Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Haley Reading (Group B) -- American Spy, Chapters 15 - 20

[Haley Reading groups Fall 2020]

By Boluwatife O. Ojewande

By chapter nineteen of American Spy, Marie is in Burkina Faso pursuing the task of gathering intel. Ross and Slater intend to employ Marie into their private military company, provided she performed well in the assignment given to her.

The tasks Marie was given were a test run “to see if you like the way we work and see if the way you work suits us” (213).

What did you think about the idea that Marie was being groomed to work for a private military company?

54 comments:

Nyla W. said...

I didn’t like the fact that Ross wasn’t forthcoming with his true motives in the beginning. He was very secretive and wasn’t always telling the truth, while Dan gives her the information direct. It seems like Slater’s using the information he has about Helene against Marie to encourage her to work with him to “honor Helene.”

They are aiming to use women as tools to ruin their enemies reputation. They claim to want to keep women in the industry but they’re exposing them to physical relationships. I think that Marie is the prime example of why you don’t want to use women as tools because it can come back to bite you in the end.

Jaydyn Z. said...

From the very beginning, I did not have a good feeling about Marie working with Ross and Daniel; I assumed they were working outside of the agency. Neither Ross nor Daniel has been honest with Marie since their first interaction. It especially bothers me that Daniel uses Helene as a way to manipulate Marie into the private company. Likewise, I dislike that they are essentially exploiting Marie for their own personal gain. I am interested to see what Marie decides to do with this new given information and her feelings towards Thomas.
Jaydyn Z.

Alleson Huntspon said...

At first I was sort of confused with the whole motive behide why Marie was being groomed to work for the company. Overall though I think that it is just a set up I feel like it’s more to it, they really don’t truly care about Marie and her work ethic at all it seems like. I feel that they just want to use her for their own laughs and looks.

Linda H. said...

Marie being groomed is not surprising. So far it seems that everything she is involved in has a hidden motive to it. Just from hearing their dialogue about the military company I don't believe just yet that it is even a real thing. I also don't like how Ross and Slater continuously use Helene against Marie, but it seems to work every time.

Linda H.

Tatiana D. said...

Marie being groomed to wok for a primary military company was wrong and conniving on Daniel and Ross's end. It is apparent that neither of them have any sincerity in their motives and they are using Marie to benefit them and their company. They also take advantage of Marie by constantly relating things regarding their work to Helene, as if Marie owes it to her late sister to do the things they want her to do.

Unknown said...

I have an issue with Marie being given a test run to see if, "you like the way we work and see if the way you work suits us" (213) for several reasons. First, even from an unconscious level, it has been proven that individuals will lie to better fit the values of the organization. According to Roulin and Krings (2020), applicant faking is a strategic behavior that occurs on those traits core to the organization. Second, I do not like that the primary military company explicitly told her they would see if the way she works suits them. It is assumed that hiring decisions are being made based on organization person fit, however, this should not be explicitly stated to add pressure on the applicants.

- Madalynn M.

Alexis S. said...

I do not like the idea of Marie being groomed into working for the private military company as I think it is going to put her into a dangerous situation. While reading this book, I have thought of Ross and Daniel to be suspicious and not trustworthy as their intentions for Marie are not good. They both continue to use Marie and ultimately do not care about her. They also continue to bring up Helen knowing that she is a sensitive topic for Marie in order to guilt trip her into doing things for them.

- Alexis S.

Samantha A. said...

I think Marie might be groomed to do some wrong or evil things that would go against what she would want. Ross and Slater seems suspicious, especially Ross after he lied to Marie's face before. I don't trust that their private military company will protect their employees and have their best interests in mind. I feel that Ross is manipulating Marie with the history of her sister, which may or may not be true. However, Marie has suspicion of both Ross and Slater and she is going along with their scheme to keep her options open and to figure out what is really going on.

-Samantha A.

Alayna M. said...

I don't like the idea of Marie working for Slater and Ross's company because everything is so "hush hush." I don't think it is smart for her to get deeply involved and drastically change her life for a career that she knows nothing about. Or maybe they'll pretend to tell her everything, but then still leave her in the dark; I wouldn't be surprised. While the job may seem exciting to Marie, I think she is better off staying with the FBI and working on her position there.

- Alayna M.

Kayla Person said...

I don’t like that Marie was being groomed. I had a feeling that Marie working with Ross and Daniel would not be good. Ross and Daniel both lie and are not trustworthy. They are taking advantage of her and I feel as though she is being used.

-Kayla P.

Brooke H said...

I am not very fond of the idea. Sure it is an opportunity, but I feel like if Marie were to be naïve and eventually take the position fully it wouldn't benefit her or what she stands for as a person. In some way this feels like a set up, and the fact that she 'has to try it out' seems like it isn't for her no matter what way that comment is taken.
-Brooke H.

Anonymous said...

I definitely disagree with the way that Ross and Slater treat Marie. It seems like they don't value her intelligence or skills. Instead of giving her opportunities for success and growth, they really only use her for their own benefit. The fact that she has been groomed this whole time is not surprising to me, but I do feel like she should be able to do more than just work for the military company.
-Chai Curry 10/30/20

Carah F. said...

Ross and Daniel offering Marie the job seemed sketchy. Whenever Ross would talk about it to her, he was very secretive and wouldn’t tell her much. However, Daniel was more direct and honest. Their two different approaches to the job offer and the situation made them seem inconsistent. I’m not that surprise that Marie was getting groomed for the military company. I think they are just trying to manipulate her into becoming bait.

- Carah F.

Anonymous said...

The idea that Marie was being groomed to work for a private military company does not surprise me. I feel that Ross and Slater are trying to figure out if Marie could be a person that does their dirty work, sort of like their puppet. It seems like they just want her to do what they want.

-Aleeya B.

Daeja J Daniels said...

Marie being groomed is not something that I like at all. This is something that could be potentially dangerous for her in the future. Throughout the book it shows that Helen is a topic that she is not comfortable with. However, Daniel and Ross continuously bring it up. This shows that they are not good people or trustworthy.


Kenisha Townsend said...

I wasn't surprised that she was being groomed. Both Daniel and Ross seemed suspicious to me. I dislike how they use her for their own gain.

Nia Marshall said...

From the start I was suspicious of Ross and Daniel when they offered her a job, and what there true motive was. However, grooming Marie without her knowing to be strictly a private military personnel is where I knew my hunch was right. If Marie really knew what they were doing and their true motives, she would be against it. Marie cares about her work ethics and if she knew, she was being manipulated to do dirty work she would stop in a heart beat. Nia M.

Adejoke Adanri said...

I do not like the idea of Marie being groomed into working for the private group. I think it is easy for Marie to get involved because Ross knew Helene and he is telling her information about her sister. Throughout the book, Marie has remained a very ethical person and I think that she might be asked to do something against her morals. But, Marie is smart and has constantly been able to think for herself.

- Adejoke Adanri

Ehriana . C said...

I dislike the idea the Marie has to be groomed to work for a private military company. I feel like they're not being genuine with their motives. It's as if they are trying to lure her into something or possible set her up. Marie constantly has to prove herself and the individuals she's proving herself to are not even being completely honest with her.

EvanCeleste said...

I did not approve of Marie being groomed to work for a military company without her knowledge. Honestly, I think that everyone she has worked with so far has used her and had bad intentions from the start. I also think that she is much too smart to be taken advantage of and she will have no trouble defending herself or retaliating as soon as she feels wronged. She's very strategic with her thinking and I have noticed she sometimes sacrifices herself in order to let people think that they have outsmarted her.

Mackenzie Cohoon said...

I did not like the idea that Marie was being groomed to work for a private military company. I feel like even though they are spies, there should be some moral guidelines. I also think that with the history between them, Slater should have enough respect for Marie to be upfront with her. Instead, they were literally grooming her for their own personal motives.

-Mackenzie Cohoon

Aalita Cole said...

It was interesting to me that Robbie was so quick to help Marie when she asked for it. When in comparison her sister was very guarded and secretive about everything. I couldn't imagine my sister hiding something like a wedding from me especially because that was such an important event. Robbie definitely came off suspicious to me because of how quickly he was willing to help Marie and my suspicions were kind of proved correct when he later started grooming her to do stuff that she normally wouldn’t do .

geonel m said...

I do not know how I feel about Marie being groomed to work for the private military company. But, I would agree that it feels more wrong than good because of the fact that Ross and Daniel feel shady. There is something that does not sound right with them, and I believe that the next chapters will prove me right. Nonetheless, I feel like they have an idea in a back of their mind and I can seem to find what.

Geonel M.

Jacqueline Smith said...

I don't know much about the military but I wasn't surprised that Ross wanted to "test" Marie; it seemed like something the military would do especially during that time. Marie is wise to be on alert and not trust Ross or Daniel, their motives are purely selfish.

Jacqueline Smith

Cheyenne Carpenter said...

I don't like the fact that Marie is being groomed and it makes me think they aren't clear with what their intentions are with Marie. Marie has worked hard to get where she is now and this is unfair to her and her professional career.

Kelsey McNeil said...

The idea of Marie being groomed to working with Slater and Ross really makes me angry. I don't think it was fair of them to go about things the way that they did and to not tell Marie the full truth. Another thing that sort of bothered me was when Slater and Marie were talking in chapter 19, he keeps bringing up how Helene would've loved in Marie worked together with him. Despite Marie saying that he loved Helene; "He'd married my sister, whom he'd loved powerfully..."(pg 214), every time Slater brought Helene up it gave off the feeling that they were trying to manipulate Marie into working with them.

Kelsey McNeil

Nijay Spellman said...

I think it is wrong and unfair for Marie to be groomed for a private military company. I feel as if they are trying to make Marie's job ten times harder for her than anyone else's considering her race and sex. At this point I feel as if they are somewhat using and trying to control Marie into doing scandalous acts.

Nijay S

Alliyah M. said...

I didn't like the idea that Marie was being groomed into working for Ross and Daniel's private military company. I felt that Marie didn't have any say if that's what she wanted to do or if she wants to stay with the FBI instead. Ross could've possibly ruined Marie's reputation at the FBI as well if his operation went wrong which is unfair to her since she didn't even know Ross' true intentions.

Keaira C. said...

Honestly, I wasn’t shocked when I found out that Marie was being groomed with the military company that she works for. I have a feeling that a lot of people around Marie, like Ross and Daniel, aren’t reliable or trustworthy figures. They seem to just use her and take advantage of her skills and intelligence for their own benefit without actually appreciating Marie as a person. But I am relieved though that Marie seems to be on to Ross and Slater, and is going along with their plan to gain more insight and figure out her next move.

Arielle Stallworth said...

From the jump I was suspicious of Daniel and Ross's motives behind working with Marie. They give off very sneaky and conniving vibes and I was truly worried for her.
They are using and almost even manipulating her because they know she wants to do this work. She is working in "a white man's field" and they feel as if they can run all over her and use her how they want because they feel that she should be lucky to be there. I am almost certain that there is something bigger to come of this but she is on to them.

Anonymous said...

I definitely don’t like that Marie is being groomed for the military company but it is also not surprising as it does not seem like Daniel and Ross have good motives. Guilting Marie into doing things for them is wrong and shows they have no heart. They obviously are taking advantage of Marie and do not actually care for her so I am afraid that working with them can be dangerous for her.

-Cynthia Martin

Kendall Fry said...

Personally, to see how Marie opens up a little more in trusting Robbie again, given he has come back into her life so abruptly from the depths of Marie's past, is interesting. With Marie's literal profession of hiding her true self and strong tendency of building walls, Robbie's willingness to assist Marie and her actually trusting him enough to let him is very interesting. The development between these two is quite the show.

Samontriona P. said...

Both Daniel and Ross have seemed suspicious to me since they were first introduced. I feel that Ross is manipulative and they are both very untrustworthy. I do not like the fact that Marie is being groomed to work for the private Military company. It makes me think they have other plans for her like a possible set up.

Deja L. said...

Marie being groomed to work in this military company seems like she’s getting manipulated. This idea is furthered when they keep being up her sister that practically raised Marie because they know it’ll be a sore subject. Ross and Daniel are definitely setting Marie up.

Anonymous said...

I have been very suspicious of Ross and Daniel since the beginning. I hate that they are grooming Marie to work for a private military company for many reasons. I don't trust what they will do to her reputation and I feel like they are keeping her in the dark. Even though she just wants to try it out, I don't think it is worth it for her.
Fatima Bashir

Anonymous said...

I believe Marie is considering this opportunity because of the way she was treated as a spy when she was working for the U.S government. She wasn't taken seriously, and she was not respected due to her gender and likely race. This is her chance to really prove herself and her abilities. She knows more than language, has lived in. multiple places around the world, and she took down an intruder in her home. She is an asset to any spy agency.

Teighlor Traywick
October 29, 2020 at 11:01 PM

Anonymous said...

This novel has its twist and turns and its interesting. the idea of Marie being groomed to work for the military company did not come as a surprise to me but again it kind of seemed too good to be true at first. I feel like it happens too often which is unfortunate. However the fact that Ross and Daniel use her to benefit themselves does not sit well with me. Especially to the extend of using Helen as bait so Marie can fall for it.

-Elizabeth Kyande 10/30/2020
October 30, 2020 at 8:48 PM

Anonymous said...

From the beginning of Chapters 15-20 I had a feeling that Ross and Slater intending to employ Marie for the military company was suspicious and that they probably did not have the best intentions for her. Ross has lied to Marie’s face before so I have a hard time believing anything he tells her is genuine. I feel as though the two are taking advantage of Marie so she can do their dirty work. Throughout the book Marie has done pretty well with making good decisions and seeing who is genuine so I believe she will not end up working for the military company.

Danielle Hawthorne

Anonymous said...

It was very deceptive and conniving for Marie to be groomed into the military. Marie has worked tenaciously to get as far as she is. I feel she is not as guarded as her sister and she is becoming more susceptible to deceit and treachery.

Ilysa Walker 11/2/20

Alexis H. said...

The idea that Marie was being groomed to work for a private military company is very unsettling. They had Marie use her body and appearance to get what they wanted, a way to blackmail Thomas. They aren’t grooming her they are using her and Marie knows this. It’s proven in Chapter 20, Slater tells on himself while in distress at The American Embassy. He revealed his true motive. Marie sees that they will do anything to get where they want. This puts a questionable target on his back for Helene’s death.

Alexis Hutchins

LaTrina Brown said...


I do not like the fact that Marie was being groomed to work for a private military company. I really despise the way that Marie has been treated thus far and that she is willing to go through lengths to be accepted for who she is. I believe that Ross and Daniel are not to be trusted and that something bad will come from this. We shall see.

gabby said...

I knew that Ross's intentions were always a little off, as he was not always truthful and appeared to be quite secretive. This is why I feel as if Marie being groomed did not really come as a major surprise to me. Yet, it deeply saddens me that they are taken an advantage of her just to benefit themselves.

Gabrielle Wimes

Raillane Kamdem said...

It makes me feel uneasy that Marta was essentially groomed to work for a private military company. Ross always felt a little off to me but it did take me by quite some surprise that he was grooming Mary. It is quite sad though that you never really know anyone’s true intentions while meeting them. It is a very scary thought.

R. Ginger said...

Honestly, I don't like that she being groomed to work for a private military company. I feel like Ross is not trustworthy and I'm not sure about Slater because Ross and him keep trying to hide things and underestimating Marie.

Raven Ginger

Anonymous said...

I didn’t like the fact that Marie was being groomed all along because it almost takes away from the prestige she was building at the company because she was succeeding on her task. They already expected her to do so and basically was a puppet for them, and not acting to her own standards even though she was under the impression that she was. I feel as if, if I was in her shoes I would feel terribly used and blackmailed in away; because to me I’d think, “well I’ve done all this work under these circumstances without knowing, why not just continue now that all the cards are out on the table?”

Kaelyn Cupil 11/6/20

Anonymous said...

I feel a little suspicious that Ross and Slater are not telling Marie the entire truth and that they may have an alternate motive. This feeling is made even stronger since we know that Ross has lied to Marie before by saying he had never been to Burkina Faso, and since Slater waited so long to tell Marie that he had been married to Helene. I can cut Daniel some slack on that one though, as I can see that as something that might be hard to think about and share. I just hope Marie can learn the whole story before getting caught up in something that can negatively impact her and her life. But by all means, I hope that the new company is the real and honest deal and that it can be Marie’s new opportunity to showcase her talent as an agent.
-Breanna Jackson 11/6/20

Anonymous said...

From the very beginning everything seemed fishy. Something about it all just did not add up, I figured they alternative motive. I did not appreciate them using her sister against her. She already wasn’t feeling respected and it turned out they were just using her. The fact that they said, “to see if you like the way we work and see if the way you work suits us” (213), is interesting. Because if it turns out she doesn’t like the way they work are they going to just let her walk away.

Jayla Pierce 11/10/20

Anonymous said...

I don’t think Marie having to be groomed was appropriate. They’re treating her different. I think that Ross and Daniel aren’t going to be in Marie’s best interest as far as working with them, i think they may have something up their sleeves.

Damaiya L. 11/10/20

Anonymous said...

In my Opinion about the idea that Marie was being groomed to work for a private military company was quite weird to me. I also didn’t understand what was the point of her being groomed? Everyone should feel comfortable when coming into any sort of work place from the start. It should never seem like people are being used against you of any sort. I also feel as if they are using women for their own support or motives and not really caring about them being there to be exact. The whole agency seems fishy to me by the way they use things from one woman to another. No woman should ever be manipulated into anything but it seems that’s where they are headed. So yes I disagree.

Courteona C 11/11/20

Anonymous said...

I don’t like that Marie is being groomed as she is. It makes me feel dirty and bad for her at the same time. I also do not like Ross or Daniel, both don’t feel like they are good people. They seem to not really care about what happens to her in the end as long as they get their jobs done.

Breann Walton 11/29/20

Unknown said...

I felt that this was very unfair and inconsiderate to Marie. They intentionally gas-lighted her into a job that she may not have been interested in participating in if she knew the truth. Also, giving her such a demeaning task to lure her in, depicts the lack of respect they had for Marie as a woman. The SSI program which is supposed to be anti-dictatorship seems to use dictatorial ways. One cannot help but to believe that Helene suffered the same trick.

-victoria richardson

Anonymous said...

As an everyday person who is quite unfamiliar with associations like the CIA, previous to reading this book, I find many methods strange. To us, of course it is odd that Ross has his own end game but won’t share his ideas. Ross and Slater are using Marie in an odd way to get her on their side. Of course, they cannot share too much information before they are sure where her loyalty lies. When you anticipate being a spy, as you can imagine it is going to involve quite a few secrets. As long as they are truthful when fully offering her jobs and assignments in the future Marie could find a good position with them.

Vanessa Hovey 12/2/20

Anonymous said...

Kailey Blanton said...
What intrigued me the most was the very much strained and distant relationship between Marie and Helene, her own sister. I am not close with my brother because of a large age gap but the least I would know was if I had an in-law sibling from him. Her having no knowledge shows how close or how not close people can be in your life. And the fact that Slater, the husband, was going into so much detail about a part of Helenes life that Marie wasn't in killed me. I just will never understand why people do such intense things for those they care about. -KaileyB
December 2, 2020 at 7:08 PM

Quanicia Rudd said...

I don't like that Marie is being groomed by Ross and Daniel. She has proven to be an ethical person and I think that she might be asked or forced to do things that go against her morals. I did not like that they used her own sister against her, and it just showed that they were only using her.

Quanicia R.