Rebel Spy

March 6, 2020

Gr 9 Up-The brand new U.S. has just declared independence from England, but is not done fighting for its freedom. Francisca Tasker has escaped from a lecherous, alcoholic stepfather and yet is still not safe. As she leaves a life of struggle and uncertainty behind, Frannie arrives in New York City under the assumed identity of Miss Emmeline Coates, a wealthy orphan with a loving adoptive family and comforts beyond her wildest dreams. She is introduced to a world of espionage and balls, secrecy and romance. Part swashbuckling adventure, part love story, this book misses the mark on all counts. There are moments with real potential when the adventure starts to pick up, but they are lost to dewy-eyed romantic notions. An attempt to cross several genres leaves readers wanting more amid vague details and dropped plotlines. VERDICT A secondary purchase for large public libraries where historical fiction romances are popular.-Maryjean Riou, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2020
My fair lady is a spy. Living under the thumb of her abusive stepfather, sea-wreckage diver Frannie Tasker finds a crafty way to escape after a boat trip in the Bahamas, shortly after her mother's death in the summer of 1776, ends in tragedy. A day of wrecking turns into a thunderous and violent night in which another ship sinks and a young woman drowns, giving Frannie an opportunity to flee. Frannie assumes the petticoats, gown, and life of the late Miss Emmeline Coates and boards the Ambrosia, tricking the crew into bringing her to New York. Little does she know that her subterfuge would lead to a new life of wealth and luxury, espionage and danger. Convinced by her reading of Thomas Paine's Common Sense while sailing to Manhattan, the heart of the American Revolution, Frannie becomes a spy for the patriots. As a lady with access to some of the crown's highest officers, Frannie gathers a wealth of information and passes it along to George Washington's network. Endangering her freedom, life, and reputation by serving as an asset for the patriots, Frannie risks it all. Rich in historical detail and inspired by a true story, daring and courageous Frannie, code name "355," does her bit for the American Revolution. Frannie is white, her mother was an immigrant from Spain, and she is portrayed as a supporter of abolition. A riveting read. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-17)

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May 15, 2020
Grades 7-10 On a dark Grand Bahama Island beach, Frannie finds the dead body of a young lady and impulsively steals her clothes, desperate to escape an abusive stepfather. Frannie is rescued as Emmeline Coates and taken on board a British ship bound for New York Harbor?and the heart of the Revolutionary War. On that ship she meets a young patriot who lends her Thomas Paine's Common Sense and teaches her to move, eat, and speak like a lady before he's press-ganged into His Majesty's navy. Three years later, Frannie lives as Ms. Coates, socializing with the highest ranks of the British Army. She's courted by a dashing officer and connects with General Washington's spy ring, sharing the details she overhears at dinners and dances. Rossi, who bases Frannie on a spy known only as 355, weaves historical figures and events into this tale as Frannie risks all for the cause she believes in while trying to reclaim her true self. Romance rivals intrigue in a story that readers will find the very opposite of dry history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

May 18, 2020
A headstrong, wreck-diving narrator becomes an informant for the American Revolution in this high-stakes historical adventure inspired by an actual spy. In the Bahamas in 1776, Frannie Tasker’s menacing stepfather insists she marry him now that her mother, a Spanish immigrant, has died. Stormy seas offer an opportunity for escape when a ship sinks and the corpse of a well-born passenger, Emmeline Coates, washes ashore. Rossi (the Under the Never Sky trilogy) keeps tensions high as 15-year-old Frannie assumes Emmeline’s identity and sets sail toward the girl’s guardians—and a life of wealth and refinement—in New York City. Her introduction to Thomas Paine’s Common Sense en route, and her new life of society and deception in New York, prime Frannie to pass military secrets for George Washington. Rossi excels at portraying the danger of Frannie’s society life and intelligence work—which escalate as she becomes romantically involved with a British officer—while crafting a daring heroine and her compelling exploits. Ages 12–up. Agent: Tina Dubois, ICM Partners.