In the Fall of 1777 the British Army occupied Philadelphia, and the Darragh family lived across from the British Headquarters. As Quakers, the Darraghs weren't supposed to fight but to help protect their oldest son, Charles, who had joined General Washington's army, his family became spies, delivering secret messages to the American army in the buttons of fourteen-year-old John's coat. This suspenseful account is a terrific springboard for beginning readers to discover more about Revolutionary America.