Anna Smith Strong (1740–1812) was a fearless woman who acted as a spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Recruited by Washington’s spymaster, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, she joined the Culper Ring, a group of American spies. General Washington placed a huge amount of trust in his spies, and Anna helped pass him important messages at great risk to herself and her family. One of her cleverer devices was to hang laundry on the line in a planned fashion so that other spies could read the “message.” Had she been discovered by the British, she would have faced jail or execution. Thrilling and dramatic, Anna Strong tells the story of how one brave woman helped change the course of American history.
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from Abrahms Books Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I love reading stories about women spies during the Revolutionary War. I had never heard of Anna Strong and was excited to share her story with my students. Anna grew up in a time where women were not considered to be as important as men. This meant that she could float around and gather intel for George Washington and his army. During her time as a spy, Anna balanced raising a family and having her husband put in jail. Every time she agreed to send a message, she put her life in jeopardy. Anna Strong was a brave, and intelligent woman who did whatever she could to fight for the new nation of the United States. The text is rich with vocabulary and historical context. The illustrations by Sarah Green capture the historical period in lovely shades and patterns. I was amazed at the details that were on each of the dresses that Anna had. I was also amazed at Sarah’s spyglass effect The back of the book has the codes that were used so readers can create their own secret messages. The back of the book also has more information about Anna Strong and her willingness to spy and protect a nation. This is a perfect nonfiction biography to share during national women’s month.
Ages 6 and up
40 Pages
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