War Spies (Profiles

Biography Profile Series #7

by Daniel Polansky

Six bios in one!
Profiles is so much more than just your typical biography. The next book in our six-in-one, full-color bio series will focus on war spies. Kids will learn all of the biographical information they want to know about some of the most famous spies in history. Featuring Sir Francis Walsingham, Nathan Hale, Belle Boyd, Kim Philby, Virginia Hall, and Allen Dulles. Find out how and why they grew up to be spies!

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, War, History

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 26, 2013

About the author

Daniel Polansky is the author of the Low Town trilogy, Empty Throne duology, the Hugo-nominated novella The Builders, and A City Dreaming. He can be found in Los Angeles, mostly.

Reviews

[jv poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spies seem to have always been significant in warfare, serving not only to steal and share information, but often sabotaging plans as well. This non-fiction collection contains six scintillating, snap-shot bios of some of the most effective double-agents throughout history.

While this may have been written with Middle-Grade and Young Adult readers in mind, this Not-So-Young reader found it to be incredibly interesting and enlightening. I know many of “my” students will definitely dig it.

From the ‘original spymaster’ to the ‘limping lady’, fascinating facts fill the pages. I even re-read the section on the British spy agency’s first female operative. Although I knew a good bit about Belle Boyd, I was delighted to discover the first crime she committed: as a child, she taught a young slave to read.

War Spies is the 7th book in the Profiles series and I learned so much, so quickly that I’m going back for more.


This mini-review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.

[Quincy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda boring but at the same time a little interesting.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a an ARC of this book.This book is very well done. The text is easy to read and contains a glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar to the target audience (9-14 year olds). My ARC contains mostly black and white pages, but the first few are in color giving me a good idea that this bright book with its color pictures will be enjoyed by young readers.I also like that female spies were included as well as male spies. A good. On-fiction book for young readers. Very interesting.

[Zach Mercer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about spies that help their countries. Belle Boyd helped the confederate soldiers during the civil war when she pretended to be a union solider. She sent info to the confederate soldiers about what the union was doing. Nathan Hale tried to spy on the British during the revolutionary war but he was caught.

[Berta Kleiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan. I said I shall read everything Daniel Polansky publishes, and that I shall do.

Not being part of the target market, I did not expect this book to be a must-read for me. Still, I think it is really good for what ist is.

[Emma Stauter · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good.