African Voices Summer 2017 AV Summer 2017 Digital Issue | Page 19

BOOK REVIEW
Interactive History for Young Readers
by Debbie A. Officer
Interactive books are known to keep little ones busy opening flaps,
touching pop-up features, or pressing buttons. However, a newly
published work, “Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring” by Enigma
Alberti and Tony Cliff, in the “Spy on History Series,” is bound to keep
pre-teen sleuths equally busy this summer. For the purposes of clarity,
Workman Publishing explained the authorship of their series. Enigma
Alberti “is the nom de plume of a secret cadre of authors who are each
writing a book in the Spy on History Series.” This bit of information lends
itself intriguing to some.
Readers of Nancy Drew mysteries, which appeals to middle-grade
readers, will delight in this new historical mystery about an African-
American woman who worked as a spy during the Civil War. Mary
Bowser was born into slavery near Richmond, Virginia in the 1840s.
Her life as a Union spy is at the heart of this first introduction to this
series. A unique figure in the history of this period, Bowser led an
interesting life. While she worked as a slave for Eliza Baker and John
Van Lew, they took keen notice of her skills and intellect. She was sent
to a school in Princeton, New Jersey where she learned to read at a time when it was illegal for African-Americans to do so.
Later, Bowser went on to become a teacher.
Facts about Mary Bowser’s life aren’t easy to find, but remnants of her existence and contribution to American history
can be found in baptismal records and in the writings of Eliza Baker. According to Alberti, “Stories like Mary’s leave us
with a lot of questions, not just about her, but how history is written, and who writes it. Few people realized how important
Mary’s life was at the time.” Readers will open an envelope and use the tools inside to decode messages, solve a mystery,
and learn techniques Bowser used. Skilled with a photographic memory, she worked as a servant in the Confederate White
House of Jefferson Davis. Posing as an illiterate servant, Bowser was part of a spy ring organized by Elizabeth Van Lew, the
daughter of Eliza Baker and John Lew. Sharing the book series’ value for readers, Albetri states, “the history of the entire
war is incomplete if it doesn’t include Mary.” This cleverly designed book will have readers waiting for the future release of
installments from its brilliant team of authors.
“Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring”
By Enigma Alberti, illustrated by Tony Cliff
Workman Publishing, 96 pages
Ages 10+
ISBN: 9780761187394
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