In Disguise!

May 1, 2013

Gr 7-10-This collection, updated from a 2003 edition, features spies from the 17th century through the modern era. Some stories are noteworthy, including Pauline Cushman's transition from actress to spy and Sarah Emma Edmonds's disguised persona as a man during the Civil War. Others, like Harriet Tubman's brave work on the Underground Railroad, are less compelling. Each entry starts with a short teaser that builds interest while serving as a helpful prereading tool. Several shorter "spotlights" feature brief profiles, events, and inventions while "spycraft" gives instructions for making invisible ink and tips for changing one's appearance. The layout is somewhat claustrophobic with little white space, and while sidebars help break up the text, many of them are unrelated to the content on the page. Visuals include appropriate historical maps and drawings based on photographs or typical styles of the era. There is no index, which might make this book difficult for research. It complements other true-spy accounts, such as Paul Janeczko's The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles (Candlewick, 2010) and Penny Colman's Spies! Women in the Civil War (Shoe Tree, 1992) and will appeal to those particularly interested in learning more about espionage.-Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, NJ

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