Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army (Spy on History Series)

by Enigma Alberti, Scott Wegener (Illustrator)

Overview

Your Mission: Find Victor’s missing sketchbook using spycraft tools to uncover hidden codes!

It’s a true story of deception: Meet the top-secret Ghost Army, a group of artists and sound engineers trained to fake out the Germans in World War II with inflatable rubber tanks and loudspeakers broadcasting the sound of marching troops. And meet real-life Sergeant Victor Dowd, who served in the fight for Normandy,  through France, and across the Rhine.

It’s a mystery to solve: There are clues embedded in the story’s text and illustrations, and Spycraft materials come in an envelope at the beginning of the book. Now put on your own spy thinking cap and find out what happened to Victor Dowd’s missing sketchbook.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523507702
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Series:	Spy on History Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	191,105
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Enigma Alberti is the nom de plume of a group of successful children’s book authors whose first book was Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring.

Scott Wegener is a comic book artist and co-creator of Atomic Robo.
 

Editorial Reviews

"With interestingly written, approachable text, black-and-white illustrations, and varied fonts, this second in the Spy on History series will captivate a wide range of readers." — Booklist

"This is a fascinating story and one kids and adults will find interesting." — The Write Stuff
 
"If you have a history or spy buff in your life, hand this book to him or her." — Prose and Kahn
 
"I absolutely loved this book. If you like WWII history or little known history, you should check this book out!" — Rattle the Pages

"It's literally an interactive experience that even my middle school kids thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, they've both voiced their anticipation for the next installment." — Kidliterati

"This series is a fun way to introduce readers to codes and codebreaking without making it too difficult. Even readers who have cracked a few codes in their time will enjoy one more opportunity to spin a cipher wheel and work out a message. Maybe they'll even be inspired to create their own!" — Mad About MG History

"Exciting, entertaining, and educational...this unique and clever book is all these things! Middle-grade readers will be captivated by the fascinating history of the Ghost Army and will have a blast deciphering puzzles and clues using the tools provided within the book." — Word Spelunker

"There are a lot of tensions in the book — between art as passion and art as a war tactic, excitement over the Germans aiming their guns at the Ghost Army and fear at the army’s defenselessness — which makes this book a true page-turner. This perfectly paced tale of bravery and deception is perfect for any lover of history and wannabe spy!" — Kidsreads.com

 

From the Publisher

10/01/2017
Gr 4–8—The second book in this interactive nonfiction series is just as compelling as the first. Readers are introduced to Victor Dowd, a sergeant in World War II who was part of the little-known organization called the Ghost Army: a group of artists and sound engineers who used camouflage, inflatable tanks, sound effects, and more to trick the Germans and help the Allied forces win the war. The book is interspersed with images, many full-page, and uses a generous font size, both of which make it a quick, accessible read. Despite the trim size, the story is packed full of details that will amaze readers. A historical note and short bibliography are included in which the author explains how the fictionalized text was based on real interviews and letters. There are also interactive elements; students are encouraged to use spycraft materials included in the book to crack a code and solve a mystery. Answers to the clues are printed at the end (and will be sealed in the final version of the book). Unraveling the clues is tricky and will require close reading and a careful examination of all images. Reluctant readers and kids engaged by puzzles will love working through the mysteries. VERDICT Libraries may need to consider how to ensure the spycraft materials are returned with each use, as these materials are essential for decoding the clues. An engaging work of historical fiction that will entice young history buffs and reluctant readers.—Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School, MA

School Library Journal