Moe Berg: The Spy Behind Home Plate (Jps Young Biography Series.) [Paperback]

Vivian Grey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jps Young Biography Series. | Publication Date: May 1, 1996

In the race against Nazi Germany to develop the atomic bomb, who would have suspected that a major league baseball player would take a pivotal role? That very man was Moe Berg—masterful catcher, fluent in nine languages, an Ivy League scholar, an attorney, and a secret agent. Moe Berg’s exciting life of mystery and intrigue is sure to captivate young readers as they follow his exploits. Using baseball as a cover, this player made significant intelligence contributions to the United States.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

(Interview with Vivian Grey)
As the World Series approaches, Vivian Grey, an award-winning children's book author, shared some of her thoughts on baseball player and spy Moe Berg, the subject of her JPS Junior Biography, Moe Berg: The Spy Behind Home Plate.

WHO WAS MOE BERG?

A Major League Baseball player, an Ivy League graduate, an attorney who spoke nine languages-- and a top secret spy who helped the U.S. win the race against Germany to build the atomic bomb.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER HIM?

I love to do research and I love to write about people who don't fit the mold, people who change the world for the better. Moe was one of the most unusual men to ever play baseball, and his life was filled with suspense and intrigue. Yet when he died in 1972, he was almost forgotten, except for a few baseball fans. As soon as I came across his story, I knew it would make a great book for kids.

WHAT ABOUT MOE'S STORY HOOKED YOU?

His courage, of course. It took a special kind of man to attend Princeton in those years and to play baseball. The world was different then. It was rare to find Jews in sports or in an Ivy League school. But Moe believed in himself, and he loved playing ball. He pursued his dream. It also took courage for him to serve his country as a spy. His assignments behind enemy lines were dangerous. And it was with his help that the U.S. learned that Germans hadn't developed an atomic bomb.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUNG READERS WILL LEARN FROM HIS STORY?

That you can dare to dream, and, often, if you work hard enough, you can make your dream come true. It sounds like a cliche. But it's the story of Moe's life. He was the son of immigrants, yet he dreamed of becoming a Major League Baseball player. And he did!

ANY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

I plan to continue writing for young readers. As soon as the right idea pops up, I'll develop it into a book that I hope will prove as exciting as Moe's story.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 15 and up
  
• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827606206
• ISBN-13: 978-0827606203
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Teens > Sports & Hobbies > Sports

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good subject for a biography report; not a great book, June 20, 2006

By 

H. Milowe "hm161" (San Anselmo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moe Berg: The Spy Behind Home Plate (Jps Young Biography Series.) (Paperback)

My son and I learned about Moe Berg at the Spy Museum in Washington DC (which is well worth a visit). Knowing he would have to write a biography book report in 5th grade, I ordered this book so he could cover something other than just sports. A jewish WWII spy who played pro baseball, spoke multiple languages, had a law degree, studied nuclear physics with Einstein and travelled the world . . . . an athlete and intellectual, eccentric and unusual. Berg's life story is fascinating, easily holding the interest of a fifth grader, and it made a stellar biography report. My son learned a lot about many subjects. So, I recommend the reading this book.

The book itself had some flaws, but Berg's life was interesting enough to get you through the book. A good editor with a heavy pen could have greatly improved the book. The author does not proceed in chronological order, although I found myself expecting it. This failure created confusion at times, and I felt obscured the early part of Moe's spy career. My son and I had to read and re-read, then take notes in chronological order to get the story straight. I felt that the failure to present things chronologically resulted in the author failing to identify the start of Berg's spying. The dates in the text do not always match the dates in the timeline in the book - a further irritant. The author seemed to make much more of Berg's jewish heritage than he seemed to.

This is not a great book, but the subject matter makes it worth a read and it really is a wonderful subject for a biography book report.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book., May 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Moe Berg: The Spy Behind Home Plate (Jps Young Biography Series.) (Paperback)

I loved this book because it was just like an autobiography, but not in first-person. I never knew that someone can be a outstanding baseball player, but also a sneaky spy.