Dragon Bones: The Fantastic Fossil Discoveries of Mary Anning

In the shadows of the American Revolution, a quiet signal could be the difference between victory and defeat. Anna Smith Strong (1740–1812) risked everything to help George Washington ― not with muskets, but with spycraft. Recruited by Washington’s spymaster Major Benjamin Tallmadge, Anna became part of the Culper Ring, an intelligence network operating under constant danger. From her home in Setauket, Long Island, she helped move vital information through enemy-occupied territory―where discovery could mean prison or execution. Her most ingenious tool looked perfectly ordinary: laundry on a clothesline. By arranging a black petticoat and carefully placed handkerchiefs, Anna could signal when a message was ready and guide fellow spies to the correct pickup point―turning “everyday life” into a coded lifeline for the Patriot cause. The book also includes an author’s note, bibliography, index, and a spy code so kids can jump into the world of secret messages themselves.

Pippa’s teacher tells her students to make a love list — a list of all the things that take up room in their hearts. Pippa makes her list, but when she finds someone else’s and sees that her own name has been written down, along with all of her favorite things, she discovers she has a secret admirer! Maybe the best friend she’s always hoped for is right in her classroom, if only she can crack the case. Good thing there’s nothing Pippa loves more than a good detective story. Will she solve the mystery of the love list and find a new friend?