Bookverdict.com

Gr 7 Up—In this thoroughly researched, thoughtfully produced, and beautifully written book, Sheinkin delves into the life of Daniel Ellsberg, former Pentagon consultant and a self-described "cold warrior," who gradually made an about-face with regard to America's presence in Vietnam. Ellsberg famously leaked the Pentagon Papers, a lengthy document written by military insiders about the Vietnam War, to various members of the press in 1971. He was quickly labeled an enemy of the state and a traitor to his country, aka the most dangerous man...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Without a wasted word or scene, and with the timing and prowess of a writer of thrillers, Sheinkin takes on a spectacularly complex story—and makes it comprehensible to teen readers: how Daniel Ellsberg evolved from a committed “cold warrior” to an antiwar activist, and why and how he leaked the Pentagon Papers—“seven thousand pages of documentary evidence of lying, by four presidents and their administrations over twenty-three years”—which led to the Watergate Scandal, the fall of the Nixon administration, an...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

With the timing and prowess of a writer of thrillers, Sheinkin takes on a spectacularly complex story--Daniel Ellsberg's evolution from "col...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Daniel Ellsberg comes across as a thoughtful, courageous, and relatable person. His evolution from a supporter of the Vietnam War to a critic is compellingly described, and the role of Patricia Marx, a journalist who would become Ellsberg's wife, is shown to be especially important. Steve Sheinkin's engaging narrative makes clear the high stakes of Ellsberg's release of the Pentagon Papers and emphasizes the suspense inherent in the cloak-a...Log In or Sign Up to Read More