A Spy Called James


Book Description

Told for the first time in picture book form is the true story of James Lafayette—an enslaved person who spied for George Washington's army during the American Revolution. After his resounding defeat at the battle of Yorktown, British general Charles Cornwallis made a point of touring the American camp, looking for the reason behind his loss. What he didn’t expect to see was James, an escaped enslaved person who had served as a guide to the British army. Or at least that’s what Cornwallis was led to believe. In fact, James wasn’t actually a runaway—he was a spy for the American army. But while America celebrated its newfound freedom, James returned to slavery in Virginia. His service as a spy hadn't qualified him for the release he'd been hoping for. For James the fight wasn't over; his next adversary was the Virginia General Assembly. He'd already helped his country gain its freedom, now it was time to win his own.




Anna Strong


Book Description

The thrilling true story of the female spy who helped save the American Revolution Anna Smith Strong (1740–1812) was a fearless woman who acted as a spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Recruited by Washington’s spymaster, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, she joined the Culper Ring, a group of American spies. General Washington placed a huge amount of trust in his spies, and Anna helped pass him important messages at a great risk to herself and her family. One of her cleverer devices was to hang laundry on the line in a planned fashion so that other spies could read the “message.” Had she been discovered by the British, she would have faced jail or execution. Thrilling and dramatic, Anna Strong tells the story of how one brave woman helped change the course of American history. The book includes an author’s note, a bibliography, an index, and a spy code so kids can get involved in the action.




Nathan Hale


Book Description

The American colonies had just declared independence from the British. But General George Washington knew things were not going the Americans' way. When Gen. Washington needed someone to spy on the British, only one young man volunteered. That man was Nathan Hale, an early American hero.




George Washington's Secret Six


Book Description

When George Washington beat a hasty retreat from New York City in August 1776, many thought the American Revolution might soon be over. Instead, Washington rallied—thanks in large part to a little-known, top-secret group called the Culper Spy Ring. He realized that he couldn’t defeat the British with military might, so he recruited a sophisticated and deeply secretive intelligence network to infiltrate New York. Drawing on extensive research, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger have offered fascinating portraits of these spies: a reserved Quaker merchant, a tavern keeper, a brash young longshoreman, a curmudgeonly Long Island bachelor, a coffeehouse owner, and a mysterious woman. Long unrecognized, the secret six are finally receiving their due among the pantheon of American heroes.




City Spies


Book Description

A New York Times bestseller! A GMA3 Summer Reading Squad Selection! “Ingeniously plotted, and a grin-inducing delight.” —People “Will keep young readers glued to the page…So when do I get the sequel?” —Beth McMullen, author of Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls In this thrilling new series that Stuart Gibbs called “a must-read,” Edgar Award winner James Ponti brings together five kids from all over the world and transforms them into real-life spies—perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls. Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency. Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t. Before she knows what she’s doing, Sara is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team. No one said saving the world was easy…




Paul Revere


Book Description

Paul Revere was an expert silversmith. He became one of America's first industrialists. He was active in the movement that led to American independence.Yet Paul Revere's fame rests almost entirely on the few hours that he sped through the Massachusetts countryside in the early morning of April 19, 1775. He was warning the inhabitants that the British regulars were on their way. It marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.Few people outside the Boston area knew of his exploit. It took another warthe Civil Warto make him famous throughout the country. A famous poet named Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wanted to prevent the Civil War. He showed his fellow Americans a hero they could all admire. To himand to millions of others after himPaul Revere was that hero




Revolutionary War Spies


Book Description

A historical account of espionage during the Revolutionary War, including famous spies such as Nathan Hale, covert missions, and technologies that influenced the course of the conflict.




Marquis de Lafayette


Book Description

The Marquis de Lafayette was a young aristocrat from France who played a key role in the success of the American Revolution. From a wealthy family with a military history, Lafayette admired the struggle for independence in the American colonies and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to fight on the side of the colonists. His skills both on the battlefield and in persuading the government of France to support the American colonists earned him an enduring friendship with the future president, George Washington, and a lasting legacy in the history of the United States. Having fended for themselves for nearly two generations, many citizens in America's 13 colonies resented having to pay taxes to Great Britain-a country far away across the ocean. Protest against the British government grew into rebellion; rebellion quickly turned into war. Understanding the American Revolution describes the events that led up to the fight for an independent United States of America, the battles between British and Patriot forces, and what life was like during the conflict. Book jacket.




Life During the Revolutionary War


Book Description

What did pioneers eat on the wide-open frontier as they made their way west? What kinds of clothes did people wear during the Civil War? What was school like in colonial America? Daily Life in US History answers all of these questions and more. Take a trip to the past to learn what everyday life was like in the different eras of US history. Core Library is the must-have line of nonfiction books for supporting the Common Core State Standards for grades 3-6. Core Library features: A wide variety of high-interest topics, Well-researched, clearly written informational text, Primary sources with accompanying questions, Multiple prompts and activities for writing, reading, and critical thinking, Charts, graphs, diagrams, timelines, and maps Book jacket.




The Indispensable Spy


Book Description

The Battle of Yorktown is known as the final decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. Many people know of the heroics displayed by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, and the Marquis de Lafayette...but very few know about a man named James Armistead. Without James, the war might very well have been lost.All proceeds from this novella are donated to Mount Vernon to continue historic preservation and education efforts.