THE FBI FILES
Books in the middle-grade series go inside three major FBI cases — the Unabomber, the killer spy Aldrich Ames, and the Portland “Wannabomber” who plotted to kill 25,000 people.
Agent Ryan Dwyer and the Case of the Portland Bomb Plot
A pair of FBI agents, Ryan Dwyer and Miltiadis Trousas, played critical roles in the apprehension of Mohamed Osman Mohamud, a college student dreaming of killing Americans. The book takes readers inside a domestic terrorism sting to show the minute-by-minute work of the FBI to prevent bloodshed on U.S. soil.
“Highly readable, well researched, and it reads like a novel. It's especially good for reluctant readers, and I appreciate the positive view of the FBI.” — Karen Johnson, Goodreads review
Agent Leslie G. Wiser Jr. and the Case of Aldrich Ames
CIA officer Aldrich H. “Rick” Ames secretly worked for the notorious KGB, selling secrets that caused the executions of at least 10 U.S. assets. Book 2 in the FBI Files series takes younger readers inside the hunt for this killer mole. From the work rooms at CIA headquarters to the Washington field office of the FBI, you’ll meet the amazing cast of characters that brought Ames to justice.
“Today, true crime is everywhere, and it's important for kids to have age-appropriate books they can turn to as well, so they don't end up watching Manhunter on Netflix and scaring the bejeezus out of themselves. As an added bonus, they'll learn some modern American history along the way.” — Caroline Bookbinder
“The author preserves an earnest tone as he describes the FBI unit’s methodical gathering of evidence, its surveillance procedures, and how Ames and his co-conspirator wife were persuaded to confess.” — Kirkus Review
Watch as Bryan Denson interviews legendary figures Leslie G. Wiser Jr. (FBI) and Sandy Grimes (CIA) at the International Spy Museum, Washington, D.C.
Fall 2019 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A lone-wolf terrorist carried out fourteen bombings from 1978 to 1995, leaving three people dead and another twenty-three injured. This cunning genius taunted his FBI pursuers for nearly two decades, terrifying Americans from coast to coast. This series takes younger readers to the scenes of the crimes as FBI agents hunt for the Unabomber.
“This page-turning true-crime narrative takes readers behind the scenes of the detailed work, decision-making, and sometimes luck that go into solving difficult cases. The writing is lively, and the principal players are fully dimensional. . . .This is the first in a series that will look at the important cases of the FBI, and it’s a highly auspicious opener.”
Voted by Amazon’s Editors as One of the Best Books of the Month for Children 9-12 (June 2019)
“Denson’s text delivers true-crime thrills generally reserved for older readers but packaged here in streamlined content and accessible text, laced with a well-chosen selection of photographs and document reproductions. Readers with the self-control to keep from flipping to the final chapters, author notes, bombings timeline, and source notes will appreciate that Denson keeps bomber Ted Kaczynski’s identity mum to the latest possible moment.”
“Denson’s well-written, well-researched book (with photographs) engages readers from the beginning and builds suspense as the case hits dead-ends again and again. His lengthy interviews...supply important background and insight into how they solved the case, grounding this true-crime account firmly in facts.”
“Written in a mix of informative reporting on the Unabomber’s crimes and narrative nonfiction when describing the investigation, this book gives a thrilling look at a period of criminal history that many know by name, but not by detail. . . . The text, pacing, and topic are accessible to reluctant readers, and the back matter features a wide array of resources and additional reading. VERDICT An enthralling, well-researched introduction to true crime for upper elementary/middle school readers.”
“The narrative centers on Agent Kathy Puckett, the psychology expert, but other agents get plenty of credit as well. Their dogged persistence, year by year, to bring a clever, ruthless culprit to justice is clear from this well-researched, fast-moving true story.”
— Redeemed Reader