Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publication: Clarion Books (May 21, 2024)
Description: Two modern-day kids discover the truth about an American Revolutionary War–era female spy through a treasure-hunt adventure in their hometown of Setauket, New York.
With codewords and secret signals perfected, best friends Rachel and Joon are ready to spend their summer practicing spycraft—especially if they can uncover secrets like the one Joon’s parents have been keeping, that his family is about to move out of town.
When eavesdropping leads them to a ring rumored to have belonged to Anna “Nancy” Smith Strong—according to local Long Island legend, the only female member of George Washington’s famed Culper Spy Ring—they think they’ve hit the jackpot. Then they discover Nancy left a coded message in the ring!
Decoding her message leads to another cryptic clue, and then another, and soon Rachel and Joon are racing to decipher a series of puzzles that must surely lead to hidden treasure! But can they solve the final mystery before Joon’s moving day? And just what did the centuries-old spy hide away—and why?
Sarah Beth Durst’s skillful blend of Revolutionary War history and suspenseful contemporary storytelling will keep readers guessing to the last satisfying page.
My Thoughts: SPY RING was an engaging middle grade mystery with a huge helping of American History. Rachel and Joon, soon to be sixth graders, embark on a quest to discover a treasure Revolutionary Spy Anna "Nancy" Smith Strong left for those who could follow her clues. Rachel and Joon need a mystery to solve to get their minds off the fact that Joon's parents' lease is expiring and finding a new place to live will most likely mean moving away.
When the two are playing spy in Rachel's parents' attic and she overhears that her soon-to-be stepfather has a gift for her when they couple marries and that the gift is a silver ring that has been passed down in his family from Anna Smith Strong, the perfect mystery presents itself.
As Rachel and Joon travel all around Setauket which is on Long Island in the State of New York, they learn all about their town's history and a lot about spycraft during the Revolutionary War. They also find some adult friends who are eager to help them in their explorations. Linda who has recently retired from the historical society is also a Nancy fan and provides a lot of assistance. So does the school custodian who lets the kids into the summer quiet elementary school so that they can check out murals painted in the school's auditorium.
This was a fun quest for the kids which leads to a happy ending for Joon as his family. The author's note at the back provides all sorts of information for young people who want to know more about history and the many unsung heroes that helped build our country.
Favorite Quote:
Favorite Quote:
"Sometimes historians make mistake," the woman said, "or more often, they don't have all the information yet. My friend Linda at the historical society likes to say that reconstructing history like piecing together a puzzle where there's no picture on the box, half the pieces have fallen on the floor, and the cat has eaten a quarter of them. You try to guess what the picture looks like as best you can with what you have."I received this book as a gift from the author. You can buy your copy here.
Sounds like a fun and a educational read as well.
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