Bank Street Best Book of the Year

“Cloaked in Courage is inspiring storytelling centering the life and actions of a brave woman and soldier, Deborah Sampson. Anderson’s contribution brings to light a lesser-known hero in history and emphasizes the importance of historical investigation and research.” —Lori Ann Terjesen, director of education, National Women’s History Museum

"Portraying Deborah Sampson as someone whose 'spirit was always a little too large'...Anderson follows her independent-minded subject from youthful chores in which she discovered 'pieces of herself' to life as a 'masterless woman'....An admiring...feminist character study." —Kirkus Reviews

"Born in Massachusetts before the American Revolution, Deborah Sampson had an independent streak...In the book’s informative back matter, the author discusses primary and secondary sources...The illustrations, pencil drawings with painted textures and digitally added colors, have a lively, rather quirky look that suits both the topic and the period." —Booklist

"Deborah Sampson was a woman who declared her own independence and then proceeded to fight for the independence of her country...Back matter not only adds to the story of this fascinating patriot but also addresses the challenges of researching with primary and secondary sources from the time ­period. These final pages broaden the audience for this title to middle and high school students and their teachers looking for insight into the process of historical research. This biography of a lesser-known American hero and look into the process of researching historical sources is an essential purchase across several age ranges." —School Library Journal