This beginning reader introduces unconventional, heroic spies of the Civil War. Lakin's engaging, accessible prose and Fabbretti's cartoonlike illustrations tell the stories of several African American former slaves who played important roles, including Harriet Tubman, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, and Robert Smalls. Brief biographies of female soldiers, an overview of the American flag, information about ciphers, and a quiz are appended.

Gr 1-3 This book reveals obscure facts about Civil War spies and the disguises, ciphers, and secret hand signals they used. The author assumes that readers may have some background knowledge on this topic, and provides a quick overview of the war. People such as Harriet Tubman, Mary Touvestre, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Robert Smalls, and Elizabeth van Lew, and topics such as the Underground Railroad and the beginning and end of the war are all covered. Back matter includes short biographical sketches of women who served, a descriptive and illustrative summary of the U.S. flag, and an exercise with ciphers for young children to explore the world of decoding secret messages. There is also a reproducible quiz in the back of the book entitled, "Could You Be a Civil War Spy?" that tests the comprehension of the text. Cartoonlike illustrations depict scenes and people from the war and lend a narrative feel to the work. VERDICT An enticing addition to nonfiction easy reader collections. Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY