Good Reads / Community Library Notes
American Spy
Lauren Wilkinson
Review by Priscilla Comen
American Spy
Lauren Wilkinson
Review by Priscilla Comen
American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson, is the story of a woman who shoots and kills an intruder in her home in front of her two boys. In 1992, she talks directly to her sons and explains her life to them and to us, the readers. Then we are transported back in time to 1987 when she was a special agent for the FBI. Author Wilkinson has her protagonist talk to her boys all through the book, giving us a feeling of personal closeness.
She tells them about their grandmother and grandfather. Marie’s mother, Agatha, moved back to Martinique, where she felt accepted. She didn’t have “to pass” as white even though she was very light. Marie always resented her maman leaving. Maria’s father earned his way to a Masters degree from Hunter College and was proud that Maria was also a college graduate. But he was always trying to fix her up with men. When grandpa dies, she’s devastated.
In 1962, everyone worries about nuclear war. Marie hopes her boys will see both sides of every story. At her office, she gets only the easiest, most menial jobs, and she meets with her “snitches” for information on suspicious organizations. She wants better assignments. In 1966, Marie’s sister Helene wants to be a spy and then a director. After an argument with her pops, Helene enlists in the army and goes to Vietnam. Marie’s boss wants her to participate in an operation to back a candidate who will democratize a country in Africa. The Soviet Union is supporting Sankara’s government. CIA wants to counter their threat. They want to know how much dictator Thomas Sankara knows about CIA involvement. To find this out, Marie would have to get close to Sankara. Really close.
She goes to hear him speak at the UN general assembly and sits in the interpreter’s booth. Although his speech isn’t too bad, in her opinion, she doesn’t like his leaning toward Communism. She’s under cover and stays close to Sankara. This assignment may lead to her becoming a special agent. She takes him on a tour through Harlem and he speaks at a gathering in the school auditorium: against imperialism, against racism, against colonialism. The audience roars in agreement. Marie roars with them. He goes to her apartment to change out of his uniform. She is tempted to make love to him but he must be careful. Author Wilkinson shows us the divided loyalties that Marie has and how she must struggle to retain her cover—and her job.
The CIA wants her to go back to Africa to help depose Sankara. He has fired striking teachers and has banned trade unions. She enjoys the African cities and rides around on her motorcycle. She feels more American than black here. She knows that his closest friend is working to rob him of the presidency. The radio is taking pictures of them together secretly. Marie’s sister Helene dies in a car accident. Her husband was driving. He is an enemy of Sankara’s. Marie is suspicious of everything.
What happens with Marie and Sankara? Does she tell her twin boys who their father was? What happens after the election there? Is Democracy voted in? Find out in this debut novel on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
She tells them about their grandmother and grandfather. Marie’s mother, Agatha, moved back to Martinique, where she felt accepted. She didn’t have “to pass” as white even though she was very light. Marie always resented her maman leaving. Maria’s father earned his way to a Masters degree from Hunter College and was proud that Maria was also a college graduate. But he was always trying to fix her up with men. When grandpa dies, she’s devastated.
In 1962, everyone worries about nuclear war. Marie hopes her boys will see both sides of every story. At her office, she gets only the easiest, most menial jobs, and she meets with her “snitches” for information on suspicious organizations. She wants better assignments. In 1966, Marie’s sister Helene wants to be a spy and then a director. After an argument with her pops, Helene enlists in the army and goes to Vietnam. Marie’s boss wants her to participate in an operation to back a candidate who will democratize a country in Africa. The Soviet Union is supporting Sankara’s government. CIA wants to counter their threat. They want to know how much dictator Thomas Sankara knows about CIA involvement. To find this out, Marie would have to get close to Sankara. Really close.
She goes to hear him speak at the UN general assembly and sits in the interpreter’s booth. Although his speech isn’t too bad, in her opinion, she doesn’t like his leaning toward Communism. She’s under cover and stays close to Sankara. This assignment may lead to her becoming a special agent. She takes him on a tour through Harlem and he speaks at a gathering in the school auditorium: against imperialism, against racism, against colonialism. The audience roars in agreement. Marie roars with them. He goes to her apartment to change out of his uniform. She is tempted to make love to him but he must be careful. Author Wilkinson shows us the divided loyalties that Marie has and how she must struggle to retain her cover—and her job.
The CIA wants her to go back to Africa to help depose Sankara. He has fired striking teachers and has banned trade unions. She enjoys the African cities and rides around on her motorcycle. She feels more American than black here. She knows that his closest friend is working to rob him of the presidency. The radio is taking pictures of them together secretly. Marie’s sister Helene dies in a car accident. Her husband was driving. He is an enemy of Sankara’s. Marie is suspicious of everything.
What happens with Marie and Sankara? Does she tell her twin boys who their father was? What happens after the election there? Is Democracy voted in? Find out in this debut novel on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.