Tales of daring covert operations and antiterrorism plots are not just the stuff of movies. Real spies are at work around the world every day. Designed for readers age 12 and up, this nonfiction series investigates the espionage agencies of six countries, tracking their history of intelligence gathering and spotlighting famous secret missions. Pop culture spies are contrasted with real-life agents. Exposing...

Tales of daring covert operations and antiterrorism plots are not just the stuff of movies. Real spies are at work around the world every day. Designed for readers age 12 and up, this nonfiction series investigates the espionage agencies of six countries, tracking their history of intelligence gathering and spotlighting famous secret missions. Pop culture spies are contrasted with real-life agents. Exposing secrets is a spy's job, and the agents of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) are some of the world's best. Cloaked in secrecy, the MSS gathers foreign and domestic intelligence and performs covert special operations for the purpose of defending the country's Communist Party. This in-depth title for readers age 12 and up surveys the civilian espionage agency's history from its founding in 1983 to today. It covers recruitment, training, and key missions. It also compares pop culture spies with their real-life counterparts. Includes a glossary, sidebars, index, and further resources.