Bibliographic Information: Janeczko, Paul B. The Dark Game: True Spy Stories. Candlewick Press, 2010. ISBN 9780763629151
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Non- fiction
Reading Level: Grades 6-10
Curriculum ties: History
Awards: None
Note: Award Winning Poet
Reader’s Annotation: A collection of real United States spy stories revealing top secret accounts from the last two centuries.
Plot Summary: The author takes us back in time to reveal the true stories about famous American spies and spies who changed important American historical events in both positive and negative ways. In six chapters with accompanying photos that add to the account, the author begins with “How George Washington Outspied the Brittish.” He then goes on to clear up misconceptions such as Benedict Arnold being a spy and not a traitor. Other chapters include the mysterious woman who was identified only by a coded number and never a name during the Revolutionary War; Mata Hari, who faced the firing squad charged with being a double agent and Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen, the two American double agents who were caught red handed in the last two decades. My favorite story was that of the Ch
Critical Evaluation:What I thought was great about this book was how the author included a well rounded view of those who have helped shape America to be what it is today. For instance, the story he included about the Choctaw code talkers. A group of about ten soldiers who in 1917 used their native Choctaw language to help relay messages to and from headquarters to the fields. Their language was so rare that the Germans, who had been tapping American lines, were not able to decipher anything allowing the Americans to be successful in the war. A second story highlighted was about how African Americans were delivering intelligence to federal troops during the Civil War. General Lee believed that they were the army’s primary source of information because they knew about the terrain as well as where extra ammunition, guns and other supplies could be found. The author also gave a nod to Harriet Tubman, a spy who’s intelligence about waterways was invaluable in 1862.
Booktalking Ideas:
What other secretes do you think the government could be hiding?
Discuss qualities of a good spy, do you have what it takes?
What, if any, lifestyle changes would you have to make being a spy?
Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Representing the U.S. in a negative light.
Challenge defense ideas:
• Citizens’ ability to criticize the government helps prevent the government from misusing its power.
This book is a non-fiction account of events
Why was this book included?: A non-fiction offering with historical value to which teen boys would gravitate.
Author Information: Paul B. Janeczko aspired to be the teacher he never had, when he decided to pursue a career as a high school language arts teacher. From his own days as a student, Paul was obsessed with poetry of all kinds, and as a teacher he wanted to spread his own love of poetry to young people. Today, Paul Janeczko is better known as a writer, poet and anthologist.
Born in New Jersey in 1945, he was educated at St. Francis College, Maine and John Carroll University, Ohio, after which he became a teacher, and began publishing his works and collections in the mid-1970s. After twenty-one years as a teacher, he retired to focus on writing.
Some of Paul’s award winning teen books include “A Poke in the I, A Kick in the Head, A Foot in the Mouth” (2005), “Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets” (2006), “Worlds Afire” (2007) and “Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing (2004).”Paul Janezcko lives in Maine with his wife and daughter.
(Author information obtained from Scholastic website. Retrieved from: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=1640)
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