Decide & Survive: Agent 355: Can You Win the Revolution?

Decide & Survive #3

by Ryan G. Van Cleave

A brand-new interactive series featuring great moments in history – this volume about Agent 355, a female spy during the American Revolution. Agent 355 was one of the first spies for the United States, but her real identity is unknown. he true identity of 355 remains unknown, but here young readers can imagine themselves as the intrepid and brave spy and American patriot.

Genres: Historical Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
you're a young girl working as a spy during the American Revolution. An interesting choose-your-own-adventure book that has a bit of history in it. I would've liked more interactions with other spies.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, and I think younger readers will enjoy it and learn about the real life Culper spy ring… however, it was a little frustrating that every single thing the Culper spy ring uncovered ended up being the work of Lady/355. Are you think it would’ve been a little more interesting and probably more accurate if the choices made was more of talking to people and trying to find out what they knew about things without getting caught instead of a lot of what the book ended up being. It’s hard to write a book about a historical figure that many historians aren’t even sure existed, so it’s also entirely possible that an 11-year-old girl could have been 355, but also probably not. I’m glad to see that this book will help introduce the spy to a younger audience, but not at the expense of taking every accomplishment of the spy ring and’s making it the work of 355. Granted, material in the back of the book admits that 355s existence is only taken from two sources, a mention in a letter, and the reaction of other members when she was arrested and imprisoned. Which makes the work of the book even stranger. I personally believe 355 existed in some capacity, but her spy work was most likely schmoozing with British officers, glean information, and passing that along, which I think would’ve made for a more appropriate book, but also showing a different way that spying works- and how women were often over, looked because of their gender, which women then used to their advantage.

The art is incredibly cute and will definitely draw in readers!

[Jessika Caruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very entertaining and I think upper elementary and lower middle school grades would enjoy learning more about the spying in the American Revolution through this book! I would read it again to see other outcomes!

[Angela Stillson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me a lot of the Choose Your Own Adventure books. Really good historical fiction read.

[Kristi Clemow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute with the choose your own adventure - a little dark for the reading level - with the murdering of a child in a few of the outcomes but, I was entertained.