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thebookkeepers's review
informative
slow-paced
3.0
While educational, this book read in the dry manner that often gives historical texts their bad name. While I think the author intended this to be a juicy recounting of American history, the manner in which it read sucked out the fun for me. That said, my 9th grade son really enjoyed the historical information around espionage and how the spy networks worked during the revolutionary war. One element I liked was the inclusion of a coded letter with the key in the appendix which gave the option for my kid to decode a spy letter which he found entertaining. This was a decent supplement to our curriculum, but I wouldn’t be quick to grab another book by the author.
jessthemama's review against another edition
3.0
had to read for historical reading, interesting but not my kind of book
koshpeli's review against another edition
4.0
Written for middle grade kids, but interesting enough for this adult. I learned a lot of details about Washington’s spy ring and I particularly enjoyed the specifics of how spies spread messages and employed codes or invisible inks. There were also some interesting details, including names of British agents that I haven’t seen elsewhere. This would be a great appetizer before tackling one of the longer adult books about the Culper spy ring. Or just enough to have interesting things to say at your next cocktail party!
greenrain's review against another edition
4.0
My husband insisted on buying this book at the Mount Vernon bookshop even though it is intended for children. Well, I ended up reading it before he did and found it to be an easy, enjoyable read about spies during the Revolutionary War. This is exactly the kind of book that I enjoyed as a child (I LOVED the Dear America series). This book is full of interesting snippets of history that often get left out from more traditional history narratives. Who doesn't love a story about a woman throwing balls of yarn over a cliff, each with a secret message inside? That's the sort of thing that interests me.
This is a very good book for kids interested in espionage or the revolution. It's also good for adults who don't want to read a heavy tome on the subject.
This is a very good book for kids interested in espionage or the revolution. It's also good for adults who don't want to read a heavy tome on the subject.
ladyexlibris's review against another edition
5.0
Even though the primary focus was spying, this was one of the best histories of the American Revolution for children that I've ever read. It even had citations, copies of the code Tallmage used and spiffy codes hidden throughout the book for you to decipher.
abigailbat's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. There was a war. There were spies. Spies helped win the war. It's not really something I'm personally interested in. There's a large cast of characters that's easy to get mixed up if you're not super paying attention (guilty) and I connect more with stories and books that feature one or twi main characters and their stories.
HOWEVER, for teens who love military history or who are really into spy tactics and double agents and that sort of thing, this is a great book to hand them. It would also be a great book to include when studying the Revolutionary War, examining one piece in detail while students can connect dates and battles to what they're studying in class.
HOWEVER, for teens who love military history or who are really into spy tactics and double agents and that sort of thing, this is a great book to hand them. It would also be a great book to include when studying the Revolutionary War, examining one piece in detail while students can connect dates and battles to what they're studying in class.
pelachick's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a good overview,but it left me wqanting more.
I wouild have liked the author to pick out a few stories and elaboradte them more either within this books of in a followup
I wouild have liked the author to pick out a few stories and elaboradte them more either within this books of in a followup
jbetram's review against another edition
3.0
had to read for historical reading, interesting but not my kind of book
vhp's review against another edition
3.0
Great spy information used during the Revolutionary War. Major George Beckwith, head of British Intelligence in America noted: "Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!"
Which is a great compliment considering they couldn't understand how the ragtag farmers were able to fight the battle for so long. So not only did they hold their own in battle, they were outwitted.
George Washington wrote in 1776 "There is one evile I dread, and that is, their spies."
Spy codes included in the book as well as names of known spies and included multiple stories to particular events. I like that the author included all of the "myths" or known stories instead of just one and stating it as fact as so many authors tend to do. I would recommend this book for older elementary age.
Which is a great compliment considering they couldn't understand how the ragtag farmers were able to fight the battle for so long. So not only did they hold their own in battle, they were outwitted.
George Washington wrote in 1776 "There is one evile I dread, and that is, their spies."
Spy codes included in the book as well as names of known spies and included multiple stories to particular events. I like that the author included all of the "myths" or known stories instead of just one and stating it as fact as so many authors tend to do. I would recommend this book for older elementary age.