Publication
date: Jan 23rd 2018
From the Publisher:
Your mission: Find Victor Dowd’s missing sketchbook. And
discover one of the most unusual stories of World War II.
Meet the 603rd Camouflage Engineers, better known as the Ghost Army. This group
of artists and sound engineers were trained to deceive the Germans in World War
II with everything from fake tanks to loudspeakers broadcasting the sound of
marching troops. And meet Victor Dowd, a real-life sergeant who with his fellow
Ghost Army troops fought his way from Normandy, through France, and eventually
across the Rhine.
Second in the Spy on History series, it’s a compelling story of a little-known
chapter from the war—and a mystery to solve. Using spycraft materials included
in a sealed envelope, readers will discover and unravel the clues embedded in the
book’s text and illustrations, and uncover the mystery of Victor Dowd’s missing
sketchbook.
My Thoughts:
I can't say enough good things
about the Spy on History series (first book was on Mary Bowser and the Civil
War Spy Ring)--I wish it had been around sooner. I often do library/teacher
convention talks on how to reach reluctant readers, and this is a perfect
example of a non-fiction title that would bridge the gap between fiction and
non-fiction for kids who may not like to read.
The story is one of those
footnote-in-history ones, about engineers tasked with deceiving the Germans in
WWII. We follow soldier Victor Dowd and the Ghost Army as their missions are
challenging, and seemingly too difficult to accomplish.
I love how there are graphic novel-style
illustration throughout, plus excerpts in bold, so the story visually moves
along. The author does a brilliant job at building the arc of the Ghost Army's
achievement, finding the thriller-like story in history, while not trivializing
the sacrifice made by the people the Ghost Army was fighting for.
There's a historical note in the
back, plus a code for kids to crack, which is fun. This book, and the series,
is an exciting addition for MG readers. I'll look forward to the next book.
**NetGalley provided e-copy for review**
