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    Kathryn Lasky’s Faceless is intense MG spy novel

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    By Jessica on October 19, 2021 ages 9 & up, Middle Grade
    Faceless Kathryn LaskyFACELESS, 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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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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