Code and Corsets: Women Spies of the Civil War for Teens

They weren’t soldiers. They didn’t carry rifles. But they risked everything.

During the chaos of the Civil War, dozens of women stepped into the shadows—running spy networks, smuggling secrets, and pulling off risky missions right under the noses of generals and guards. These weren’t just side characters in someone else’s story. They were daring, clever, and sometimes underestimated—exactly what made them such effective spies.

This book takes you deep into the lives of women who lived double lives. Some used their social connections to gather critical intel. Others disguised themselves, faked identities, or used invisible ink and coded messages to pass along troop movements. A few paid the price with exile, imprisonment, or worse. Most were forgotten by history books—until now.

Written for today’s teen readers, this gripping account shines a light on the courage and cunning of women who defied the expectations of their time. You’ll explore the real consequences they faced, the moral questions they had to wrestle with, and the way their stories still echo in today’s fights for justice, voice, and equality.

If you’ve ever wondered what resistance looks like from the margins—start here. These women didn’t follow the rules. They rewrote them.