Spies, Lies, and Disguise: The Daring Tricks and Deeds That Won World War II

Gr 5-8–An unexpectedly humorous narrative chronicles some of the trickiest and most impressive espionage of World War II, including Roald Dahl’s spy work, ghost armies composed of actors manning inflatable tanks and ships, and cunning code talkers. The highly readable and well-organized text is accompanied by occasional breakout panels and spreads and focuses mainly on missions conducted by the Allied powers. While each chapter is organized around a different type of spycraft or specific mission, the accounts are more or less chronologically arranged and touch on major events such as D-Day and the dropping of the atomic bombs, adding context that will help readers newer to the subject. The text is accompanied by a combination of period photographs and illustrations by O’Malley, whose expressive style adds to the book’s cheekiness.