Lincoln’s Spymaster

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Published by: Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 29, 2015
Pages: 224
ISBN13: 978-0545708975

 
Overview

Lincoln's Spymaster tells the dangerous and action-packed adventures of Allan Pinkerton, America's first private eye and Lincoln's most trusted spymaster.

Pinkerton was just a poor immigrant barrel-maker in Illinois when he stumbled across his first case just miles from his home. His reputation grew and people began approaching Pinkerton with their cases, leading him to open the first-of-its-kind private detective agency.

Pinkerton assembled a team of undercover agents, and together they caught train robbers, counterfeiters, and other outlaws. Soon these outlaws, including Jesse James, became their nemeses. Danger didn't stop the agency! The team even uncovered and stopped an assassination plot against president-elect Abraham Lincoln! Seeing firsthand the value of Pinkerton's service, Lincoln funded Pinkerton's spy network, a precursor to the Secret Service. Allan Pinkerton is known as the father of modern day espionage, and this is the first book for young adults to tell his story!

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Praise

Junior Library Guild Selection
2022 Grateful American Book Prize Recommends
2018 – 2019 Great Words, Great Reads by Scripps National Spelling Bee
2017 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List, Gems for All Ages

“A riveting account of Pinkerton’s life and adventures as America’s first detective…thrilling adventures…plenty of hair-raising plots and escapades...Lincoln’s Spymaster is a fantastic title to introduce fans of mystery and adventure to some true-life action.”
— School Library Journal’s Be Tween

“Seiple has made factual history as arresting as any fictionalized detective story.”
— The Mercury News

“The detailed stories of thwarted plots, gambits behind enemy lines, and efforts to bring outlaws to justice will appeal to readers…absorbing.”
— Kirkus

“Intriguing…the book is action-packed…The story telling brings to mind Sid Fleischman’s works.”
— VOYA

“Engrossing…Plenty of interesting tidbits should resonate with today’s readers…This appealing book reads like a novel.”
— Booklist

“Fans of true crime stories should be delighted to follow in Pinkerton’s footsteps as he and his agents outsmart villain after villain.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“This master detective’s life is dramatically chronicled and should be a popular read, especially among students who like adventure.”
— School Library Connection

“Seiple traces the history of the storied Pinkerton Detective Agency. Pinkerton, a principled and methodic leader, emerges as an inventive and believable human.”
— Horn Book Guide

“Photographs throughout the book bring the nineteenth century to life for young readers who will be fascinated by the growth of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.”
— Children’s Literature

“Samantha Seiple has found a subject who will absolutely fascinate readers young and old in this well-written biography. The fast-paced story is told through clear, crisp prose and illustrated with great choices in very early photographs…Readers will love this fresh take on Pinkerton.”
— San Francisco Book Review

“Intriguing is the perfect word to describe this title…History and spy enthusiasts will definitely want to put this title at the top of their list.”
— Jeanne Martin, M.Ed., Collection Development, Ingram