Spy on History: Follow the Clues

Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring
by Enigma Alberti and Tony Cliff

When is a book more than a great story? When the reader becomes a participant in a mystery: searching for clues located in the text, studying the diagrams and illustrations, using a special red acetate overlay (included), and cipher wheels (included) to discover secret information. Even the introduction on the first page can provide a tip to solving the puzzle.
​Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring is a thrilling adventure based on the real life experiences of Mary Bowser, a courageous African American free woman who posed as a slave in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. At great personal risk, she provided valuable information to the Union leaders.
The story is filled with heart-stopping action and puzzles to solve. In addition to innovative page design with intriguing use of text size and placement, Tony Cliff's illustrations help to bring the story to life with detailed art which enhances the drama and provides additional clues.

This innovative concept makes reading  a participatory experience that can be savored by independent readers, but would also make a terrific shared book experience. Partners can assist one another in locating details which provide key evidence as well as helping to decode unfamiliar text.
The text is further enriched with back matter which includes Bibliographic Information, a Historical Note, a Bibliography and (for those who want to confirm their findings) a sealed envelope with information on how the mystery may be solved.
What an amazing story of an incredible woman. What an imaginative way to learn about history. What a fantastic way to use a variety of skills. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Three cheers for Spy on History.
More books in the series please.