The Readers' Advisory Matrix

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbot

Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
     This book is a mixture of narrative and fact-based prose.

What is the subject of the book?
     The book is about four women spies during the Civil War.

What type of book is it?
     A narrative based on historic events.

What is the pacing of the book?
     The book reads quickly and keeps the reader's interested by switching the story of each woman while describing events in chronological order.

Describe the characters of the book.
     Emma Boyd is a brazen flirt who does not hide the fact she is a Confederate sympathizer.  She is able to use her charms to gain sensitive information.
     Rose O'Neal Greenow is a widow who seduces her many male followers to gain and pass along information vital to the Confederate cause.
     Emma Edmondson (a.k.a. Frank Thompson) disguises herself as a young man and joins the Union army where she plays a vital role in reconnaissance for the Yankee forces.
    Elizabeth Van Lew is an outcast in Richmond society due to her abolitionist views.  She is responsible for running a union spy ring under the noises of her greatest critics.

How does the story feel?
     The story is dark, suspenseful with plenty of excitement.

What is the intent of the author?
     The intent of the author is to showcase the commitment, strength, intellect and determination that women possessed during the Civil War.  Instead of sitting on the sideline to witness the devastation and hardships that men endured, these four women rallied to their cause and supported their side in constructive and important ways.

What is the focus of the story? 
     The focus is the strength and cunning women used to gain an advantage over their adversaries.

Does the language matter?
    Yes, the intricacies of dialect is indicated to convey the background of each woman and is important to draw the subtleties of each region represented.

Is the setting important and well described?
     The author is very descriptive of the setting, conveying the details and seriousness of the war.

Are there details, and, if so, of what?
      The author provided details of the battles and the strategic planning involved.  The author describes every nuance of battle and the surrounding area with the use of descriptive terms that utilizes the five senses.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials?  Are they useful and clear?
     There are 39 black and white photos and 3 maps that are clear outlines the the battles of the Civil War.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
     The book relayed information and facts about the Civil War and its major players in a way that the reader will automatically absorb information in a natural, logical, and interesting way.

Why would a reader enjoy this book?
      For knowledge, details, insight.