Lee, Y. S. A Spy in the House: The Agency.

Lee, Y. S.  A Spy in the House: The Agency.  Candlewick Press     2016  335p  $7.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-8748-9  hs/adult  Historical  fiction  VG-BN   

Mary is saved from the gallows by two women who run a ladies’ school  in Victorian England for promising young girls of meager means. The school is a front for a spy academy that selects only a few girls who can do sleuthing without being “seen” because of their jobs as house servants. Mary is placed as a lady’s companion for the 18-year-old daughter of a prominent London family that runs a trading business between India and England. They also are in the business of stolen artifacts and gems. In her role as an investigator, Mary happens upon a young man who is also seeking “dirt” on the family because his brother is considering marriage into the family. With a cast of characters who all have ulterior motives, this novel is a quick read about sleuthing activities in the dead of night in  unseemly parts of London, as well as adventures in the world of the wealthy in London. Wit and humor are sprinkled into this Victorian adventure featuring a feisty female sleuth, and it is a good introduction to Victorian adventure/romance for first-time readers. Mary’s mixed-race background becomes a thread that will follow her into other books in the series as she sharpens her sleuthing skills. A Spy in the House is well-researched historically, with vivid details of the stench of the Thames, the prejudices of the time and the chasm between wealth and poverty in Victorian England.     

Summary: Mary, trained as a spy, seeks to figure out the illegal nature of the Thorold household’s business. She becomes a lady’s companion to the daughter in this story of intrigue, debutante balls, and a little romance set in Victorian England. Grades 8+  

Victorian England-Fiction, Mystery-Fiction            --Lois McNicol

Lee, Sally Hillary Clinton

Lee, Sally        Hillary Clinton          

Capstone Publishers 2011   24p     23.99  978-1-4296-5327-5           

elem                Pebble Plus (Capstone)       VG       A biography of Hillary

Clinton with full page photos of her and her family.  The highlights of her life

are presented for grades 3-5.         This easy to read biography of Hillary

Clinton is part of a series called First Ladies. The focus is on Clinton╒s

childhood, her interest in working to improve conditions for children and

minorities as well as her interest in health care. A timeline at the bottom of

the page allows students to trace important events in her life. The book

includes her run for President as well as her current appointment as Secretary

of State. A glossary, index and access to the publisher╒s internet site,

Facthound, complete the book.        This series focuses on seven Presidential

wives who were influential in American history.  A timeline at the bottom of the

pages and numerous photos provide an overview of the life and accomplishments of

First Ladies.    McNicol,Lois

Lee, Sally Eleanor Roosevelt (bilingual)

Lee, Sally        Eleanor Roosevelt (bilingual)         

Capstone Publishers 2011   24p  23.99     978-1-4296-6112-6           

elem    Pebble Plus (Capstone)       VG       A biography

of Eleanor Roosevelt with full page photos of her and her family.  The

highlights of her life are presented in English/Spanish for grades 3-5.            This

easy to read biography of Eleanor Roosevelt is part of a series called First

Ladies. The focus is on Roosevelt╒s childhood, her interest in helping the poor

and working class citizens as well as her humanitarian work. A timeline at the

bottom of the page allows students to trace important events in her life. The

bilingual text with English at the top of the page and Spanish at the bottom

make the text accessible to native Spanish speakers as well as provides students

learning Spanish with a quick translation for verification of their Spanish

skills. Even the photos and timeline use the bilingual approach. A glossary,

index and access to the publisher╒s internet site, Facthound, complete the book.

            This bilingual Pebble Plus series focuses on President╒s wives in a series

called First Ladies/Primeras Damas. A timeline at the bottom of the pages,

numerous photos as well as bilingual text provide an overview of the

accomplishments of First Ladies.     McNicol,Lois