This image is the cover for the book The Spy with the Wooden Leg

The Spy with the Wooden Leg

Action-packed World War II spy biography! Ages 10+

How did a young woman become one of the bravest, most valued—and MOST WANTED—intelligence agents in World War II?

Virginia Hall had a dream to become the first woman ambassador for the United States. Turned down by the US State Department time and again, she could not stand idly by while the Nazi German army swept through Europe conquering country after country.

She volunteered to drive an ambulance in WWII France. She rescued downed airmen, radioed vital information to the Allies, and led three battalions of French Resistance forces in guerrilla warfare—all with a wooden leg!

Known as la dame qui boite or the Limping Lady, Virginia became a master British spy, rose to the top of the Gestapo's Most Wanted list, and turned the course of history!

"… an inspiration for girls of all ages."
—Kathie Hightower, coauthor, Military Spouse Journey: Discover the Possibilities and Live Your Dreams

"… strongly recommended addition to history and biography collections, not to be overlooked."
—Midwest Book Review

Multiple Award-Winning Book!
• Midwest Book Awards First Place Young Adult Nonfiction
• Mom's Choice Awards Gold
• Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Silver
• IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver

An exciting nonfiction account for young people interested in behind-the-scenes adventures of the Second World War, espionage, inspiring women, unconventional heroes, international intelligence agents and master spies, the secret British Special Operations Executive (SOE), Consular service, overcoming adversity, fulfilling life goals despite disability or discrimination, and true stories of determination and perseverance.

An alternative introduction to Virginia Hall who may also be interested in books like The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck; Hall of Mirrors: Virginia Hall: America's Greatest Spy of WWII by Craig Gralley; The Lady Is a Spy: Virginia Hall, World War II Hero of the French Resistance by Don Mitchell; A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell; or The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy by Judith L. Pearson.

Major themes:
- perseverance; overcoming adversity
- fulfilling life dreams
- WWII history
- espionage and guerrilla warfare
- inspiring women
- unconventional heroes
- living with a prosthetic limb

Nancy Polette

Nancy Polette has written more than 170 books for youth, including books about World War II spies, flight nurses, and prisoners of war. She taught elementary school for thirty years and directed gifted programs and school libraries for St. Louis County Schools. Her education career also includes thirty-seven years as a professor of education at Lindenwood University and director of the Laboratory School.

School Library Journal describes Nancy as “an educator with imagination, creativity, and an appreciation for the intelligence of children.”

Nancy researched the life of Virginia Hall for five years to write The Spy with the Wooden Leg: The Story of Virginia Hall. She worked alongside illustrator Paul Dillon, president of the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum, to create N is for Never Forget: POW–MIA A to Z, a middle grade nonfiction picture book honoring the legacies of prisoners of war and those missing in action.