The Unabomber Agent Kathy Puckett and the hunt for a serial bomber

Gr 4--7--After 14 bombings, three people lost their lives and another 23 were severely injured by a man known as the Unabomber. The FBI searched long and hard to uncover his identity before more people were hurt. Progress eluded them until they took a different look at the investigation through the eyes of Agent Kathleen Puckett, an experienced psychologist. Puckett helped crack the case and bring justice before the Unabomber struck again. 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. Pictures of evidence, manifestos, people, and places accompany the text to immerse readers in this fast-paced story. It also covers how the FBI began using psychology to get into the minds of criminals, instead of just following evidence and tips. 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.--Molly Dettmann, Norman North High School, OK

A female FBI agent is at the center of the search for the bomber who evaded capture for almost two decades.Beginning in 1978, a series of serious bombings around the United States thwarted the FBI's ability to apprehend the persons responsible. By the time special agent Kathleen M. Puckett was recruited, the FBI had been working for years to achieve that goal. Puckett had a positive reputation, and her background in the Air Force and her work in counterintelligence made her a sought-after prospectbut that didn't save her from sexist microaggressions. "Puckett didn't want to be respected as a female agent. She wanted respect as an agent. Her day would come." In fast-paced prose, Denson recounts how Puckett, a white woman, was determined to learn all she could about the case, diligently studying the old files and visiting the scenes of the attacks before the publication of the Unabomber's manifesto in the New York Times and the Washington Post helped break the case. 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. The author's note gives insight into his own intriguing process.This is the first in a series that will look at the important cases of the FBI, and it's a highly auspicious opener. (timeline, additional facts, sources) (Nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.