Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Haley Reading (Group B) -- American Spy, Chapters 1 - 5

 [Haley Reading groups Fall 2020]

By Boluwatife O. Ojewande

There is a notable scene in chapter 1 that is worth thinking about. Prior to Marie relocating from Connecticut to the country of Martinique, she involved herself in a fight with an intruder who has entered her home, where Marie later killed him. Marie believes she knows who sent the assassin and the reason he was sent to kill her. “I can tell who sent that man to our house and why” (15). 

 This scene of the spy thriller reveals a developing plot, getting readers. As the story continues to unfold, readers want to know about who the intruder in Marie’s home is, who he is to Marie, who sent him to kill Marie and why.

What, in brief, were some of your initial thoughts after reading that suspenseful opening of American Spy?

56 comments:

Jaydyn Zykan said...

After reading the thrilling end to chapter 1, I am very intrigued to find out who the assassin is and why he was sent. Marie seems to be an interesting protagonist, but I would like to further read about her journey to becoming a spy and how it has impacted her life as a whole. Up until chapter 6, she has not divulged much information on this journey. Typically, I am not one to reach for high suspense books or spy novels, but this has recently peaked my interest, and it might possibly encourage me to try more novels of this genre.

Evan Senat said...

The opening chapter of the book really piqued my interest, not just because of its action-packed storyline, but also because of the description of the protagonist. Not many books that I have read portray a young black woman as the protagonist and as a black woman myself, I find it refreshing and inspiring. The first chapter had me on the edge of my seat and now I am pretty invested in learning who is trying to have her killed and why she became a spy. I also thought the story was creatively written because you feel like you’re reading her personal journals that are addressed to her children.

Linda H. said...

The first chapter had me in suspense hoping the intruder wouldn't find the kids and kill them. Then I was in suspense hoping she wouldn't get shot by the police when they showed up after the incident. After chapter one the story got into more background of the main protagonist. I'm interested to see some more about her spy work in the upcoming chapters.

Linda H.

Kenisha Townsend said...

The first chapter truly had me wondering who the intruder was, and I was also eager to know more about the main character. Moreover, I appreciate how the story is written. It took me a short minute to notice she was addressing her children. Overall, I am interested in reading more to further unravel these topics.

Kenisha T.

LaTrina Brown said...

After reading the beginning of American Spy, I was kind of intrigued to want to know more about Marie. The story started off with barely any background information and hopped right into the main character killing someone. I also was confused on the fact that she was addressing her kids more than anything, hopefully I'll get to know more the more I read. The book so far is overall interesting.

Chaianna Curry said...

After finishing the first chapter of this book, I was ready to read more. Like me,the protagonist is a black woman (Marie), so I'm already interested in both her and her success. Also, I love how well written the first chapter is and the way suspense is used to keep readers intrigued. Among other things, I really want to know why Marie has a target on her back.
-Chaianna Curry

Alleson H. said...

Surprisingly after reading this I want to read more. I hate stories that start off without a clear view of whose in the story and why. This one however didn’t start off with a lot of Info about Marie but instead with her killing someone and that’s what hooked me. I want to know more about the type of person she is and about her spy life. I believe that the person she killed had something to do with her spying. I look forward to getting some free time and reading more and finding out why exactly this happened. -Alleson H

Brooke Harris said...

After reading this first chapter, I am intruiged and excited. It's not very common to see a black person as a protagonist, especially a black woman. I'm really excited to see how far this story will go and what they have planned for Marie.
-Brooke Harris

Alleson H. said...

Surprisingly after reading this I want to read more. I hate stories that start off without a clear view of whose in the story and why. This one however didn’t start off with a lot of Info about Marie but instead with her killing someone and that’s what hooked me. I want to know more about the type of person she is and about her spy life. I believe that the person she killed had something to do with her spying. I look forward to getting some free time and reading more and finding out why exactly this happened. -Alleson H.

Unknown said...

From the beginning of American Spy, I was intrigued. Before reading further, I paused to think about what could be going on prior that lead to this moment. So many questions are posed in the first chapter. Why was the man sent to Marie to kill her? How did she obtain a fake passport? I can't wait to find out more as I continue to read.

-Madalynn M.

Daeja J Daniels said...

The beginning of this book has me hooked. I really liked how the author started off with something that would really grab the audience's attention. I am excited to see how her character develops as the story continues.

Cynthia Martin said...

After reading the first chapter, I was thrilled to read the rest. I enjoyed it because it became action packed very quickly and I admire the protagonist for her actions. Once she saw the intruder in her room, she acted quickly and attacked him.
I would’ve thought that she would hesitate or be shocked at the site of the intruder given that she was doubting her suspicions. I believe that instant reaction was her thinking about the safety of her children and not wanting the intruder to get to them. I am curious to know why he was sent after her.

Kayla Person said...

After reading the opening to this book, I am excited to know more. I like that it started off with action unlike many books that take a long time to establish the story. Many books don’t grab my attention, but I have a good feeling I will like this book.

Kayla. P

Ehriana . C said...

After reading the opening of American Spy, some of the thoughts i had were of course who is the intruder? I also wondered why would someone go after a woman with 2 children? Does she know the intruder and can’t recognize him because his face is disoriented now? I’m also really interested in learning more about the main character and her past.

Nia M. said...

While reading the first couple chapters I was immediately taken with the main character Marie. Not only was she a minority but she was black, which isn't that common in stories like this. This made me want to understand, sympathize and overall to see her succeed. Not only that but there was the plenty of action from the start of the book. I'm excited to read more of this book and see where this story takes me.

Samantha A. said...

After reading the first chapter, I was surprised by how quickly the story jumped into action. I thought the story would have a slow start with just background on how Marie grew up to become a spy. However, I was shocked that the story began with Marie fighting and killing an assassin, which intrigued me to see how the rest of the story will go. Wilkinson started the book strong, and I believe the story will continue to get more interesting.

Samantha A.

Cheyenne Carpenter said...

After I got done reading the first chapter, I was immediately intrigued by what this book was going to be about. I thought the mystery of who sent the assassin was going to continue into chapter 2, but that was definitely a good way to start off a book and I am interested and excited to read more.

Alexis S. said...

After reading the opening of this book I am very intrigued. The beginning was very action packed and provided some details into the personality and background of the characters. Marie seems to be very strong, tough, and brave as she was quick to stand up to the intruder which is the opposite of what I thought was going to happen. I am interested in learning more about the characters and their story as the book continues!

Alexis S.

Anonymous said...

The opening of the story left me intrigued and on edge. The details are intense and give a build up and a lead to a number of possibilities. To see the survival instincts of black women reign supreme in the context of reality was also satisfying. I look forward to what's to come in this book.

-Jacqueline Smith

Alayna McCoy said...

I found the opening chapters very thrilling. I've never read a book that began with so much action. I think Marie is a character with a lot of layers that throughout the book will end up revealing things she's done that leave the reader surprised. Overall I think the book is going to hold a lot of surprises, twists and turns. I really want to go onto the next chapters ASAP!

Ehriana . C said...

After reading the introduction of American Spy some thoughts that I had were of course who was the intruder?, Why would he come after a woman with 2 children?, and what connection do that have with each other. I also want to know more about the main characters past life. I want to know who the father was and if the intruder and him were possibly connected.

Unknown said...

After the first chapter, I was interested to find out who the intruder may be, but after reading 2-5, I became more interested in the complexity of Marie and her life. This appears to be done intentionally by the author. Marie seems to have a complicated relationship with her mother, even though she fled to her mother's home after the incident. I am sure her life and her father's life as a spy is connected to the invader. I look forward to keep reading to find out.

Teighlor Traywick

Teighlor said...

After the first chapter, I was interested to find out who the intruder may be, but after reading 2-5, I became more interested in the complexity of Marie and her life. This appears to be done intentionally by the author. Marie seems to have a complicated relationship with her mother, even though she fled to her mother's home after the incident. I am sure her life and her father's life as a spy is connected to the invader. I look forward to keep reading to find out.

Teighlor Traywick

Damaiya L. said...

Reading this book really grabbed my attention! I'm very anxious to read about who the intruder was and why this happened to Marie. There are so many questions I have, that I'm over the edge to find the answers to!! Most books never catch my attention this quickly.

Kelsey McNeil said...

As soon as I began to read the book I was very interested in it because of the way it is written. I like how it's from the point of view of Marie talking to her kids, so that is what initially got my attention. This is the first book I have read that is written like this so I am really looking forward to reading the rest of it.

Kelsey McNeil

Nijay N Spellman said...

After reading the opening of American Spy I was surprised that it caught my attention instantly and I figured that it would be worth reading. I loved how the beginning was already mysterious and got the audience thinking and trying to put clues together to figure out who set Marie up to be murdered. I also noticed during the beginning that Marie mentioned that her sons were shaken up by the sight of the policeman, so that gave me some clue that the book will potential consist and shed light on the hardships that African American people face on a daily basis. All in all I am looking forward to engaging in the rest of the reading assignments to get to know Marie and her loved ones a little bit more.

Nijay Spellman

Alliyah M. said...

After reading the first chapter of the book, my initial thoughts were that the author did a great job with catching the reader's attention by making the beginning story full of action. While reading the first chapter, I started to develop many questions such as who she is telling the story to, why is she telling this story, who attacked her and why, and who sent the intruder to her. I thought this added more suspense and overall made the chapter more interesting than just beginning with a backstory that would answer all of these questions.

Anonymous said...

My initial thoughts after reading that suspenseful opening of American Spy was why I had not heard anything about this book before. This book is just the type of thriller I have been waiting to read. I like how the first couple of chapters have made me want to read more to see how everything unfolds.

-Aleeya B.

I'Lysa W. said...

The commencement of the novel was very engaging. It really grads the readers attention in its first pages, having you wondering who was trying to have her killed. Then as a black woman it piques an entirely different interests and I crave to know more.

Anonymous said...

I am really intrigued after reading the beginning of this book. I am interested in knowing her background as a spy and love the that there is a lot of suspense. I also love that the protagonist is a black woman just like me. There are not many stories that include black women, and especially not very many that have them as the main protagonist.
Fatima B.

Adejoke Adanri said...

I have never read a book like this that addresses you as one of the characters. The first chapter had me hooked within the first couple of sentences. I'm really curious to know who is after Marie.

-Adejoke Adanri

Keaira C. said...

After reading the suspenseful opening of the first chapter, I feel like I was definitely pulled in, and intrigued. The book immediately grabs and holds the reader’s attention, and makes sure to leave out just the right amount of concrete details to keep you reading. For me, when reading the first page I felt we were given a lot of context and visuals from the imagery but I wanted to know more. My immediate responses was to be interested, wanting to find out what happens next and wanting to get questions answered about the things that didn’t get mentioned and the details that weren’t provided to us yet, like: “who’s this man attacking Marie and her kids, and why?”.

Samontriona P. said...

My initial thoughts after reading the opening if this book was that this is very interesting. I was not sure where the story would lead me as it immediately started with an intruder and the main character killing someone. I am interested in who she is and why there is a target on her back since there was not initially background information provided. I love books as well as movies that keep me in suspense so I am looking forward to reading this book.

Mackenzie Cohoon said...

The opening of this story was very attention grabbing. I found myself wanting to know exactly who the intruder was, why they were there, and why they were targeting the main character. I also found myself wanting to know everything about the character’s back story, and how the father of her sons died.

The opening of this story was really captivating, and part of that is due to the unique way the story was written. I did not expect to be addressed by the story at all, but it made me feel as if I was actually in the story. It helped me feel what the characters were feeling and empathize more with them and that helped me get engaged in the story a lot more easier.

gabby said...

I really enjoyed this reading assignment! From the opening pages of the chapters I was immediately drawn in! I honestly did not want to stop reading. I really liked the character of Marie. Like me, she is black, and it is not often that you hear stories like hers.
The way the opening of the book was set up also was very interesting. It made me feel like I was apart of the plot. It kept me engaged and I look forward to reading more.

Gabrielle Wimes

Raillane Kamdem said...

While reading American spy, I was immediately drawn in my it’s opening. I’ts very rare to read books that address the reader, so I found it extremely interesting that American spy did. The book hooked me in with its opening and kept me reading with its amazing imagery and writing.

Anonymous said...

Some of my initial thoughts after reading the suspenseful opening of American Spy where who is trying to kill her? I know that she was a spy, so is it someone from her old life trying to finish her off? Also why did they automatically come to her room and not the children’s room? How did she get so good at fighting and what mess is she into? Also she didn’t turn in until after two, so that means the man was watching her and was waiting for the the right time to enter. At the end of chapter 1 she admits that she’s been lying and says she is finally going to tell the truth. The opening posed many questions about everyone’s identity and how everyone got into their current position for me.
Alexis H.

Anonymous said...

After reading the beginning of this novel, what I found to be very interesting was the point of view. As a mother writing a book for her child in the future it makes me wonder what is so important that she needed to convey through an extensive writing to her child. I also like how they introduce the murder in the beginning of the novel because it makes you want to continue reading to find answers. Vanessa H.

Anonymous said...

My initial thoughts on the beginning of the book was that it was going to be another run of the mill spy book that focused on a male, and regardless of the cover of the book, women would be an afterthought. However, after reading I quickly was shown different. The main character was someone I could see myself in because she is a black woman. Yes, the beginning was suspenseful, but my suspense was on another level: how is this author going to portray this character? I’m excited to keep reading! Kaelyn C.

Carah F. said...

My initial thoughts after reading the first few chapters of this book were a bunch of questions. Who’s the guy that broke into her house? What happened to her husband? How did she even end up being a spy? It seems that she hates her job and is ready to move on. There are so many unanswered questions, and I really want to know what’s going to happen next. I also love the authors writing style. I like how she describes things in separate details that seem a little off topic, but she pulls it together and connects everything together. I found it interesting that she decided to make the book a long letter to her sons.

- Carah F.

Deja L. said...

The opening chapter of American spy is full of suspense. All we know for certain is that the main character is in so much danger that someone came to kill and she had to run away to a different country. We see some of her background with her mother being french but we still know virtually nothing about her. She's writing to her sons in case she dies which shows she's gonna continue to be in danger even though she fled the country, and the mystery regarding her husband's death shows that maybe he died because of something related to her spy work and she lies about it to keep from being blamed which may be why his family doesn't associate with her.
-Deja L.

Anonymous said...

The opening chapter of American spy is full of suspense. All we know for certain is that the main character is in so much danger that someone came to kill and she had to run away to a different country. We see some of her background with her mother being french but we still know virtually nothing about her. She's writing to her sons in case she dies which shows she's gonna continue to be in danger even though she fled the country, and the mystery regarding her husband's death shows that maybe he died because of something related to her spy work and she lies about it to keep from being blamed which may be why his family doesn't associate with her.-Deja L.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion of coming across this book and reading the first chapter already, It hit some triggering points and made me more than curious to find out what happens next. I haven't read many books with an African American woman being the main character, her character and the main events make you want to ask more and keep going on to find out who's after her and what's next. Is she the real villain? Or them portraying her to be some bad person and she isn't.

-Courteona C

Arielle S. said...

Upon first beginning chapter one, I had not the slightest of ideas who could have been trying to kill her but I did know that she was prepared for anything thrown at her and wanted to protect whoever else was in her home(which were eventually revealed to be her sons). Once I noticed her fighting strategies/tactics I knew there was more to her than meets the eye. Her revealing that she was FBI told me that there was much more to her story and I needed to find out what it was.
The information of her being FBI was all I thought I needed to figure out who she was and what was going on with someone trying to kill her but I was definitely wrong. At first, without knowledge of her FBI status, I assumed it was a basic robbery, then with knowledge of her status, I figured there was some information that she had that someone did not want getting out. Then she revealed that there was some issues in the past with the boys’ father and I knew that there was even more to her life story.

Nyla W. said...

The first chapter left me really excited to know who the intruder was and how he was connected to Marie. I’ve read very few books where the main character is a strong black woman and it intrigues me to know her story. I want to know what her next moves are going to be and how she will beat any consequences coming her way.

The writing style the author chose is different than what I’ve seen but I like how they decided to portray her life. It seems as though she’s talking to her kids in past tense, like she’s telling them a story about their lives. She’s strong and seems like she knows what she needs to do so I want to see how it plays out.

Anonymous said...

After reading the suspenseful opening of American spy, I was not only interested in learning about the assassin but about Marie herself. Chapter one was very suspenseful and kept me tied into the book as I was reading. Leaving about Marie as far as her past professional endeavors is what will keep me ready this book.

Danielle Hawthorne 10/2/20

Anonymous said...

The opening of the story really got my attention but also made me think the story would be about who was sent to kill her and why and maybe a little backstory. So, the beginning deceived my perception of what I thought the book would be about. It made me want to continue reading to figure out who was sent and why, even if they were not getting to that point right away. In my opinion it was the right way to begin a story like this.

Jayla Pierce

Elizabeth kyande said...

This book is fantastic. I really liked its opening. The fact that the author narrated each step of the action and commotion that happening in the house was really interesting. I like the fact that the author gives a background story on her experience in the FBI and how she had to be a rookie for 2 years in order to earn respect in the FBI. Also the fact that she gives a family history was interesting. Am eager to keep reading and know the out come because I feel like the author has a reason as to why we are in the background face.

Elizabeth Kyande

R. Ginger said...

My initial thoughts after the shooting was why wasn't her husband there if she knew someone was after her. (We later find out that he died.) Also, I didn't understand why the cops were acting that way towards her but I later learned that she is a black woman.

R. Ginger said...

My initial thoughts after the shooting was why wasn't her husband there if she knew someone was after her. (We later find out that he died.) Also, I didn't understand why the cops were acting that way towards her but I later learned that she is a black woman.

Anonymous said...

The opening chapter for The American spy was very intriguing. Action is not my favorite genre of entertainment, but this scene was a page-turner; I wondered if the protagonist was having a dream, considering the unordinary events that perspired. I find myself really wanting to know what Marie has been through and what has led her to that moment in time.
As a Black woman, I really appreciate this book as the selection and look forward to discovering the remainder of Marie’s story.
-Breanna Jackson 10/10/20

Anonymous said...

The first chapter was really interesting. The author did a great job catching the reader's attention. the scenario was so descriptive that at times, I felt like the author was talking to me directly. Later on, I came to understand that she was talking to her children. The most intriguing of all is the fact that she was able to kill the assassin in the first chapter. I am not used to this timeline in my readings. Usually, someone is killed in the middle or by the end of the book.

-Geonel M.

Anonymous said...

I really like Marie and that first chapter was thrilling! I am interested in learning more about her spy work.

Breann Walton 10/16/20

Stella Nguepnang said...

I am realizing mine never posted.
I am very interested in Marie because she is a very complex character. We are both black but I feel like we have more in common than even that. The connections we had allowed me to focus more on her environment and how it effects her. I wanted to see if I could draw even more similarities. I also appreciated the mystery of the intruder and assassination it drew me in a lot.

Stella Nguepnang said...

I realized my post did not go through twice.
I sympathized and felt that I had a lot in common with Marie, even more than that we are both black. I used our similarities to try to look at the situations through her eyes. I also enjoyed the suspenseful nature of the novel such as the introduction of the intruder and assassination to the plot.

Grace Briggs said...

What really stuck out to me was the fear that Marie and her friends expressed in their youth on the threat of nuclear war. Of course, adults will sugar coat a situation to try and ease a child. But when Marie mentioned Robbie saying that they wouldn't just die, but be annihilated? That stuck with me.
-Grace Briggs