ALA Booklist (Wed May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Prior to WWII, the U.S. military displayed a certain disdain for deception, but as the Great War continued, army brass had second thoughts, and the result was the creation of the Twenty-Third Headquarters Special Troops, the subject of Janeczko's deep dive into the elaborate business of fooling the German forces. The typical ruse perpetrated by the 23rd was to move into an area, secretly take the place of a fighting unit, and then ith their bag of tricks" etend they were the unit they had replaced. The 23rd, Janeczko reports, arrived on Omaha Beach some two weeks after D-Day and would remain in Europe plying its crafty ways until VE Day. In profiling the 23rd, Janeczko has clearly done prodigious research, and the result is an extraordinarily detailed history that sometimes offers a dramatic account of field operations. Occasionally, though, there is so much information that the reader may be lost in the thicket of details. Nevertheless, for teens who enjoy reading about war, this will be a bountiful gift.

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Janeczko (Double Cross) revisits the topic of deception as a war tactic in this fascinating, detailed look at the so-called "Ghost Army" during World War II. The unit consisted of sound engineers, actors, camouflage experts, and set designers, who helped create the illusion of fake troop movements using sets, sound effects, and showmanship. A lesser-known WWII story that should enthrall history buffs.

Kirkus Reviews

During World War II, the U.S. 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was created to launch a series of operations to deceive the Germans.Artists, actors, telegraphers, set designers, engineers, and sound technicians were recruited for this secret unit—an atypical group of soldiers. By using prerecorded sounds of moving tanks, staging false camps with inflatable tanks and artillery, driving around the countryside wearing fake unit patches, and feeding locals false information, the men of the 23rd may have influenced the course of the war. Although the information presented is accurate and generally interesting, the structure of this effort is unsatisfactory. Numerous pageslong supplemental sections (printed on darkened pages and in a sans-serif type) provide additional information on topics introduced in the narrative, but these sections confusingly interrupt the story, sometimes midsentence, and too often come before the topics are introduced. Other additional sections provide brief biographies of some members of the 23rd, sometimes long before or after they're mentioned in the story. Additionally, each operation performed by the unit is described in repetitive detail, reporting over and over the use of uniform unit patches and unit designations on vehicles. Backmatter, however, is ample and detailed, including extensive source notes, a bibliography, image credits, and an index (the latter two not seen).Save this one for only the most dedicated of World War II buffs. (Nonfiction. 11-18)

School Library Journal (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Gr 9 Up-The use of spies and intercepting information regarding enemies' movements are key to winning any military campaign. But what if the enemy was actually sending false signals, setting up fake encampments and using sophisticated recording equipment to simulate movement that never really happened? Such was the task of the Twenty-Third Special Troops in the European Theater of World War II. Their actions and techniques were so secret they remained classified for 50 years after the war ended. This title follows their story from the conception and recruitment of the units to their final mission and return home. While the beginning is a bit confusing with lots of detail and a rapidly introduced large cast of characters, a rhythm develops taking readers on a journey of intrigue across Europe. This title is not a good choice for a first-time military history reader, as the military jargon begins on page one and little background of the overall conflict is provided throughout. However, for those with a mental map of the war, this book will provide delightful details of a very specialized and secret group. Biographical sketches of many of the members of the Twenty-Third Special Troops are included as well as brief sidebars detailing related topics. Plentiful photographs and maps are included throughout. VERDICT While some might grow weary of reading details of each specific mission, military history lovers will find much to appreciate in this extensive retelling of a skillful deception that helped end World War II. Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Schools