Surprising Spies: Unexpected Heroes of World War II

Gr 3-7–This entertaining anthology features short biographies of people who worked to undermine the Nazi regime during World War II. Each chapter highlights a specific person and their career as a spy, such as Josephine Baker, Virginia Hall, and Noor Inayat Khan. The concise chapters contain many graphic elements. Photographs and maps help to illuminate each individual, allowing readers to develop a connection to each of the spies. The profiles seem to be carefully selected and curated, ensuring a balanced gender representation. Many different cultural groups are represented, including Hispanics, African Americans, Indians, and Native Americans. The men and women have unique backgrounds, including a magician, a safecracker, a musician, and a baseball player. Each compelling entry details what happened to the spies after the war. Teachers can offer this title to reluctant readers, and the book could also serve as a starting point for deeper research. This work is recommended for ages eight through 12, but older readers might also find this an engrossing read.