A Spy's Eyes: Rachael's Story by Dickie Erman is the story of a woman named Rachael who sees and understands a side of slavery that she never could decipher before. As the daughter of a plantation owner, she never knew the realities of life. She only knew and believed what her parents told her and, as the only child, she was coddled enough not to care. However, when the Civil War escalated and hit the cotton industry the most, she told her father that she would do anything to help him. Rachael moves to Washington D.C. to act as a spy for the Confederacy and bring as much information to the military as she can. However, a certain Union Officer came into her life and changed her perspective on slavery and what is right. She just wanted to protect the plantation that her father had worked so hard to build, but now knowing what slavery did to people of color, she realized that she was fighting for a cause that might not be what her parents told her. What is Rachel going to do? Will she do her duty to the cause or will she change her mind?

This was a quick novella to read but the author added in a lot of information, gave it a pace that was perfect for it and allowed Rachael plenty of time to make up her own mind away from her father. Rachael’s growth was tremendous; she tried her best to serve a purpose she didn’t really understand but wanted to. From impulsively serving the cause to having a change of heart, she handled everything with a maturity that surprised me. She had an internal conflict and then she had to come to terms with her own faults. She grew up, accepted her mistakes and then tried to make it right however it was possible. I enjoyed her reactions, her emotions and how she changed into an independent young woman rather than daddy’s girl. This story has a very well-constructed storyline. I loved it!

A Spy’s Eyes: Rachael’s Story by Dickie Erman is a tale like no other I’ve read about the Civil War. It’s told from the point of view of a young Southern girl who travels to Washington, D. C. to become a spy. However, the first thing she must do is to convince her father to let her go so she can help the South. The fact that she’s a biracial child is an interesting side point to the story. The main character receives training in the proper way to gather information without giving herself away. One warning is not to fall for any of the men who accidentally provide information. What does she do? She falls in love. But the big surprise is how her political views change so drastically from beginning to end.

Dickie Erman has taken a completely different viewpoint of the Civil War and developed it into an amazing story in A Spy’s Eyes: Rachael’s Story. Many books have been written on the Civil War and spying by both sides; however, I’ve never read a story that gives the main character such a change in ideology on this subject matter. It makes the reader wonder if there were real people whose beliefs actually followed this route. Some actual facts about the Civil War are intertwined within the fictional tale, creating realistic scenes. I can see A Spy’s Eyes: Rachael’s Story as a useful resource in high school classrooms. I can see it as just a fun fictional read as well. Be prepared to be surprised by the ending.