Super Short Summary

Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes is a historical novel about thirteen-year-old Paolo, who, during the summer of 1944 in Nazi-occupied Florence, seeks adventure and dreams of joining the Italian Resistance. As Paolo navigates the challenges of wartime and the responsibilities that come with helping the Partisans, he learns about the realities of war, family, and courage. The novel portrays emotional and physical hardships experienced during World War II.