A great story for young readers. John Darragh, age 14, was an American spy. This suspenseful story, based on accounts of the Darragh family's spying activities for General Washington, young John undertakes a dangerous mission to deliver a message to the American army. Illustrations are a mixture of muted colors, and black/white images. ( )

"Buttons for General Washington" tells the story of a Quaker boy who delivers secret coded messages to General Washington. He hides the, inside the buttons of his coat. Young students may have a hard time reading/comprehending this one due to a lack of background knowledge. The teacher reading this aloud to his/her students should give background information on the American Revolution. ( )

In the Fall of 1777 the British Army occupied Philadelphia, and the Darragh family lived across from the British Headquarters. As Quakers, the Darraghs weren't supposed to fight but to help protect their oldest son, Charles, who had joined General Washington's army, his family became spies, delivering secret messages to the American army in the buttons of fourteen-year-old John's coat. This suspenseful account is a terrific springboard for beginning readers to discover more about Revolutionary America.

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