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    The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill
    The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill
    The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill

    Written by Megan Frazer Blakemore

    Narrated by Meredith Orlow

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Hazel Kaplansky and new student Samuel Butler investigate rumors that a Russian spy has infiltrated their small Vermont town, amidst the fervor of Cold War era McCarthyism, but more is revealed than they could ever have imagined.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 4, 2014
    ISBN9781490626994
    Author

    Megan Frazer Blakemore

    Megan Frazer Blakemoregrew up in a college town in New Hampshire much like the one in her book Very in Pieces. She attended Columbia University, where she earned a degree in English. After brief stints in the Peace Corps and the television industry, she pursued a master's in library science at Simmons School of Library and Information Science. She has over ten years' experience as a librarian and has taught writing to students in elementary through graduate school. She lives in Maine with her husband, two children, a cat, and two hives of bees. She is the author of books for teens and young readers, including Secrets of Truth & Beauty, an Indie Next Kids' Pick; The Water Castle, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year; The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill; and Good and Gone.

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    Reviews for The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill

    3.5/5

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    • 3/5
      The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill by Megan Frazer Blakemore is a historical fiction, realistic novel about finding out who you are.The story takes place in 1952 during the McCarthy hearings. Hazel Kaplansky wants to be a detective like Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. She is convinced that there are Communists at the local factory, and she is determined to find the clues and uncover the traitors. Hazel has lost her best friend who has moved to Arizona; living in a graveyard which her parents tend, keeps friends away as well as her unusual behavior.Samuel Butler is the new kid who may even be smarter than she is. She decides to befriend him and have his help with the mystery. He prefers research and Hazel prefers interviews and stakeouts for information. She's convinced the gravedigger is the head of the Communist spy ring because he does strange things.This historical novel shows the prejudice that existed in the time period and has a good message about not judging and accepting people for who they are and not who they belong to. It's really more appropriate for elementary school than middle school.
    • 4/5
      This middle-grade novel is a surprisingly thoughtful twist on Nancy-Drew-style children’s mysteries that will appeal to readers through its balance of relatable situations with the context of a historical setting. The story is set in 1950’s Vermont and follows Hazel, whose parents own a cemetery and who is convinced that the caretaker is a Russian spy. She enlists the help of an odd new boy to find out the caretaker’s story. When it is revealed that there are no spies, that the caretaker is just a kind and lonely man, and that the new boy has a tragic past, the story turns from the typical mystery format to a thought-provoking exploration of family, community, trust, and friendship. The characters are familiar types - the plucky but strange heroine, the smart and shy boy, adults who are dismissive and sympathetic in turns - but they are sufficiently detailed to be realistic and relatable. One of the few drawbacks is the narrative tone, which imitates children’s speech in a precious way that has become over-used in children’s literature. Another is that some of the ironic moments where the reader knows more than Hazel does are better suited to adults with knowledge of Cold War-era America. In spite of its minor flaws, this engaging story teaches the values of empathy and understanding in a way that will excite readers.
    • 3/5
      I definitely enjoyed the Water Castle more than this book. Fast paced, more focus on action than on character development. Short chapters that even include sections within the chapters. The setting of the 1950s with the threat of communism was interesting though, and would be a great tie in to social studies. Helpful historical note in the back. The only bad thing is I found myself gritting my teeth over lots of Hazel's investigative choices. I liked her and Sam's relationship and the nice thing she does for him. Some of the ways the adults helped Hazel and Samuel seemed unrealistic and I wish there would have been less references to Nancy Drew- as apparently Hazel worships her. Female protagonist, but it shouldn't exclude guys from enjoying this book. The end tied up a bit too neatly. Still a fun book.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the quirky protagonist and the historical details.