Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents: A World War II Book for Kids

by Carole P. Roman

Uncover the secret agents of World War 2—an exciting history book for kids 8 to 12

Discover World War 2’s hidden heroes and villains. Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents explores the intriguing world of spycraft and shows you what goes on behind the scenes in war.

From spy schools and ciphers to sneaky tools and secret armies, this guide takes you on a declassified tour of the undercover operations that helped decide the outcome of World War 2. There’s also more than a dozen short spy-ographies that cover some of the most famous (and infamous!) agents that were active during the war.

This World War 2 book for kids

Fun for aspiring historians―Dig into the causes of and what led up to World War 2 so you can better understand the important part spies played in it.A family-friendly exploration―Learn about history in a fun and accessible way that anyone can enjoy.Covert illustrations―Get an up-close look at actual spies, as well as some seriously amazing spy gear.Amaze your friends and family with all kinds of awesome facts about spies and secret agents from World War 2.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Childrens, World War II

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 24, 2019

About the author

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children's books. Whether it's pirates, princesses, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children. She hosts a blog radio program called Indie Authors Roundtable and is one of the founders of the magazine, Indie Author's Monthly. She's been interviewed twice by Forbes Magazine. Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman. She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren and a new joke book called The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes!
She writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and is currently helping to create an anthology with her mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors. She lives on Long Island near her children and grandchildren.

Her series includes:
Captain No Beard
If You Were Me and Lived in- Cultural
If You Were Me and Lived in- Historical
Nursery series
Oh Susannah- Early Reader and coloring book
Mindfulness for Kids with co-author J. Robin Albertson-Wren
The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids; 800 plus Jokes!
Navigating Indieworld- with co-author Julie A. Gerber
Marketing Indieworld- with co-authors Angela Hausman and Julie A. Gerber
Adult Fiction under the pen name Brit Lunden
Bulwark
The Knowing- A Bulwark Anthology

Reviews

[Miranda Reads (back from hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victories were great and small, and both sides used a secret weapon - spies - to help win battles.

A World War II guide for the aspiring historian in your life!

This handy little book covers anything and everything regarding how spies tipped the balance for the Allies and the Axis.

I have read A LOT of books focusing on the the forefront of WWII but not so many about the behind-the-scenes aspects. aka The Spies.

Not everyone could be a spy. Espionage demanded special talents.

I felt the book did a good job of balancing the seriousness of the war with the perceived "fun" of being a spy - which I think can be a difficult thing considering the age this book is targeting.

It doesn't go into the gorey details but also doesn't gloss over the consequences of war. This book provides a realistic (and exciting!) account of the spy gear and the missions, which prevented the book from feeling too serious thus providing a well-balanced account.

Overall, I really enjoyed learning about the nitty-gritty details about being a spy. There were so many facts that I had no idea about - such as how even a misplaced button or thread type or style of fillings could ruin a spy.

A spy's choice of clothing could mean the difference between life and death...every part of his or her identity had to match the country they claimed to live in.

This lovely little history book provides an in depth and age-appropriate look into how spies affected the war.

I really enjoyed the illustrations scattered in throughout. They absolutely lifted and enhanced the story - and it was fun to have a face to put to the name of the more famous spies.

Spies were placed anywhere and everywhere, sometimes in the most unlikely places.

All in all, I really recommend this book if you or your little one are insatiably curious about the real-life spy heroes of WWII!

With thanks to the Carole P. Roman and Rockridge Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

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[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in the 60's, I was endlessly fascinated by secret agents, spies, and espionage-oriented gadgets and gizmos. A little later on in life, I became deeply drawn to the WWII ERA. "Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents: A World War II Book for Kids", from author Carole P. Roman, combines so many of these elements in one involving, fact-filled volume. Chapters include: "Spies All Around"; "Spy Missions"; "Spy Gear"; "Secret Armies"; "Super Spies"; "Code Breakers"; and "Spies Today". You'll also find a glossary to help understand terminology, a guide to spy gear, and biographies of actual undercover agents who worked for the Allies Forces. The history of events that led up to the onset of war and how the timeline unfolded gives a better understanding of what occurred. War is a complex issue--no one ever really wins--and lives will never be the same. We cannot change the past, but learning from the past--especially for the young--may give us insights on how to create a better future.

Book Copy Gratis Callisto Publishers

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I needed to let everyone know about this one when my youngest daughter wouldn’t let it out of her hands. She has read it twice and still keeps it handy. First off there is a very handy map in the beginning that is a great tool to keep looking at. Then, the little “did you know” tidbits in each chapter are cool things to find out, along with very useful glossary in the back. Any kid would get wonderfully lost in this and find it interesting! As an adult I loved it and had fun discussing with my daughter the people it listed and researching them more. This is perfect for a gift or to have in your own household! I highly recommend getting it and reading it.

[Theodore Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that, while primarily written for kids, can be enjoyed as well by adults. Written in a clear, concise voice, it begins, as does the war, in September 1939 by describing the countries and forces involved, discusses how the war evolved, defines the role spies played, and reveals the identities of some of the most famous spies, double agents, and code breakers of World War II. Now, I ask you: who could put a book like this down?!

But is isn’t just the war in Europe that the book discusses; also described, in the same manner, is the war in the Pacific and what pushed Japan to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. As was the case in Europe, spies in the Pacific were yet another threat with which the US had to contend.

But what really piqued my interest was the material on spies in the US. Yes, right in the good ole US of A. It may be hard to believe, but there were some among our population who were sympathetic to the Nazi cause . . . American citizens, perhaps, with German heritages? I remember my mother telling me about the time in 1940 when I was an infant and the three of us—my father, she, and I—were traveling by car from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Milwaukee to visit her mother. We had stopped at a roadhouse along Highway 41. Inside, all the men were dressed in Nazi uniforms. Needless to say, we left immediately. Were some of those men immigrants who came to the US after World War I and now were spies?

As an adult, in researching material for a short story I was writing, I came across an article about how the Nazi’s landed spies on our East Coast, dropping them off from a submarine. So, yes, even on the US East Coast, we had to contend with spies.

But it just wasn’t the Nazis who had spies in the US. As the book tells us, even our allies had spies in the US. For example, Britain had spies in Washington for the purpose of influencing our country to join the Allied Forces and fight Nazi Germany.

One way to defeat spies, of course, is to encode messages. As for the US, a unique technique we employed involved Native American’s—the so-called Navajo Code Talkers—who used their little-known language to convey important intelligence between various commands. Other tools were used, as well. You’ll be impressed by the techniques described in the book.

One section in the book—the French Resistance—meant a lot to me personally. My Algerian-born, Paris-raised aunt, Gisèle Atlan Rubinstein, was arrested in Paris on January 31, 1944, and transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on February 10th (Convoy #68). Though Nazi records showed she died in that camp, Gisèle escaped from Auschwitz during an uprising in October, 1944, joined the French Resistance, and took to her grave the number tattooed on her inner forearm. Her life today is memorialized in a monument at the corner of rue des Trois-Coigneaux and avenue Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

Gisèle isn’t as famous, of course, as Virginia Hall, an American woman who spied for both the British and Americans against the Germans. Hall also lived in Paris when the war broke out. Her story is in the book, as is, among others, the story of Richard Sorge, aka “Ramsay.” Sorge, German, was born to a German father and Russian mother. He eventually left Germany and moved to the Soviet Union. There, the government encouraged him to join the Nazi party. Sorge then went to work for a German newspaper, which sent him to Japan. I won’t spoil the story that unfolds from there, but it’s a doozy! You’ll have to read the book to learn “Ramsay’s” fate.

This book would make the perfect holiday gift for children (and some adults, as well). It certainly held my interest and taught me a lot about the people who played important roles in the Allies’ battle to win World War II. I guarantee you . . . you will not be disappointed.

[Conny Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Spies appeared out of nowhere in many cities during World War II. Where did they come from, and where did they learn to be spies?” begins the second chapter in Carole P. Roman’s children’s book, Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents: A World War II Book for Kids.

~ What ~
This one-hundred-and-fifty-two-page paperback targets children ages eight to twelve years old who enjoy books about secret intelligence and the rogue side of war that includes spy biographies. With no profanity and a few adult situations, several black and white illustrations are added.

After an introduction, this is a collection of six chapters regarding mostly undercover intelligent agents for the Axis Powers and Allied Forces during World War II. It discusses the spies on both sides, their missions, gear, secret armies, super spies, code breakers, and spies today. It ends with a glossary, resources, bibliography, and index. There are “Did You Know” and “Espionage by the Numbers” sidebars with information. Over fifty words are highlighted in the book and explained in its glossary.

~ Why ~
As the years go by, the sacrificial events of World War II are slowly ignored and forgotten, so this book confirms how spies from opposing viewpoints showed their patriotism by secretly serving their country. I loved how the writer explains the devastating history of the massive war that had over one-million Resistance fighters in underground armies plus over thirty-two-hundred British women, who were often recruited through social and athletic clubs, trained at Camp X in Canada, became code breakers and talkers, and learned how to use coal grenades, limpet mines, and hide maps in playing cards.

Some of the male and female short biographies include:
Josephine Baker
Morris “Moe” Berg
Eddie “Fritz” Chapman
George Dash
Tor Glad & John Moe (Mutt & Jeff)
Christine Granville
Virginia Hall
George Wood
Takeo Yoshikawa

~ Why Not ~
Some of the technical information may be above the reading level for some children. Others may not like the topic of war, yet the book does not contain too much graphic content about abuse, torture, or death.

~ Wish ~
Although I greatly appreciate this book that focuses on spies and how they were recruited, trained, and served their countries, I wish photographs of the tools and people were added instead of drawings.

~ Want ~
If you are looking for a wonderful book that not only teaches young ones about life during World War II as a spy but also has stories and sidebars, this would be the perfect gift for those who are fascinated by the topic or need to write a report about an interesting time in history. I think the author was spot on by ending the book with her teaser that “There are countless numbers of spies out there. If you pay attention, you may spot one yourself!”

Thanks to Callisto Publisher’s Club and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II was a difficult time for the world. It can be difficult to understand everything that happened, especially if you’re just a kid. That’s why Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents is such a fantastic book. It offers kids a way to learn about the war by learning all about those who worked in secret to help change the balance of power so the Allies could win the war.

While the narrative focuses on the spies, there is an awful lot of information about the war in general, about the countries involved and the major battles and the world leaders who were making the decisions. But this book hones in on the spy agencies that each country used and how they recruited and trained their agents. There is information about the equipment they used, like the glove that is also a pistol or the false teeth with a hidden compartment for negatives or a ring that could hold poison.

Author Carole Roman uses important points in the war to demonstrate how spies made a big difference, like how they fed misinformation about D-Day to the Germans. While the Allies planned to attack at Normandy, the secret agents told the Germans other locations for the attack, so the German army moved resources away from Normandy, and the Allies were able to win that battle.

She talks about the super spies like Tokyo Rose and Fritz Kolbe, but she also mentions the famous individuals who were recruited to act as spies because they traveled a lot. Julia Child is well known to have helped as well as the creator of James Bond Ian Fleming and children’s book author Roald Dahl. There is a shoutout to the Native American code talkers that the American army used, their native language unable to be broken, as well as the British code breakers from Bletchley Park who were able to crack the German code used in their Enigma machines.

Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents offers a fascinating look at World War II, from a genuinely interesting perspective. There are more resources for those who want to learn more, a bibliography, and a glossary. And the book is designed to celebrate the spies it’s teaching us about, from the dots and dashes of Morse code to the notes that include black marks to look like redactions. Any kids wanting to learn more about World War II, about spies, or about codes will glean a lot of good information from this book.

Full disclosure: I am not a kid. But I’ve always loved codes and I like spy stories a lot. So I really enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot about how the secret agents worked behind the scenes to being the war to an end, and I am so grateful they did!

A copy of Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents was provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espionage – then and now: ‘Spies can be found all over social media’

Carole P Roman is the ‘go-to’ person both for child readers and for authors of children’s books – knowledgeable, warm, sensitive, caring and always the champion for her audience, be they readers or writers! In this wise and sensitive book Cariole expands her contribution to both children’s literature as entertainment and as educational – filling that sensitive gap that too many avoid in explaining the concept of military history as in World War II to children in a manner that makes the subject matter comprehensible.

Kids can understand spies and codes and secret agents because of the media tales and games that fascinate them and entertain them. And it is this ‘insider’s secret’ that Carole takes advantage of as she transposes those ‘make-believe knowns’ into facts about the origins and mysteries of World War II. In her Introductory comments the facility of her fact sharing is evident – ‘From September 1939 to the final days of 1945, countries chose sides and an earth-shattering war took place between two giants – the Allied Forces and the Axis Powers. The major Allied Forces were Great Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union, while the major Axis Powers were Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan. Victories were great and small, and both sides used a secret weapon – spies – to help win battles. Spies helped the Allies win some of their greatest victories and eventually the war.’ In this accessible manner Carole makes difficult concepts negotiable for youngsters.

Accompanied by fine drawings by Alessandra Sawtelli of tools and warriors and images of all manner of ships and gear, this introductory book shares the concepts of ‘art’ of spying and how spying played such a significant role in the war – from all angles. Making the book more involving, Carole places occasional ‘Did You Know?‘ passages that highlight the messages of her book. An excellent Glossary of terms, list of resources, and bibliography will satisfy the most exacting reader. She also inserts significant players in that war process – spies whose names many of us didn’t realize were operatives!

And that brings out a solid point: this book may be written for kids, but it is so sound and skilled that secrets of warfare she explains and shares are very informative for the adult audience as well. This book is another Carole P Roman success and is one that should be in the library of every household. Very highly recommended.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins with an overview of WWII and which countries were at war at that time. It details the names of different government spy agencies like the Soviet's NKVD, Germany's Abwehr, and Polish Intelligence, Britain's MI6, and gives a general idea of how British and French Resistance would work behind the scenes to confuse the enemy.

Chapter 2 talks about various requirements for being a spy, where and how agencies would recruit their spies, and the ordinary jobs that spies would use as their cover.
Chapter 3 is all about spy gear and special gadgets! There are pistols hidden in gloves, maps hidden in playing cards, grenades disguised to look like lumps of coal, radio transmitters, invisible ink, and even the classic ring with poison hidden in a secret compartment.

The next chapters give stories about individual spies, their adventures, and how they served their countries. There are illustrated portraits of each spy, telling about their work, and how they were recruited into covert operations, and about their special skills or position that made them so effective. These bios include names like Julia Child, Roald Dahl, and Ian Fleming who became famous for their cooking and writing careers after their spy work was finished.

The last chapter features codebreakers with the stories of typing machines that would encode messages and how those algorithms were broken by mathematicians and cryptanalysts. I always love the story of the Native American Code Talkers who so successfully encrypted messages that were never decrypted by the enemy.

I loved the writing style in this book! It's concise with lots of interesting information packed into each page. There are some very cool illustrations showing secret weapons and maps. The print is quite large, and the pages have a patina to them as though it was old paper from 1940.

This is the perfect book for middle grade or teens who are interested in history! It is sure to spark their curiosity!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Barbara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author-winning children’s book author, Carole P. Roman has hit it out of the park with this nonfiction book. This book provides a comprehensive picture of the importance of spies during World War II.

Chapter One begins with the background and causes leading to the war’s outbreak. The importance of spies in winning the war in both the Atlantic and Pacific spheres is the focus of the book.

Young readers receive a clear picture of the training, weapons, and tools used in spycraft. Secret armies and the intelligence organizations' operations in each country are discussed. Illustrations provide visuals that provide greater insight.

I found the chapters featuring biographical portraits of the spies one of the most interesting sections. Spies worked in many professions. Chef Julia Child and author Graham Greene operated undercover. Roman discusses double agents and the Native Americans who broke the Japanese code. Before closing, the author explains how some wartime spy organizations still exist and how they have adopted modern tools of technology.

The Glossary explains terms used and provides more websites to explore. It also lists espionage monuments and museums that may be visited. For inquisitive minds looking to find out even more, Roman includes a bibliography of the resources she used in her research.

I would recommend this book to children who love adventure, espionage, and history. It’s a perfect read for middle-grade students, but an eye-opener for adults as well.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and voluntarily agreed to read and review with my honest opinions for no compensation.

[C.E. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book for young readers and historians!

I imagined my brother and I having a book like this when we were young. We would've treasured it! There was something about secret codes, intellegence agencies, and clandestine missions that intrigued us as kids. Mission Impossible was a television series we loved to watch and study. We even acted out our own episodes using our reel-to-reel tape-recorder that would "self-destruct in 10...9...8..."

Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents centers on what went on behind the scenes of WWII. The chapters are presented in a fun way, with interesting diagrams, maps, photos that appear as if they're paper clipped or stapled to the page, and even messages with blacked out words as if it's been censored.

There are so many interesting facts and explanations packed in this book. It's designed for kids...but aren't we all still kids at heart? Loved it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Anne Rightler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents is an excellent history book for younger kids from 8 years to 12 years of age. Carol Roman has done a great job explaining about the fascinating world of spydom during WWII as she writes about spy missions and gear, secret armies, and super spies. Even as an adult I enjoyed reading through the book. I especially liked reading the 'spy-ographies' of a number of people who are known for other occupations but served as spies in the war. Included in that section are Julia Child, Ian Fleming, and Roald Dahl. A glossary is included at the end of the book, as well as a list of resources and a rather extensive bibliography for readers to further explore the intriguing world of spies. I have a couple of grandsons who will love reading this book. I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 10 year old has been into spy stuff for years, so I thought she might enjoy this book. I didn't expect how much I would enjoy and learn from it as well!

A smoking pipe that's also a pistol. Maps hidden in playing cards. Boots that leave "bare feet" footprints. A spy school in Canada. This is an exciting book that captures the imagination. Chapters include spy missions, code breakers and spy gear (easily my favorite one!). And did you know Julia Child, the famous chef, was a spy? Definitely a "learning is fun" kind of book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is two subjects I’ve wanted to know more about, World War II and Spies! It did not disappoint. Yes, it’s for kids and would be a great book for middle school age but adults will enjoy it too. Happy I took time to read it. I was raised by a veteran from this war. He wasn’t able to talk about it much. As an adult, I wish I could ask him questions now.
Received a copy from publisher but it did not influence my rating.

[Ben Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your child loves reading books about spies, code breakers and secret agents, then they're going to love this book by author Carole P. Roman! It's packed full of awesome and exciting information about World War 2's heroes and villains! Great book!

[Tom Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the world of spies. The author focuses on the activities which took place during World War II but doesn’t limit herself to this time period. She goes back to before World War I and even closes the book with the admonition that spies continue to operate today.

Roman takes the reader on a journey through this intriguing facet of “warfare” which countries wage against each other. She highlights, not only the obvious aspects which populate much of the fiction about this subject, but also some of the more obscure elements of this fascinating endeavor.

One of those interesting tidbits shared by the author is the names and exploits of professional spies and even famous people who operated in this world of shadows. It is interesting to read these short biographies and see how people who, otherwise seemed ordinary, participated in some of these nefarious enterprises. This makes the reader wonder what could be going on around us without us even knowing it. In fact, the author encourages the reader to keep an eye out.

Obviously, the target of the book is the young reader. The author keeps the material relevant and interesting for this age group, without getting into too many gory details. She also keeps the interest up, so the reader continues to be engaged.

Unfortunately, the flow of the book, at times, is a little stilted. But the young reader would probably not notice since they will be captivated by the details being shared about this strange and new arena of warfare.

Upon request the publisher sent me a copy of the book to review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable from start to finish. Roman, who has written over 50 books for children, explains her topic well and in an accessible manner. She includes background information about the war, different missions, machines and gear that people wore, and the names and functions of the different organizations like MI5, Polish Intelligence, and what later became the CIA in the US. Chapter 5 includes bios of 17 individuals, including some that the reader may or may not know were spies. Finally, a discussion of codes and code breakers (including the Native American code talkers) concludes the book. Glossary, resources, and bibliography are sufficiently detailed. When I was a youngster I would have loved this topic and the way it was presented here!

4 stars instead of 5: I wish the publisher had chosen to include some photos. The illustrations didn't accurately represent the actual appearances of some of the individuals. In addition, it might have been important to see photos of some of the machines and devices, as illustrations can't do them justice. However, the prose of this book is stellar and outweighs that factor.

I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher.

[Amy Navarre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Callisto Publisher's Club and Rockridge Press for this free book! The following review contains my honest opinions.
There are some fascinating facts in this book! Not only do I feel this was an educational read for my kids, but I learned some interesting tidbits as well. I will say though that chapter 4 "Secret Armies" did move a little too slow and it was hard to stay focused during that portion. Luckily Chapter 5 "Super Spies" made up for it with captivating tales of real spies; our favorite real spies were Julia Childs, Ian Flemming, and Ronald Dahl. I also like the resources listed in the back . The author has gone beyond the typical list of books and in addition to the books included Websites, Monuments for Spies, and Museums. However, I was quite surprised and disappointed that the World War II Museum in New Orleans was not listed with the Museums.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read books on code breakers and spies and thought this one might be good for my 12 year old grandson—I was right but in learning that, I mined a bit of information I hadn’t known before. If you get this book for your preteens or early teens be sure to read it yourself before passing it on. You will find it quite interesting and possibly get a simple introduction Into spies and code breakers. I especially enjoyed reading the sketches on Roald Dahl, Julia Child and other famous spies.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have sung my praises on Roman’s writing many times. She has a knack for writing about history for kids that holds their attention and keeps them interested in learning more. WWII can be a difficult topic to explain to kids. This is a topic first covered usually in middle school, but this book can offer an opportunity for learning in upper elementary too.

Most kids are interested in spies and secret agents and only know what they see on TV and in movies. Roman explains some of the earliest spies started from various countries as early as WWI. She gives a brief history of how WWII began and the countries involved. Then she dives into the inner workings of being a spy during the war. She doesn’t just talk about spies for Americans but also those for Germany, England, Japan, and Russia.

I found the explanations of the tools, hidden weapons, and clothing used to help them convey or conceal their messages to be fascinating. Even if the spies were caught and sent to prisons, there were still ways to send hidden messages into them, like putting maps for escape on playing cards.

There are several famous spies talked about in the book. Some we have never heard of, but others who were quite famous, like chef Julia Child and well-known author Roald Dahl. Their bios are quite fascinating, especially that of Tokoyo Rose.

For kids that are history buffs or interested in becoming a CIA Agent will find this book especially interesting. Roman gives enough information to show kids that war is dangerous and spies don’t necessarily perform tasks that are without harm to innocent people or themselves. But, she doesn’t focus on that. She sticks to the facts and shares it from all sides of the battlefront. A glossary at the end of the book helps with understanding unknown terms and a bibliography helps with resources for more learning.

[M.M. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this book. I am not overly fascinated by things about WWII but I do like to read about it. This one intrigued me for two reasons.



The first being it was a book written specifically for children. That is not too surprising considering the author has so many children's books under her belt. More than likely she wrote for an interest from a grandchild.



The second reason is that this one is different than other children's books on the subject, is it is about spies and World War II secret codes. I like that! I was intrigued by the multiple real-life spies like Julia Childs. Did you know? I liked reading what they did and how they did it without getting caught. Photos were included for the different spies that were mentioned.



I also liked reading about the different codes used and how they were broken by code breakers. The author illustrated some of these codes which made it that more intriguing. One of the code breakers that she mentioned in the book was the Navajo Code Breakers. I was happy to see them mentioned.



This book is simply packed full of information and well worth reading for children and adults as well. There was nothing in this book that I did not like!



This book gets 5 ... _ ._ ._. ... from me.



Disclosure:

I received a copy of this book from the author. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened on audio. Was just a bunch of short intros about different people through the war instead of stories. It was okay but didn't Captivate

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This book about espionage during World War II features lots of interesting information, and it's presented in an accessible way for older elementary readers and up. There are inevitable tragic details included, due to the nature of the topic, but this book doesn't dwell on violence or delve into all of the harsh and difficult details involved in some of the stories it briefly profiles.

The author provides context for understanding the war and the different countries involved in it, introduces some of the different spy networks involved, and gives examples of different attributes that were important for spies. Further in, the book includes short biographical sketches about notable spies, shows ways that espionage significantly impacted the course of the war, and describes some different technologies and spy tools that people invented or used again during this era.

There are some sidebars and illustrations throughout the book. I found the sidebars somewhat distracting, since there were fake censored black-out marks between some of the words, and this would have been better off with actual photographs instead of illustrations to represent the spies and different tools they used. The illustration style fits with the other books in this series, but since WWII is much more recent history, it seems odd that there aren't any photos. Also, the book can occasionally feel somewhat dry, since the author is taking such a broad focus and isn't dramatizing any suspenseful details, just summarizing things. Nonetheless, this offers a wealth of information for kids who are interested in WWII and spies, and it can be a great jumping-off point for learning more.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Ottaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book written for children is full of information about spying including some spy biographies and as a bonus the book covers spying activities in USA and Europe. There are some little fascinating nuggets in there but overall I did find it a little dull.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for a kid's read. Really good overview. As an adult I particularly enjoyed the background info on famous spies whose identities were found out over the years like Julia Child (although technically not a spy; more of a handler) and Roald Dahl.

[Faith Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

On audio with the kids-my boys (10 and 12) loved it!

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an accessible and informative read for any kids who may be interested in spies or intrigue, especially related to WWII. I learned a lot!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that kids will know about all the secret awesome spies of history with this series.

[Sarah]

knew a lot of this already but it was cool
maybe if i was the target audience for this instead of 19 i would've known less
but then again maybe not
i have read so freaking many wwii books

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this book in two hours! 10 year old loved it.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

✅