Big Book of Spy Stuff

March 21, 2011
This lightly illustrated, tongue-in-cheek guide to espionage (part of the Big Book series) explores a broad swathe of spy-related topicsâeverything from eavesdropping and code breaking to cyber-warfare and spreading misinformationâwhile referring to historical (and recent) spies and spy operations. King includes topics like assassination, but keeps the tone light ("Some villains are so mean, their assassination seems only fair"). Amusing anecdotes, such as when Madeleine Albright wore a bright bug pin for a meeting with the Russians (to inform them that she knew of the bugs they'd placed in State Department offices), should entertain while giving readers a sense of how espionage works in the real world. Ages 8âup.

July 1, 2011

Gr 4-8-This primer is long, but the margins are wide and the type is large. Chapters cover everything from serious topics like high-tech espionage and surveillance to sillier subjects such as the best (and worst) secret names ever, the best-dressed agents, and everything in between. There is even a chapter on animal spies. Ancient and current (to 2010) techniques are explained. A humorous, chatty tone is maintained throughout; it's slightly more Get Smart than James Bond. Black-and-white cartoons add even more humor. A terminology list is included, as is an extensive bibliography. Unfortunately, there is no index. While the jokey tone can wear thin, this is a helpful introduction for future secret agents, especially those who will appreciate the author's sense of humor.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

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