Published: 2020
Author: Cindy L. Otis
Genres: Narrative Nonfiction, Politics, History, Psychology, Technology, Sociology, Education, Self Help
Audience (Grade Levels): Young Adult; Grades 9-12
Number of Stars: 5-star
Goodreads Link: True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News
Triggers: Propaganda, political manipulation, historical atrocities driven by disinformation
Review By: Karen Fenner
Publisher’s Summary:
A former CIA analyst unveils the true history of fake news and gives readers tips on how to avoid falling victim to it in this highly designed informative YA nonfiction title.
“Fake news” is a term you’ve probably heard a lot in the last few years, but it’s not a new phenomenon. From the ancient Egyptians to the French Revolution to Jack the Ripper and the founding fathers, fake news has been around as long as human civilization. But that doesn’t mean that we should just give up on the idea of finding the truth.
In True or False, former CIA analyst Cindy Otis will take readers through the history and impact of misinformation over the centuries, sharing stories from the past and insights that readers today can gain from them. Then, she shares lessons learned in over a decade working for the CIA, including actionable tips on how to spot fake news, how to make sense of the information we receive each day, and, perhaps most importantly, how to understand and see past our own information biases, so that we can think critically about important issues and put events happening around us into context.
True or False includes a wealth of photo illustrations, informative inserts, and sidebars containing interesting facts and trivia sure to engage readers in critical thinking and analysis.
Review:
There is a plethora of resources on misinformation, but what really sets this book apart is Cindy Otis’ broad and authoritative knowledge and her voice and tone which strike a perfect pitch for young adult readers. Engaging storytelling in short thematic chapters with no didactic overtones makes this a pleasure to read and learn from. Her historical examples of fake news demonstrate that misinformation and disinformation have been around as long as humans have. It may surprise students who hear the term “fake news” to know that fake news has always existed and is simply amplified by the Internet and through social media. The text is further enhanced by many great visuals, examples, and activities that can be used with students. While this book is a wonderful stand-alone read, it is also an ideal book to use in a jigsaw activity, and teachers might be further encouraged to use it in the classroom with the accompanying Teachers Guide.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Media Literacy / Digital Citizenship: This book is an essential curriculum anchor for teaching students how to safely navigate the modern information landscape. By delivering actionable tips directly from a former CIA analyst, the text gives students concrete tools to cross-reference data, identify confirmation bias, analyze echo chambers, and critically evaluate source authority on social media and digital platforms.
- World & U.S. History (The Evolution of Propaganda): Otis provides historical case studies demonstrating that disinformation spans back centuries, reaching from ancient Egypt and the French Revolution to the American Founding Fathers. Social studies teachers can integrate these thematic chapters to show how information warfare has evolved from print pamphlets to web algorithms while serving the same social functions.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “CIA Analyst” Jigsaw & Research Workshop: Capitalizing on the reviewer’s explicit recommendation, orchestrate a cooperative classroom jigsaw activity. Divide the class into historical groups, assigning each team a specific chapter or case study from the book (e.g., Jack the Ripper misinformation or ancient political propaganda). Teams will review the historical example alongside the accompanying official Teacher’s Guide, then present the specific manipulation tactics used and how modern internet users can apply those lessons to today’s news feeds.
- “Spot the Bias” Sidebar Challenge: Utilizing the rich photo illustrations and sidebar inserts found throughout the book, host a media interactive workshop in the school library. Provide students with recent mock or anonymized news articles and have them apply Otis’ checklist to reverse-engineer the headlines, hunting for logical fallacies, clickbait structures, and structural biases.
Diversity & Representation:
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The text advances diversity and inclusion by dissecting systemic information biases that have historically marginalized specific cultures, populations, and political identities. By training young readers to recognize how weaponized narratives and propaganda have historically targeted vulnerable groups or stoked societal divisions, the book empowers students of all backgrounds to think independently and resist cultural manipulation.
Readalikes:
- Fake News: Separating Truth from Fiction by Michael Miller
- Evaluating Information: A Guide to Media Literacy by David J. Jakubiak
- Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
- At the Speed of Lies by Cindy L. Otis
