Anna Strong and the Revolutionary War Culper Spy Ring (Spy on History Series)

by Enigma Alberti, Laura Terry (Illustrator)

Overview

In a story of suspense and intrigue, Anna Strong and the Revolutionary War Culper Spy Ring explores a little-known chapter of American history—and offers readers a mystery of their own to solve!
 
Travel back in time to the American Revolution in the thrilling third book in the Spy on History series. Discover the secret Culper Ring, a network of American spies fighting against the British redcoats. Meet historical figures like George Washington and the soon-to-be-infamous Benedict Arnold. And meet Anna Strong, an unsung heroine who found ingenious ways to communicate top-secret messages to her fellow spies—helping to free the American colonies from British rule.
 
Your mission: Decode Anna Strong’s hidden message and discover the secret assignment she undertook for the Culper Ring. There are clues embedded in the book’s text and illustrations, plus spycraft materials, including a cipher wheel, in an envelope at the beginning of the book.
 
2020 KNEA Reading Circle List Title
 
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523502165
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Series:	Spy on History Series
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	415,872
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Enigma Alberti is the nom de plume of a secret cadre of authors who are each writing a book in the Spy on History series.

As a child, illustrator Laura Terry spent her days in rural Texas raising livestock and playing in the woods, so she can understand the determined farmer's spirit of Anna Strong. Laura earned a BFA from Pratt, then an MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies, and now lives in Brooklyn with her tiny poodle, Muffin.

Editorial Reviews

"A strong main character and an engaging story make for a revolutionary read. Spy fans and cryptographers will seek this one out." —Kirkus 

"Young readers will admire Anna Strong's resourceful and courageous efforts to help the Patriot cause...Highly recommended." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2019

Gr 3–6—This new title in the series introduces young readers to the American Revolution, the Culper Spy Ring, and one of its intrepid but little-known members, Anna Strong. In the village of Setauket on New York's Long Island Sound, British soldiers lived among local residents, often harassing them and forcibly taking what they wanted. Wary but defiant, a small group of trusted acquaintances formed the Culper Spy Ring, devised a numeric code for communicating vital information about British military plans, and secretly delivered their intelligence to General George Washington. After her outspoken husband was imprisoned on a British ship, Strong sent their older children to safety in Connecticut while she stayed in Setauket to protect their family property. From her "house at a high point on the coast," she signaled meeting times and locations to fellow spies using her laundry—a black petticoat and six handkerchiefs. Feisty and quick-witted, Strong also prepared large merchandise lists that required regular trips into New York City for intelligence gathering. Thanks to Strong and the Culper Ring, a British attack on the arriving, supportive French fleet was averted, and the treasonous plan of General Benedict Arnold was revealed. Lively text, a mix of font styles, and black-and-white illustrations enhance readability. Adding further appeal, this interactive book includes embedded clues and codes along with spycraft tools to help readers decode a final, secret message from Anna. A helpful historical note and a brief bibliography are appended. VERDICT Young readers will admire Anna Strong's resourceful and courageous efforts to help the Patriot cause. In addition, readers will gain insight on multiple Revolutionary War issues: Loyalist and Patriot viewpoints on independence, the oppressive proximity of British soldiers in local communities, and George Washington's desperate need for secure, timely intelligence. Highly recommended.—Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC

School Library Journal

2018-08-27

A strong main character and an engaging story make for a revolutionary read.

The career of Anna Strong occupies a fascinating footnote in American history. Was she merely a farmer's wife, or was she a member of one of the most daring spy rings in our country's history? The pseudonymous author presents a fictionalized version of Anna's life in the third volume of the Spy on History series. The examination begins during the throes of the American Revolution. After Anna's husband is imprisoned and then freed, thanks to Anna's family connections, and returns to patriot-controlled Connecticut, Anna is pulled into a plot to signal a fellow patriot and pass along information. The plan is simple: Anna uses a black petticoat and a series of handkerchiefs to relay a meeting place. "Alberti" pulls readers into the chaos of Anna's life (and the war) through an omniscient narrator that documents Anna's movements over the next year. Astute readers will also realize the dangers women faced from soldiers (and fellow countrymen) during this period. Terry's loose, two-color illustrations depict an all-white cast and provide an additional sense of movement to the text. The trade edition includes a "Spycraft Kit" in the form of an enclosed envelope with inserts for solving a final coded mystery; the library edition publishes without these inclusions for ease of circulation. Backmatter explains the history of the Culper Spy Ring and its role in exposing Gen. Benedict Arnold.

Spy fans and cryptographers will seek this one out. (historical note, answers, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews