Spy Ring
a middle grade novel
by Sarah Beth Durst
coming May 2024 from HarperCollins / Clarion Books
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"Compelling and fascinating; brings history to life." -- Kirkus (Starred Review)
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Two modern-day kids discover the truth about an American Revolutionary War-era female spy through a treasure-hunt adventure in their hometown of Setauket,
New York.
With codewords and secret signals perfected, best friends Rachel and Joon are ready to spend their summer practicing spycraft -- especially if they can
uncover secrets like the one Joon's parents have been keeping, that his family is about to move out of town.
When eavesdropping leads them to a ring rumored to have belonged to Anna "Nancy" Smith Strong -- according to local Long Island legend, the only female
member of George Washington's famed Culper Spy Ring -- they think they've hit the jackpot. Then they discover Nancy left a coded message in the ring!
Decoding her message leads to another cryptic clue, and then another, and soon Rachel and Joon are racing to decipher a series of puzzles that must
surely lead to hidden treasure! But can they solve the final mystery before Joon's moving day? And just what did the centuries-old spy hide away -- and why?
Sarah Beth Durst's skillful blend of Revolutionary War history and suspenseful contemporary storytelling will keep readers guessing to the last
satisfying page.
Read the first chapter
Download hi-res cover art by Brandon Dorman.
Save the date!
You're invited to the Book Launch Event for Spy Ring, hosted by the Three Village Historical Society on Monday, May 20, at 7pm at the Setauket Neighborhood House!
Details here: https://www.threevillagehistoricalsociety.org/lecture-series
This event is open to the public and free of charge. All are welcome.
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Arrange a School Visit!
Sarah is available for school visits (both in-person and virtual).
For fourth and fifth graders, she offers a special Spy-Ring-focused presentation on the role of George Washington's Culper Spy Ring in the American Revolutionary War,
the importance of exploring the history that surrounds you, and how she wove together fact and fiction to write Spy Ring.
If you'd like Sarah to visit your school, please contact her at
sarah@sarahbethdurst.com.
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Also coming soon as an audiobook:
Spy Ring Audio Edition
from HarperAudio
written by Sarah Beth Durst
narrated by Casey Holloway
available as an Audible edition or Audio CD
Return to Books page.
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