppy.

Along the way to finding a good home for Joey she meets an overprotective goose, a woman on a bicycle who is a bit strange, a gardener who is rather suspicious, and Jan a Dutch boy who offers to help her accomplish her task.

A delightful read, this book 7 is fun and quite enjoyable. Can't wait for book 8.

[Irene Butler]

Amanda’s latest adventure is a wonderful blend of culture and history wrapped in a gripping tangle of events that lead to her solving a mystery and also finding valuable info on an old family matter. Having visited Holland myself, I had to smile as page after page the essence of the country is superbly captured through Amanda’s eyes. A delightful way for a young person to be immersed in the local lifestyle while being swept away in an exciting tale with a great ending!
Irene Butler
Author/Travel Writer

[maiaisreading]

Thank you NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up this book because Holland is in my bucket list. This is my first time to read from this author. She didn't disappoint me. I wish I was with Amanda and Leah as they visited the canals, Anne Frank's house, the tulip gardens and windmills. It was exciting reading it through their eyes. I loved the mystery part of the book too. It was a fun and quick read. I'll definitely look up her other books and share it with my nieces.

[Hayley]

Amanda in Holland was such a fun read! I'll admit I was a bit bias in picking this title -- my family is Dutch, so the title caught my eye instantly. I learned more about the culture there than I've ever learned from my family (sorry, Dad!). But my favorite part is the way Foster seamlessly ties history, culture, and mystery all in one. This book also makes the location its own character, which I love. Overall, the story had a very Nancy Drew feel to it.

I didn't realize that this book is part of a series, but now that I know, I'll definitely be reading the others in the series.

[Joy Kidney]

Amanda from Canada meets her friend Leah from England in Amsterdam, where Leah's father is conducting business. So the girls take tours (a canal tour boat, a working windmill, the Ann Frank House), meet interesting people, and learn about the Canada 150 tulip, how wooden shoes are made, and visit a WWII cemetery where many Canadians are buried. A stray puppy becomes part of the story as well as a mystery. There are delightful and satisfying twists at the end and well as discussion questions.

[Alex Lyttle]

As always, I love the way these book teach kids about new places. Darlene does a great job combining history, cuisine, architecture and in this case, botany, from new countries in a way that children will enjoy. Looking forward to the next of Amanda and Leah's adventures!

Alex

[Teresa Gardner]

What excellent book! I now feel like I was in Holland. Darlene takes you on a tour to many attraction in the great country of The Netherland. She mixes in history, familiar phrases, food and of course a great story. A lost puppy, new friends and mystery!

[Melanie]

3.5 ⭐️ Kind of like a modern Nancy Drew story. A little mystery adventure with interesting lessons on the history and culture of The Netherlands.

[Patricia Furstenberg]

Embark on an exciting adventure through the charming canals of Amsterdam in "Amanda in Holland," a middle-grade read that seamlessly weaves history, geography, and cultural details into a delightful story. Join Amanda and her best friend Leah as they explore the iconic sights of the city, including Anne Frank's house, while discovering the role of the Canadian forces in the liberation of Holland during World War II.

Throughout the journey Amanda encounters intriguing characters and unexpected twists. From an overprotective goose to a peculiar woman on a bicycle and a suspicious gardener, each encounter adds an element of mystery and excitement to the plot. As Amanda falls in love with an abandoned puppy named Joey, she navigates the task of finding him a good home with the help of Jan, a helpful Dutch boy.

Darlene Foster skillfully combines a captivating fictional plot with a vibrant tour of Holland, immersing readers in the country's rich history, scenic landscapes, and colorful cultural aspects. The seamless integration of information about dikes, water management, and the significance of tulips adds depth and educational value to the story.

As a reader, you'll appreciate Amanda as an engaging protagonist who introduces you to new places, people, and experiences. Foster's attention to detail and authentic portrayal of the Netherlands will transport you back in time, evoking memories for those who have visited the country and painting a vivid picture for those discovering it for the first time.

With its blend of adventure, history, and cultural exploration, "Amanda in Holland" offers an enchanting reading experience for middle-grade readers and anyone seeking an immersive journey through the charming landscapes of the Netherlands. Foster's ability to captivate young minds while providing educational content is commendable, making this book a wonderful addition to any young reader's collection.

[Michelle Kidwell]

Amanda in Holland
Missing in Action

by Darlene Foster

Central Avenue Publishing

Children’s Fiction , Middle Grade

Pub Date 03 Sep 2019

I am reviewing a copy in Amanda in Holland through Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley:

Amanda is in Holland with her friend Leah, where they see all the sites. They go to see the Tulip Fields, Windmills, Canals, Anne Frank’s House, even a wooden shoe factory.

Amanda is also hoping to find out more about her great uncle who never returned from the Second World War.

What Amanda does not expect is to find a and fall in love with an abandoned puppy named Joey. When she is looking for a home for Joey, she meets Jan, a Dutch not who offers to help, a suspicious gardener, a strange woman on a bicycle, and an overprotective goose named Gerald.

Follow Amanda around Holland as she encounters danger and intrigue while trying to solve another mystery in a foreign country.

If you are looking for a good action packed book for a middle grade girl Amanda in Holland is one I recommend!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!