Suspect Red by L. M. Elliott

Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing the free copy of Suspect Red by L. M. Elliott in exchange for an honest review.  
All opinions are my own.

Suspect Red takes readers back in time to experience life in America 1953 during the height of the Red Scare.  L. M. Elliott uses historical fiction to explain to young readers the impact political events had on everyday kids like them.  Each chapter begins with a few pages of history to immerse readers in the events of the time, which in turn is expertly weaved into the plot.  Photographs, headlines, and quotes from the era help put you in the frame of mind of our characters as they traverse the uncertainty that was the Red Scare.  ​

Richard is our main character who is developing a friendship with his new neighbor, Vlad.  When Richard begins to notice some strange “un-American” behavior from Vlad’s mom, he becomes worried that his new best friend is Red.  With his dad working with J. Edgar Hoover, himself, Richard is torn between his loyalty to his family, his country, and his new friend as the situation escalates throughout the book.  Suspect Red is a unique look at a tense time in America’s history through a young adult’s eyes, allowing for his naivety to sometimes complicate an already complicated time.  

Especially poignant in today's culture, I think this would be a great pairing with a historical unit about the Cold War and its major players.  If you know kiddos that are inquisitive, skeptical, and love historical fiction this book would be perfect in their hands.  It’s a history lesson, a puzzle, and a good lesson in how global current events pervade our everyday lives. 

TL/DR: Want a good historical fiction novel for middle-grade and young adult readers? Suspect Red is the book you've been looking for. 
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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars