Includes bibliographical references.

Section 1: Cultural Connections--Protecting One's Identity - Includes stories of the secret language and cultural schools established by Japanese migrant workers in Brazil, Indigenous people in Ecuador, and Lithuanians living under Russian rule. Section 2: Hope and Dignity--Escaping Slavery and Oppression - Includes stories of schools secretly run by enslaved Africans in the United States, Jewish people in ghettos and concentration camps during WWII and Black South Africans who'd been imprisoned for fighting to end Apartheid. Section 3: Girls' Rights--Banding Together for Gender Equality - Includes stories of the Flying University students of Warsaw, girls' schools funded by secret societies of Iranian women, and an academic school for women disguised as a sewing school in Afghanistan. Section 4: Spy Schools--Going Underground and Undercover - Includes stories of espionage schools run by the Soviet Union's KGB agents, the British government's Camp X (housed on Canadian soil), and a Cold War Russian language training school. Section 5: Radical Learning--Moving in a New Direction - Includes stories of student-led pro-democracy study circles in Korea, Elon Musk's experimental educational approach with his Ad Astra school, and the Indonesian government's program to protect and educate the children of violent extremists.

"Can you keep a secret? What if it meant hiding from your loved ones, sneaking out late at night, or risking imprisonment? And what if that secret was that you were going to school? From covert classrooms created by enslaved Africans in the United States, to academic schools disguised as “sewing lessons” for women in Afghanistan, to espionage schools run by powerful governments, Secret Schools explores the hidden classrooms that have opened their doors so children and adults could learn. Vivid linocut illustrations and interesting facts enhance the book’s 15 true stories of resilience and courage in the pursuit of education. Accompanying profiles for each story introduce readers to an important person who played a significant role in each secret school. Concluding with a look at inventive approaches to education in today’s world, this deep dive into clandestine learning will invite readers to think deeply about the meaning of education and the barriers many face in accessing it" -- Amazon.com.