Best known for his award-winning poetry titles, Janeczko has a long-held fascination with the shadowy world of espionage, which he explored in Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing (2004). Here he revisits cryptology basics and other intelligence-gathering techniques, but his main focus is on the spies themselves, and in a fascinating series of profiles, he presents notorious spooks, from the Revolutionary War to the cold war, closing with Soviet moles Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. A final passage briefly covers twenty-first-century developments, such as cyber espionage, but, as Janeczko says, the post-9/11 intelligence world is "a subject for another book." A few portraits and reproductions of code charts illustrate, but this title relies mostly on Janeczko's graceful, exciting storytelling to draw kids' interest. With well-chosen subjects (including many women and African Americans who used their marginalized positions to gather information) and contagious enthusiasm for the spy world's "tantalizing mysteries," this makes a strong choice for both avid and reluctant readers alike, and appended source notes and a bibliography bolster the curricular appeal.

Janeczko surveys the history of spycraft in the United States. Chapters are arranged chronologically, from the American Revolution to the Cold War and beyond, focusing on individuals who acted as spies for--or against--the country; shorter vignettes on other notable people, activities, and technologies related to spying are interspersed. The accessible writing and high-interest subject matter will engage readers. Bib., ind.

In this follow-up to Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing (2004), Janeczko delves further into clandestine matters with an entertaining collection of spy stories that span from the American Revolution through the Cold War. The author touches upon all aspects of spy work—counter-intelligence, double agents, espionage, gadgets, sabotage, secret codes, surveillance and training. Some of the stories have been told in greater detail elsewhere for young readers, such as George Washington's effective employment of spies to collect military intelligence, Elizabeth Van Lew's work on behalf of the Union and hot-air balloon surveillance in the Civil War. Two of the most interesting stories are about the Choctaw code talkers of World War I, not as well-known as their World War II Navajo counterparts, and the remarkably complex Anglo-American operation to tunnel into East Berlin. Interesting as the stories are, the book would be more effective if the six self-contained chapters had been tied together into a centralized narrative. Still, it's a wealth of information in an engaging package that should find an enthusiastic audience, particularly among middle schoolers. (source notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 11 & up)

Gr 5-8 Since the Revolutionary War, espionage has created fascinating scenarios involving some quite unlikely participants. From Benedict Arnold and Mata Hari to the lesser-known Elizabeth Van Lew and Juan Pujol, Janeczko delves into their stories with delicious detail, drawing readers into a world of intrigue and danger. Did you ever wonder why invisible ink works? How a code breaker deciphers a message? Or whether dentistry could affect a secret agent's success? The answers to these questions and more can be found here. Each chapter covers a historical era and chronicles the maturation of spying, while primary-source photographs are interspersed throughout, lending an authentic feel to each section. A complete bibliography and source notes appear at the end. Janeczko manages to stay true to history while still keeping a lively tone. Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL