The lady is a spy Virginia Hall, World War II hero of the French resistance

Review by Booklist Review

When WWII first broke out, America didn't get involved. But some Americans did, including Virginia Hall: a woman from Baltimore who, in France when the fighting began, worked first as an undercover agent for the British Special Operations Executive, then, later, for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services. With sharp instincts, unyielding determination, and common sense, she eluded the Nazis, working as a wireless telegraph operator to pass resistance information to the Allied forces. She faced many personal obstacles missing a leg, she often had to deal with pain from her prosthetic device, for instance. And even though women's roles increased during the war, she rarely received the respect or recognition she deserved for her achievements. Black-and-white photos are dispersed throughout the text, offering further insight into WWII Europe. Espionage is a draw for readers, though much of the information surrounding it was kept under wraps, and this will be an easier sell for history buffs. An intriguing, informative glimpse into the life of a little-known figure that will appeal to fans of feminist heroes.--Maggie Reagan Copyright 2018 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 6-9-A detailed, thoroughly researched, and engaging story about Virginia Hall, a much-forgotten but vitally important figure in U.S. and British history. Hall served as a spy, first for the British and then for the Americans, aiding the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Mitchell pulls readers into Hall's story in a compelling narrative that does not skimp on facts. There is plenty of historical detail given as context, to frame Hall's life as a spy, but also to inform readers about life in occupied France and give a fuller picture of the war. This book includes a thorough bibliography filled with primary and secondary source material, detailed endnotes, and photo credits. The author also included lots of primary source information and quotes from Hall's niece, Lorna Catling. VERDICT A well-researched, organized, and compelling nonfiction read for middle schoolers.-Kristyn Dorfman, The Nightingale-Bamford School, New York City © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

The incredible life and achievements of American-born spy Virginia Hall is relayed in exciting detail in this volume. During WWII Hall worked as an undercover agent for both Britain and the U.S. and worked closely with the French Resistance. Her daring exploits will thrill young history buffs and those interested in real-life spy stories. Extensive notes are appended, and photographs are frequent throughout. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

The life and career of a tough, profane, cool-headed secret agent who worked for British and American intelligence in both hot and cold wars.Mitchell's (The Freedom Summer Murders, 2014, etc.) tedious tally of quick encounters, obscure locales, and vaguely described tasks sucks the juice out of what is plainly a rip-roaring tale. Not the least deterred by blowing off her own foot in a hunting accident (she dubbed her prosthetic limb "Cuthbert"), Maryland-born Hall played such an important role building networks of informants in Vichy France ("I've made some tart friends," she reported, who "know a hell of a lot!"), supplying arms and advice to insurgents, and helping prisoners escape that she was both made a member of the Order of the British Empire and awarded a Distinguished Service Cross by the U.S.the latter being the only one given to a civilian woman in World War II. Here, though the author does direct nods to many of her intrepid associates, he buries her own exploits in generalities and extraneous minor details plus, for her later years in the CIA, eye-blearing boilerplate from internal personnel reviews. The backmatter offers plenty of documentation, but the small period photos throughout are too often only tangentially relevant to the narrative.A dry, dreary waste of a grand subject, well below the author's usual standard. (bibliography, endnotes, index, maps) (Biography. 12-15) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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