Patience Wright: America's First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy

By Pegi Deitz Shea

Book Overview

The intriguing story of one of America's first spies--a woman Born in 1725 in the American colonies, Patience Wright discovered her talent for art at an early age. As an adult, she joined her sister in a wax-sculpting business and later moved on her own to England. There, Patience became a spy for the colonies, hiding messages in the sculpted busts she sent to her sister's waxworks in America. Here is the story of a woman who lived an extraordinary life, full of art and intrigue. "Patience Wright "is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805067701
• ISBN13: 9780805067705
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 36 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.4"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Great history book for American girls

This book tells the story of an American patiot spy and entrepeneur, the little known Patience Wright. Girls will find a new role model from American history. Great artwork too.

One Spunky Spy!

Author Pegi Deitz Shea makes history come alive in this tale of colonial America. Patience Wright was a widow who supported her children by making wax sculptures. She was so good at it that she was even invited to Buckingham Palace to create wax busts of the king and queen. Perhaps the most intriguing part of Patience's story is that she gathered information from the British and sent messages hidden inside her sculptures to the Continental Congress. These secret messages helped colonists win the American Revolution. This book makes an interesting supplement for students studying the Revolutionary War period.

girl spy

Patience Wright was born in 1735. From an early age she had a talent for art. When she grew up she and her sister ran a wax sculpting business. She was very successful and made great life like images of famous people such as Ben Franklin and the Queen of England. During the American Revolutions she was able to use the statues as spies. The head was made hollow so that a message could be hidden inside. I liked the books historical content. Yes It would be great for a read aloud during a unit on the American revolution