Top Secret Files

June 1, 2015
Bearce's latest installment in the Top Secret Files series introduces young readers to the Cold War. Following the design and format of the previous titles in the series, reading this book is rather like opening a filing cabinet, reaching in, and pulling out a file. Any file will do. Skip around; every file contains something interesting: stories of the CIA operative who made an escape dressed as a dog; the Cambridge University students who became KGB spies; the 87-year-old "grey-haired granny" who became a spy. Suggested activities have readers making up secret codes, creating parachutes, making "glacier goo," and creating UFOs. The "carrot submarine" activity even refers budding vegetable sculptors to a YouTube video if they need help. Interesting tidbits about poop-shaped transmitters, animal agents, U-2 spy planes, the space race, and even Dr. Seuss' The Butter Battle Book add to the fun. The writing style of the longer chapters-such as "Tunnels to Freedom" and "They Built a Wall"-is direct and matter-of-fact, imparting information clearly. Most entries have lead sentences designed to pull readers in: "What do a raven, a cat, and a dolphin have in common? They were all trained as agents for the CIA." Particularly valuable for young researchers is a lengthy guide to relevant websites. A nifty supplement to traditional nonfiction and fiction on the period. (Nonfiction. 9-12)

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September 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 Reluctant readers should be drawn to this brief overview of the KGB, CIA, and MI6's daring spies, missions, and escapes during the Cold War. Readers will laugh at some of the inventive gadgets that spies developed, including a dog-poop-shaped radio transmitter, and will enjoy reading about the wacky ideas that scientists proposed, such as bombing the moon. The whys of events aren't always explained (for example, why did Iranian students storm the American embassy in 1979?), some basic terms aren't defined, and dates aren't mentioned consistently. The black-and-white illustrations are copious, everything from period photos to clip art to maps, and while there are sources cited, some of them are not especially authoritative ones. Each section includes craft ideas, such as how to make a parachute, flying saucer, or carrot submarine. These activities are for a younger audience than the text (adult supervision is advised at times). Fun, but readers looking for more in-depth information will want to look elsewhere.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)