MASTER OF DECEIT J. Edgar Hoover and America in the Age of Lies

Luke Daniels adopts a serious and authoritative reportorial tone to deliver Aronson's important biography of J. Edgar Hoover and chronicle of his influence on the U.S. The result is a fascinating, and sometimes sinister, documentary—and a call to action for teens to educate themselves about today's governments and the people who occupy positions of power. Aronson engages with his teen audience by connecting the history to things they're more familiar with—9/11, the Patriot Act—and Daniels's strong, compelling reading drives the narrative. Well-done bonus material makes available the same photos and documents from the print book, complete with audio captions narrated by Daniels. Endnotes, read by the author, are personal and fascinating. There’s plenty to learn, and plenty to think about, for teens and adults alike. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012]