Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring

Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring brings to life the incredible true story of Mary Bowser, an African American woman who bravely spied for the Union. Pretending to be illiterate, she infiltrated the Confederate leadership, using her photographic memory to gather vital information. This chapter book is designed for middle grade readers, offering a unique interactive experience with 'spycraft materials' and embedded clues that challenge readers to solve the ultimate mystery of Mary's secret diary. It's an engaging way to introduce children to a significant historical figure and the complexities of the Civil War, promoting critical thinking and historical empathy.

Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring introduces an exciting interactive series for middle grade readers—Spy on History, where the reader gets to experience history in a whole new way. Meet Mary Bowser, an African American spy who was able to infiltrate the Confederate leadership at the highest level. Enigma Alberti dramatizes Mary Bowser’s suspenseful story—how she pretended to be illiterate, how she masterfully evaded detection, how she used her photographic memory to “copy” critical documents. Using spycraft materials included in a sealed envelope inside the book, a canny reader will be able to discover and unravel clues embedded in the text and illustrations, and solve the book’s ultimate mystery: Where did Mary hide her secret diary?