Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi

 “During the American Revolution, General George Washington employed a ring of spies in and around New York City, the headquarters for the British war effort in North America. These spies identified themselves in their letters by code numbers. One was known as “355,” which stood for “lady.” To date, her true identity remains unknown.” This story imagines such incredible young woman of courageous spirit.

Grand Bahama Island, 1776. Fifteen year old Francisca Tasker suffers the loss of her mother. Now, she is left with her abusive stepfather from whom she learned wrecking – helping “ships that had run up on sandbars or reefs as they cruised through the Bahama Channel.” Or if it was too late to assist, they’d dove for sunken spoils.

One of those shipwrecks gives her opportunity to escape her brutal stepfather. She assumes the identity of the drowned Emmeline Coates. But she doesn’t know how to do the upper class talk, thus under a pretense of trauma shock she remains mute. She tries to cover her coarse manners by imitating others’ polished ways.

On this ship of Loyalists, she meets Asa Lane – an American rebel, who stands for liberty. “With American independence. Not with a tyrant an ocean away who oppresses innocents by fire and sword.”

In NYC, she lives her privileged life. With time, she starts suffocating pretending to be a highborn lady, when she notices the British mistreatment of American prisoners. It strikes her how she could connect both worlds. Her exposure to British officers, who underestimate her by discussing the war around her like she was invisible, gives her a chance to collect information, which she further passes to the network of spies for George Washington. Thus she becomes a spy.

Enjoyed very much both characters of Franie and Asa. Franie is of adventurous spirit – adventure gives her a sense of freedom. She learns the etiquette, but at heart she is the same spirit, holding on to wrecker instinct of finding things such as buttons and flowers and tucking them into her pockets. She is an independent young woman, who doesn’t want to live in a shadow of a man. “Duncan talked. I listened. We were like a river – flowing one way.” Her experience of both worlds, poverty and privilege, gives her a chance to learn a lot about herself. She realizes that there is more to life than her ‘safe life.’ She wants to have a purpose in life. And she finds it in fighting for America’s freedom.

Asa is a rebel himself, not afraid to voice his opinion with his Loyalist father. He wants America to be free from abuses of a tyrant king from across the ocean.

I see this read as an incredible motivation for YA to search their souls to find the meaning in their lives and to pursue it with passion. It is an easy pick as it is written with great humor, engrossing characters, vividly portrayed historical background, and moving the story swiftly until you are left with words – what a remarkable story!

Release date: 23 June 2020

Source: Delacorte Press; Random House