(2) 1-3 Mac B., Kid Spy series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. "When I was a kid, I was a spy... The story you are about to read is true," begins Barnett; he then spins an absurd yarn culminating in young Mac's face-off against a KGB agent. The story blurs fact and fiction, integrating actual history alongside goofy characterizations of real-world leaders and silly action scenes. Quirky situational humor, heartfelt sentiment, and frequent cartoony spot illustrations create a balanced (while still outrageous) early-chapter-book caper.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(3) YA This detailed and devastating account of the House Un-American Activities Committee and "The Hollywood Ten" explores the HUAC's attack on First Amendment rights. This proved to be a precursor to the rise of McCarthyism in the 1950s, which destroyed the lives of many innocent Americans. Brimner effectively utilizes transcripts from the hearings, archival photos, and secondary sources to document the events. An author's note makes the connection between "then and now." Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Adapted by Eric S. Singer. This deep dive into the politics of the Cold War describes a series of deplorable U.S. policies usually left out of history books. Illustrated with (often poorly reproduced) black-and-white historical photos, discussion includes the bomb, Hiroshima maidens, the Iran coup, and the Bay of Pigs. Despite some unsupported conspiracy-minded assertions about the CIA, the well-organized text will help readers understand conflicts still simmering today. Timeline. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA In 1953 Washington, DC, thirteen-year-old Richard is torn between the worldviews of his FBI-agent father and his new friend Vlad, a Czech immigrant with thrillingly bold ideas about literature, art, and politics. Influenced by the McCarthy hearings, Richard starts to question the veracity of those closest to him. Photographs and news summaries from the era add authenticity to this tale of would-be intrigue. Author's note appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 In 1954 Detroit, twelve-year-old Marjorie Campbell knows that the U.S. is in a "cold war," but it can be hard to tell who the enemy is. When classmates start a "slam book" about a new German student, Marjorie is torn. Her authentic first-person voice guides readers through the confusion of the McCarthy era by thoughtfully examining perception and truth. An author's note adds context. Bib.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) YA In 1958, Svetlana joins the Bolshoi Ballet, a cover for her work as a KGB "remote intelligence" agent. This third volume continues to follow a matrilineal family of dancers through generations of intrigue-filled history (most recently granddaughter Lana in Hider, Seeker, Secret Keeper). Wrenching mother-daughter relationships, fear of the Stalinist regime, and all-consuming passion for dance are portrayed with equal nuance and depth.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Spies! series. This series delves into the world of espionage and spycraft. Each focusing on a different modern era, the books cover famous figures, such as the Rosenbergs and Edward Snowden, but also lesser-known agents. The insights into spies' motivations and the mechanics behind their craft make for exciting, interesting reads. Photographs and sidebars provide additional nuggets of information. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review cover these Spies! titles: Deep-Cover Spies and Double-Crossers of the Cold War and Cyber Spies and Secret Agents of Modern Times.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA While visiting Berlin, contemporary American teen Ellie time-travels to 1988 East Berlin. Shocked, she meets a group of resistance "Runners" who help "Passengers" flee the oppressive regime using time-traveling red balloons. Interspersed chapters describe a young German Jewish man's horrific experiences in Poland in 1941. Both settings are intriguing, but the story lines are somewhat muddled.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Three teens' stories intersect in this convoluted mystery with an intriguing premise set alternately in 1980s Berlin and modern-day California. In the present, Molly Mavity can't escape the reputation of her arsonist father, while Pepper Al-Yusef struggles to graduate from high school. Together, they unravel the secrets behind the life and death of Ava Dreyman, an East German teen whose diary was published posthumously.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 David Da-Wei Horowitz (who is Jewish and Chinese) is preparing for his January 1984 bar mitzvah. But reading Torah "in front of about a zillion people" is the least of his problems considering the arguing between his culturally different grandmothers, drama in his middle-school friend group, and the real possibility of nuclear war. A realistic coming-of-age novel filled with witty yet sensitive cultural observations.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Captured History: Sports series. These books tell exciting sports stories through the lens of photojournalism. The historical backdrops to the featured soccer (1999 Women's World Cup) and hockey (1980 Olympics) heroics and the aftermaths are explored, and biographical information is included on the teams' major players and on the photojournalists, whose photos complement the well-written texts. The books' spacious design is inviting. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Captured History: Sports titles: What a Kick and Miracle on Ice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Special Reports series. Authors give historical context and contemporary analysis of current topics to help high school readers understand world affairs. Stock photographs and frequent sidebars contribute to the choppy layouts. Because both US-Cuba relations and ISIS's impact on the world are changing, these print resources will be dated quickly. Nevertheless, each volume provides serviceable background for report writers. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: US-Cuba Relations and ISIS.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(1) 4-6 In 1989, Noah's parents whisk him from Virginia to East Berlin, where they change his name and impose rules, especially "They will always be listening." As the novel unfolds, there's growing evidence that Noah's mother isn't what he thinks she is (The Americans, anyone?). Nesbet's atmospheric page-turner is edgy, emotionally rich historical fiction; sidebars include information about East Germany and the Cold War.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(3) 4-6 Turning Points series. This well-researched series focuses on crucial moments from recent world history and examines the events, people, and places involved. Crisp, clear, and engaging writing marks all three of these volumes, particularly 9/11, in which the complicated interplay of history and culture is unpacked. Large glossy photographs are included throughout, along with sidebars providing background or expanding on information. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Turning Points titles: The Arab Spring, The 9/11 Attacks, and The End of the Cold War.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Presidential Powerhouses series. Through these significant presidencies, this thorough series examines crucial periods in America's history: the birth of a fledgling nation, the War of 1812, the Great Depression and WWII, and the dawn of America's "New Frontier." Each president's early life, administration milestones, and ultimate legacy are discussed in detailed chapters filled with maps and period photos or illustrations. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Presidential Powerhouses titles: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Presidency, George Washington's Presidency, John F. Kennedy's Presidency, and James Madison's Presidency.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 The talented black women working at NASA's Langley facility in the mid-twentieth century started as mathematics "human computers," but persisted through racism and sexism to make significant contributions as engineers, analysts, and programmers. Shetterly's outstanding young readers' edition of her similarly titled adult book highlights the intersecting worlds of educated, middle-class southern African Americans and Cold War space program scientists. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) 4-6 In 1951 Brooklyn, the FBI is investigating seventh grader Pete Collison's father's past association with the Communist Party. When Mr. Collison testifies before the Subversive Activities Control Board, Dashiell Hammett–fan Pete decides to do his own investigation into his father's past. This tale of one family living in a time of intolerance effectively explores the nature of suspicion, loyalty, and freedom.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(3) YA Teen Pagan, a 1960s Hollywood star, is given a second chance by her movie studio after she kills her family in a drunk driving accident. She's taken to the divided city of Berlin, where she finds herself in a situation more sinister than the typical film shoot. This historical spy thriller combines Cold War politics with a sixties ambiance.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Wartime Spies series. Each book provides historical context, stories of actual events, and background on the spies themselves. The texts and layout are clear, aided by the generous use of prints, photographs, and maps. The narratives are evenhanded and often provide some underlying reasons why the men and women became spies. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Wartime Spies titles: Cold War Spies, Modern Spies, World War I Spies, and World War II Spies.