“The imagination is crucial to all aspects of espionage, including ‘hiding places’…. Confederate spy Betty Duvall carried dispatches coiled in her hair. During World War II, members of the French resistance put intelligence inside the handlebars of their bicycles.” p. 44
Reader's Annotation
If you’ve got a camera in your pen, secret plans in the soles of your shoes, and know that the word “babysitter” really means “bodyguard”, then you might be a spy. But if not, and you want to learn about the history of spies and spying -- including their codes, gadgets, and daring missions -- then you’ve come to the right place.
About the Authors
In addition to this book, Janet Wyman Coleman has also written the award-winning Baseball for Everyone: Stories from the Great Game, as well as Famous Bears and Friends and Fast Eddie. She lives near Boston, Massachusetts. The International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. is the only public museum in the United States dedicated solely to international espionage, and contains the largest collection of related artifacts ever displayed publicly. The museum has many interactive exhibits and programs for adults and children, and its Web site presents a monthly podcast, resources for educators, games, and much additional information.
Genre
Nonfiction: espionage, history
Reading Level/Interest Age
12-14 yrs.
Content Summary
This book gives a historical overview of espionage all over the world, yet focuses more on American-related spying in its discussion of the twentieth century. It is broken into themed sections, which start with key espionage terminology and a timeline of the world history of espionage and other events involving secrecy from 1800 B.C. to 2005 A.D. Covered next are disguises and covers, bugging and secret transmission of information, cameras, and code-makers and code-breakers. Following this are sections on misinformation and propaganda, clandestine operations, spying based under the ground, weapons and detection devices, and tools of interrogation and spies’ responses. The final sections of the book detail spy blunders, female spies, celebrities and writers who became spies, and fictional spies in literature and on the screen. Throughout these sections we are introduced to the espionage-related or secret work of figures such as Virginia Hall, George Washington, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Van Lew, Eli Cohen, W. Somerset Maugham, and others. Many fascinating facts are also included throughout the text, e.g., the very successful camera-toting pigeons used in WWI; information on how spying helped the Americans defeat the larger British force in the American Revolution; and how in the 1970s, fugitive Canadian diplomats were disguised by the CIA as a flamboyant Hollywood film crew in order to get them safely out of Iran, just to name a sampling.
Critical Evaluation
This book is literally packed with facts, and is presented extremely attractively, with the background of each topic section in a different bold color. The color coding is very helpful, especially given that the book contains no index or table of contents, very surprising for a nonfiction book. The book is large, measuring over 10 x 8 inches, lending itself well to its display of large detailed images of spy equipment, encoded notes, historical images, portraits, and many other pictures. The text is easy to read and flows well, and interesting quotes from espionage figures are used effectively to enhance the narrative. I was glad to see that women's role in international espionage is included in such detail, something which is lacking in many historical texts. Overall, this an informative and often very entertaining read. I learned quite a bit about espionage that I had not known before, and would recommend this book as an interesting introduction to the topic for tweens through adults.
Booktalking Ideas
• Talk about some of the innovative gadgets and hiding places that spies have used over the years.
• Talk about some of the espionage blunders which have occurred throughout history.
Curriculum Ideas
• Critical Thinking: Students break into groups and create coded messages, which other groups then try to crack. Here are some code-making resources from the Texas State Library .
• History: Students study how secrecy and espionage changed history by aiding American figures such as Harriet Tubman, and groups such as the Culpeper Spy Ring.
Potential Challenge Issues & Defense
Violence used in espionage:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
I first learned of the International Spy Museum during my research for another class project, and was quite impressed with their programs and Web site. When I learned of their connection with this book, I knew I had to check it out.
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