Semi Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Maddie Bradford has a secret—several, actually—that places her very life at risk nearly every second in this striking story. Falcon follows her work as a Union spy during the Civil War, through a trim, fast-moving plot that carries her from danger to danger while paying heed to her study of the electrifying world around her.
Prose: The story’s narrator—never quite the same after a horrific childhood injury—has a powerful voice, deeply observant of the social intricacies and complexities surrounding her. Singer writes exceptionally well, pulling in dialogue appropriate to the setting while cleverly merging mystery elements within the greater context of historical fiction.
Originality: Singer’s skillful storytelling will captivate readers, but her most triumphant moment comes in the form of main character Maddie, who is the whirlwind this stunning story rotates around.
Character/Execution: Maddie’s character is dynamic—intense, determined, and a little eccentric, she is a force to be reckoned with, though most people she’s up against don’t realize it until it’s too late. Her metamorphosis throughout the novel is finely wrought, culminating in her growing confidence in who she is now—and who she will be in the future.
Date Submitted: August 27, 2024
The novel charts not just a twisty and convincingly detailed mission into the heart of the Rebel South. Early on, Hannah discovers it’s easy for her to pass as a boy—as long as she remembers to limp, as otherwise a boy her age would have been conscripted. In this guise, she discovers surprising comfort, with Singer deftly tying Maddie’s ability to slip between identities with something still unsettled within her. That sense of humanity shines through the tale even in scenes of action, skullduggery, and violence. Maddie has no illusions about the Rebels, the viciousness of slavery, or just how far the Confederacy will go to achieve victory, but she is always aware of the cost of war in the lives of everyday people.
Singer never shies away from depicting racism, including the use of historical slurs, and the ex-slave Oliver Washington proves a compelling spy in his own right, forging an engaging connection with Maddie. The plot, involving a Confederate training camp and a dastardly scheme that the heroes eventually catch wind of, moves with purpose, despite the richness of milieu and character.
Takeaway: Gripping novel of teen spy for the Union facing danger and herself in the Civil War.
Comparable Titles: Seymour Reit’s Behind Rebel Lines, Marissa Moss’s A Soldier's Secret.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
