FACELESS, by Kathryn Lasky, HarperCollins, Oct. 19, 2021, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
A young British spy finds herself in the heart of the Nazi government in Kathryn Lasky’s new upper middle-grade novel, Faceless.
Over the centuries, a small clan of spies called the Tabula Rasa has worked ceaselessly to fight oppression. They can pass unseen through enemy lines and “become” other people without being recognized. They are, essentially, faceless.
Alice and Louise Winfield are sisters and spies in the Tabula Rasa. They’re growing up in wartime England, where the threat of Nazi occupation is ever near. But Louise wants to live an ordinary life and leaves the agency. Now, as Alice faces her most dangerous assignment yet, she fears discovery, but, most of all, she fears losing her own sister. —Synopsis provided by HarperCollins
Faceless starts out with a good hook, but it takes more than a few pages to get your bearings. Once you do, however, you understand the storytelling choices author Kathryn Lasky has made.
Most of the time, Alice feels older than her years. She’s confident and well-prepared for her assignment. But there are a few moments when her insecurities peak through, and that’s what makes her interesting. There are a few “main” supporting characters, but it’s Alice’s experiences that take center stage.
Among Alice’s experiences are flashbacks to spy training, uncovering mission assignments and the actual events of her mission, which are full of suspense and bursts of high adrenaline. All these moments play out cinematic pacing and smooth prose.
Faceless is the sort of story I would have loved as a middle-reader and that I still enjoy today. Her mix of espionage and historical drama make for a fast-paced and engaging adventure. I would recommend this for fourth- and fifth-graders.
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