Today's review... Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs

Today's read is the eighth in a series, which I have not visited yet. Which isn't a surprise, since I have a tendency of diving right in. I do like the idea of an entire series written around animals, and after enjoying several books from the Spy School series, have no doubt that these will be well written and hold more than a little excitement. But who knows? First, we're going to dive in and find out!

WHALE DONE

FunJungle #8

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon Schuster

Middle Grade Mystery

317 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

FEBRUARY 23rd!!!

After an escaped kangaroo starts a fire that burns down his house, Teddy Fitzroy accepts an invitation to go to Malibu with his girlfriend, Summer, and her mother, Kandace. He’s hoping to spend some time relaxing on the beach, but wherever Teddy goes, trouble isn’t far behind.

First, a massive dead whale has washed up on the beach—and before anyone can determine what killed it, it explodes. Doc, the head vet from FunJungle, suspects something fishy is going on and ropes Teddy and Summer into helping him investigate.

Then, Teddy stumbles upon yet another mystery involving tons of stolen sand. And the paparazzi start spreading rumors about Summer dating a celebrity, leading Teddy to question their relationship.

Without Summer as his trusted partner, can Teddy navigate the rough waters of this glitzy world and uncover what’s going on?

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBITS

Adventure meets animals, mystery, zoology, and even ecological themes as well as enough tension to make it fun.

Teddy's parents work and live at FunJungle. When fireworks and a kangaroo collide, the entire surrounding forest and employee housing goes down in flames, although the park remains fine. While his parents will sleep and live in the office until new homes are built, Teddy takes his friend up on the offer to spend time at her mother's friend's house in California along with the head doctor of FunJungle. While there, a whale explodes all over the beach...and the mystery begins.

While this is the 8th book in the series, it's the first one I've picked up. And that wasn't a problem. The tale can be read as a stand-alone.

This was a nice balance of adventure, fun, friendship, mystery, and information, too. Teddy and Summer work well together, but as with real friends, do have moments where they understand each other better than others. It creates a natural relationship and makes the two easy to root for as they solve the mystery and deal with other issues.

I do enjoy the animal twist and added information this series includes. Teddy and Summer know their way around creatures/animals, which allows a smooth addition of facts and information without ever feeling as if it's being purposely pushed into the tale. It just flows right in. The ecology side isn't any different. Modern concerns about the environment weave into the mystery and experiences smoothly...like Teddy collecting trash while walking through exploded whale guts along the beach (sounds a little strange but it works). 

While there is this learning goodness, it's the quick-paced adventure, which makes this enjoyable to read. Something is always happening, and it's hard to see what's coming next. Not only does Teddy have to figure out what's happening with the whale and the disappearing beach, but even the other characters have their own personalities and problems. There's family, relationships and friendship, too. The villain was also well-placed, and while not carrying quite as much depth, offered a worthy adventure for Teddy to work with.

It's a smooth read packed with information and excitement, and I'm looking forward to see what will come next (and I'll be heading back to see what other adventures Teddy has already had).

Today's read... The Labyrinth of Doom by Stuart Gibbs

This title just screams October and Halloweeny...The Labyrinth of DOOM!!!! That and the cover won me over...plus, I did read the first book in the series and enjoyed it (which you can look at here if you'd like). Oh, and it's probably not spooky or Halloweeny, and heads more into a humorous direction, but is that a problem? Not in my book because fun stories...especially humorous fun stories...are always a runner. Considering this is also a graphic novel, I'm thinking young readers might enjoy it (and me). 

But let's see how this one really is, shall we?

THE LABYRINTH OF DOOM

Once Upon a Tim, Book 2

by Stuart Gibbs

Illustrated by Stacy Curtis

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Fantasy / Graphic Novel

160 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

NOVEMBER 1st!!!

Knight-in-training Tim and his best friend, Belinda, embark on a quest to save Princess Grace in this second book in the hilarious, highly illustrated Once Upon a Tim middle grade series from New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs.

Prince Ruprecht is VERY UPSET that knights-in-training, Tim and Belinda, have thwarted his plans and ruined his chances with Princess Grace. And so, to get even, he has kidnapped the princess and trapped her in the most complicated, dangerous, complex, dastardly, biggest (okay you get the point)…and scariest maze in all the world!

Now it’s up to Tim, Belinda, Ferkle, and Rover to fend off menacing beasts (like the minotaur), conquer treacherous obstacles (like chasms filled with cave sharks), find their way through the labyrinth (which is very tricky), and rescue the princess before time runs out. Oh, and also they need to remember how to get back out again…or they’ll be trapped inside the maze forever.

GOODREADS   /   B&N   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY   /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Shark infested waters, rock monsters, and blood-thirsty minotaurs are only a glimpse at the danger awaiting a not-so-talented knight (who still tries his best because being a simple peasant stinks).

Note: This is the second book in the series but works very well as a stand-alone.

After his first adventure as a knight (although he's only a knight-in-training), Tim is kind of settling down into the usual training, but it's rough, which is mostly not his fault. When he accidentally falls asleep during guard duty, the enemy sneaks in with evil plans of revenge. Soon, Princess Grace is in danger, again, and only Tim and his friends can save her...or supposedly, since the dangers are greater than even a trained knight could deal with.

This is an enjoyable, silly, danger-filled, and easy read. Told from Tim's point of view, every moment comes across in an honest and open manner with loads of sarcasm, self-doubt, hesitation, and yet, massive amounts of bravery. Tim speaks to the reader, not only connecting the emotions and adventures with personal flair, but 'knows' the reader's modern life and explains things along the way...in a humorous manner. In this way, Tim draws into his world, comes across as an average kid who's doing the best he can, and will have readers feeling as if they are right there with him (I'd say wanting to join him, but I'm pretty sure none want to face the dangers he does). 

Illustrations are sprinkled through-out the story, breaking up the text and adding to the fun of the tale. Reluctant readers won't find it overwhelming and will also enjoy the slightly larger font and spacing to help reading ease. Still, the author does build in heavier vocabulary. Tim is more than happy to explain the meaning of the words as he battles monsters or faces the villain, and while it might break the story flow, that's exactly the point, since it melds right in with the humor and snark.

This is a fun tale with tons of humor and even heart. It teaches a bit about knighthood and the time period, builds word knowledge, holds a nice message, and all of that with non-stop humor, tense and dangerous scenes, and oodles-and-gobs of imagination.

Happy Book Birthday, Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs!

I might be a tiny bit early with this post, since today's read actually comes out tomorrow. But I'm all about celebrating birthdays (not only book ones) to their fullest. Life is serious enough, so when the time to party arises, might as well embrace it with enthusiasm. As my mother used to say, "Why celebrate only one day, when you can party for two weeks?" Which is funny, considering my mother was anything but a party-animal.

Anyway, this book is the tenth...yep, the tenth...in the series. I have actually followed this series for years and enjoy every adventure, which comes out. At least, I have so far. I'm betting that won't change with this new installment, either.

Ready to put on that spy coat and hat?

 

SPY SCHOOL 

PROJECT X

Spy School, #10

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Adventure

352 pages

ages 8 to 12

In the tenth book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series, Ben Ripley races against time and across state lines—by car, train, boat, and plane—to avoid his new cyber enemies and track down Murray Hill.

Ben Ripley’s longtime nemesis, Murray Hill, has put a price on Ben’s head and accused him of being at the center of a conspiracy on the internet. Now Ben finds himself in his greatest danger yet, on the run from both assassins and conspiracy theorists.

Ben must find Murray before his machinations catch up to Ben—but with so much at stake, even some of Ben’s most trusted friends might not be at the top of their game, leaving Ben to be tested like never before.

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60257640-spy-school-project-x   

BOOK DEPOSITORY: https://www.bookdepository.com/Spy-School-Project-X-Stuart-Gibbs/9781534479494

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/153447949X

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spy-school-project-x-stuart-gibbs/1140975523

MY TIDBITS

Action, adventure, and humor run as high as ever in this latest installment of a popular series, but unlike the other books, this one takes a sudden and wonderful twist.

It's test time, and like so many other kids (even those who aren't spies), Ben is anything but thrilled. But toughing those tests is soon the least of his worries as a rumor hits the internet, and Ben is accused of being at the heart of the latest conspiracy theory. It's open season on Ben's life as a huge reward is offered to anyone, who can kill him. In a high-tension attempt to stop the lunacy, Ben takes off to find his arch-enemy, but with everything going on, who knows what will happen next.

This was such a refreshing wind into the Spy School world. The author has stepped away from the usual scheme, which has dominated this series, and taken a new plot route, while keeping the action scenes as exciting as before and even adding to the humor and atmosphere. Ben has more to deal with in new directions, and that while still handling his age old enemy, Murray.

There will be those out there, who will criticize this read, thanks to it's twist into the realm of internet and disinformation...just because it is what it is. But for the normal reader (who stays down-to-earth), it's clear that this adds to the story, doesn't mean anything political, and actually opens up the doors for readers to realize that everything on the internet should be investigated, considered, and re-checked more than once because...well, the internet is the internet and can't be taken at face value. So, kudos to the author for attacking that bag of worms without attacking it.

Fans of this series are in for another treat as they accompany Ben on yet another exciting adventure, meet old characters as well as one or two new, fever for Ben as he battles one hurdle after the other, and laugh more than every now and then the entire way through.

Review: Charlie Thorne and the Curse of Cleopatra by Stuart Gibbs

Today's author is a well-known one in the kidlit world. I've read several books in his Spy School series and was excited to get my hands on this third book from his Charlie Thorne series. No, I have not read the first two in the series, yet, because...well, do I ever do that? But after reading this one, I realized how big a mistake it was not to dive into this series earlier because it is much more exciting than I expected. But I'll let you read on and discover the rest for yourself.

CHARLIE THORNE AND THE CURSE OF CLEOPATRA

Charlie Thorne #3

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Middle Grade Spy / Action

400 pages

ages 9 to 12

COMING...

JUNE 7th!!!

In this third book in the Charlie Thorne series from bestselling author Stuart Gibbs, Charlie tracks down Cleopatra’s greatest treasure in Egypt.

Charlie Thorne is a genius. Charlie Thorne is a renegade. Charlie Thorne isn’t going down without a fight.

After tracking down incredible discoveries by Einstein and Darwin, Charlie is back. This time, the great ruler Cleopatra has left behind an extremely valuable and powerful treasure, its location encoded on an ancient stone tablet.

In 30 BCE, Cleopatra and her husband, Marc Antony, lost their war against Octavian for control of the Egyptian Empire. However, Cleopatra knew Octavian was really after the mysterious item that was the source of all her wealth and influence, so she hid it before committing suicide. She left a series of devious clues behind for her children to find it, but they were lost to history…until now.

In a breathless adventure that takes her across the globe, Charlie must fight for her life against ruthless enemies, match wits with Cleopatra, and solve the two-thousand-year-old mystery to prevent the most powerful treasure of the ancient world from falling into the wrong hands.

GOODREADS   /   AMAZON   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY    /   B&N

MY TIDBITS

First, I have to admit that I haven't read the other books in the series. That's a mistake, but not because it was hard to sink into this book...actually, it wasn't a problem to immediately be drawn into the story and understand exactly what was going on (so, this can be read as a stand-alone). It's a mistake not to read the others first because this adventure is truly tons of fun to read, and I can only imagine the rest of the series is a treat, too.

Charlie just turned thirteen and has just discovered a huge clue to take her on her next search for an ancient treasure, which could mean huge trouble if it falls into the wrong hands. She's located an Egyptian stone tablet, which holds the secret to the power Cleopatra hoped to entrust her own son with before Octavian's victory. So far, no one seems to suspect what the tablet truly hides, but Charlie knows exactly how to decipher the clues. But even with her amazing intelligence, wit and skills, time's against her as more and more organizations realize she's on a new hunt.

Action, excitement, tension, and clever deduction make this an exciting read, which flows seamlessly from beginning to end. The fast pace keeps the reader on their toes, never leaving even a smidgen of space for boredom to seep in. Charlie races around the world, going from one exotic location to the next. Each one carries cultural flair and a few details to highlight the atmosphere, and yet, there's never a load of descriptions to slow things down, either. It's high-action the entire way through, and that with more than a handful of characters. Even each of these carries enough personality to make them intriguing, and each one harbors their own goals. 

While the action and plot twist this way and that with all sorts of unexpected moments and directions, the author manages to build in quite a bit of history, too. The first chapter with Cleopatra grabs and puts her in a more natural light than is often found in literature. The historical tidbits, which Charlie uses to pull the clues together, are as interesting as the places she visits. Throw in the illustrations of the clues she discovers, and it's more than intriguing mix.

This is sold for ages ten and up, and the subject matter does work well with the upper middle grade range and beyond. Sensitive readers might find some scenes a little harder, thanks to a few moments of violence...nothing over the top, but there are shootings and other harsher acts in a true, hardened spy world. For the average reader, it is tension pure and a gripping read.  

Happy Book Birthday, Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs

The world and life is getting too seriously lately, and that's why I'm thrilled to have today's read up for everyone to see. This does come from a best-selling and well-known author, and it reads very well. It also takes a totally different turn from many other books he's written, which I appreciate (and find impressive). 

Now, after you read this one, you'll want to take a look at the cover again because you'll see it in a totally different light. Let's just say that while I did expect the humor (and loved it!), there was much more in this one and some was set in a wonderfully subtle way.

So, off we go!

ONCE UPON A TIME

by Stuart Gibbs

Illustrated by Stacy Curtis

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Humor

160 pages

ages 7 to 10

Join New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs in this first book in a hilarious, highly illustrated new middle grade series about a peasant boy who wants to be a knight, perfect for fans of Max & the Midknights.

Tim is just a peasant, but he dreams big. He wants more out of life than to grow up to be a woodsman like his father. Unfortunately, the only route to success in the kingdom of Wyld is to be born a prince. Still, Tim is determined. He is brave and clever and always tries to do the right thing—even though he rarely gets the credit for it.

Then news spreads that Princess Grace of the neighboring kingdom has been abducted by the evil Stinx and Prince Ruprecht needs a legion of knights to join him on his quest to rescue her. Tim finally has the lucky break he’s been waiting for, the opportunity to change his station in life. And even though he doesn’t know how to ride a horse or wield anything more deadly than a water bucket, he’s going to do whatever it takes to make sure his dream becomes a reality.

GOODREADS  /   AMAZON   /   B&N   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBIT

Saving a princess takes on an entirely new meaning with tons of humor packed in along the way as well as more than a few surprises.

Tim is a peasant and has generations of peasants to back up his line. While the rest of his family and ancestors are quite satisfied with their position in life, Tim is frustrated. The only way out is for him to become a knight. When the opportunity arises, he takes it without any questions asked. And that is exactly the problem.

This one is written in first person with Tim as the star, which even he admits is odd since the Prince and Princess should be taking over the tale. It immediately sets him up as the perfect underdog, and one with a touch of sarcasm as well as tons of heart and determination. Tim doesn't have any super talents, nor are his decisions always spot on, but that's what makes him so easy to connect with. He's a normal person, while those around him...even the world...is not. 

Humor mixes with adventure before adding even more humor. There are so many silly quirks and not-quite-right situations that it's impossible not to smile and even snort a giggle or two. The traditional views of kingdoms and knights in a fairytale setting are presented before being flipped upside down. The silliness then mixes with fantastical creatures and unique characters, and all of that without forgetting some more serious themes, too.

Several truths about peasantry and life at that time do come to light. Also, the author presents more difficult words purposefully along with their definitions. To round it off, there are a couple meaningful messages concerning life, how to see past facades, and more. All of this still remains neatly padded within the humor. Oh, and not to forget the illustrations. Without these, the book definitely wouldn't be the same.

So, yes, I do recommend this one to readers who want tons of laughs but also enjoy a little fantasy and adventure along the way.

And here they are...

Stuart Gibbs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlie Thorne series, FunJungle series, Moon Base Alpha series, and Spy School series. He has written screenplays, worked on a whole bunch of animated films, developed TV shows, been a newspaper columnist, and researched capybaras (the world’s largest rodents). Stuart lives with his family in Los Angeles. You can learn more about what he’s up to at StuartGibbs.com.

Stacy Curtis is the illustrator of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids series by Sean Covey and the Once Upon a Tim series by bestselling author Stuart Gibbs. He lives with his wife and dog in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

Review: Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs

 

SPY SCHOOL REVOLUTION

Spy School #8

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Spy Fiction

352 pages

ages 8 to 12  









Superspy middle schooler Ben Ripley faces the Croatoan—a new evil organization that’s so mysterious, the only proof it exists is from the American Revolution—in this latest addition to the New York Times bestselling Spy School series.

With SPYDER defeated, Ben Ripley is looking forward to his life getting back to normal, or as normal as possible when you’re a superspy in training. For once, everything seems to be right in Ben’s world...until someone bombs the CIA conference room next door.

To Ben’s astonishment, the attacker is none other than Erica Hale, the spy-in-training he respects more than any other. Ben refuses to believe Erica is working for the enemy...even if the rest of the CIA does.

His mission: prove Erica is not a double agent working against the US, locate the fabled colonial-era insurgent group that’s blackmailing her, figure out what their devious plot is, and thwart it.

But this time, Ben finds himself up against opponents he has never encountered before: his own friends. They’re not as ready to trust in Erica as he is, and Ben is forced to rely on his own wits and skills more than ever before. How can he succeed when he doesn’t even know who he can trust?

GOODREADS / AMAZON / B&N / BOOK DEPOSITORY / KOBO

MY TIDBITS

This is the eighth book in the series, and it still manages to hold all of the action, excitement, and thrilling fun that every single book has had up until now. In other words, it's good.

The evil group SPYDER has been defeated, and now, it's time for Ben to lay back and relax. Well, that was his plan until the CIA conference rooms are bombed. It doesn't take long to figure out that the attack was actually aimed at him and was at the hands of no one else than one of his own friends. While this causes more than a little inner conflict, he doesn't have time to ponder as not only his life, but those of his parents are suddenly at stake. A new evil has emerged, one that dates back to the beginning of US history...and he's the only one who can stop them.

I was sure that with the defeat of SPYDER, the series would be nearing it's end, but the author has proven that thought completely wrong. This book does take a sudden twist with the series up to now, and that...young readers...is a good thing. There are thrills, there are 'edge-of-the-seat' moments, bombs explode, dives from the sky shoot the adrenalin levels beyond the clouds, danger lurks around every corner, and secrets are thicker than mud. It's fast paced and non-stop action. And that's not all.

This book also incorporates a bit of history and takes a look at the first towns founded in the US. I had to smile and appreciated the way the author 'discovers' the solution to the disappearing colony of Roanoke and incorporates a few facts on the sidelines. But then, this tale (like the others) dances wonderfully along reality's border and crosses over into exciting adventure, which of course, is not possible, but does set dreams free and let readers wish they could take on a secret organization themselves. To say that the characters are fun is an understatement, and this book adds a delicious twist. 

Anyone who loves amazing spy stories and non-stop excitement is going to enjoy this series. And this book, although it's already number eight, does not come close to disappointing. The author has found the perfect recipe, followed it to a 't', and come up with another flawless adventure.

Review: Lion Down by Stuart Gibbs

LION DOWN

FunJungle Series, Book Five

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Mystery

352 pages

ages 8 to 12

Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle’s resident sleuth when a lion is falsely accused of killing a distinguished dog in the latest novel in New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs’s FunJungle series.

For once, operations at the enormous zoo/theme park appear to be running smoothly (except for the occasional herring-related mishap in the penguin exhibit) and Teddy Fitzroy is finally able to give detective work a rest. But then a local lion is accused of killing a famous dog—and the dog’s owner, an inflammatory radio host, goes on a crusade to have the cat declared a nuisance so it can be hunted. But it looks like the lion might have been framed, and a renegade animal activist wants Teddy and Summer to help prove it. Soon, Teddy finds himself wrapped up in the middle of his most bizarre, hilarious, and dangerous case yet. 

 MY TIDBITS

Mixing humor with animal excitement and mystery, this is a fun read until the very last page.

Teddy is having quite the time with the new fish-cannon, which is supposed to be the new way to feed the penguins, when another problem appears. A dog has been murdered, and not just any dog. It's an important dog of an important person. The murderer is said to be lion. When the owner of the dog makes it his quest to have the lion qualified as dangerous and killed, Teddy needs to prove that it wasn't the lions fault. But no case is easy.

This is the first book I've read in the series, but that didn't cause any difficulties in sinking into the characters and the mystery. The author does a tremendous job at grabbing the reader right away. There's a lovely mix of wit, humor and dangerous tension, which makes it impossible to put this book down. Every page hooks, and each situation offers something new—whether mystery wise or simply fun on the humor end of things.

The characters are very easy to connect with and root for. Each interaction was a treat, and just right for the intended age group. There isn't an overfill on character depth, leaving them more with a cartoon feeling, but this works very well in the series and is sure to meet readers the way it should. 

This is a fun read and I can only recommend it.

And here he is...
Stuart Gibbs is the author of the FunJungle Series, as well as the New York Times bestselling Spy School and Moon Base Alpha series. He has written the screenplays for movies like See Spot Run and Repli-Kate, worked on a whole bunch of animated films, developed TV shows for Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC, and Fox. Stuart lives with his family in Los Angeles. You can learn more about what he's up to at StuartGibbs.com

Review: Spy School Goes South by Stuart Gibbs

SPY SCHOOL GOES SOUTH

Spy School, Book 6

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Spy / Adventure

330 pages

Ben is taken to Mexico by his nemesis in the hopes that he’ll finally be able to take down SPYDER in this latest addition to the New York Times bestselling Spy School series.

Thirteen-year-old Ben Ripley has been caught in the snares of SPYDER more than once and knows well enough to be suspicious of anything that seems too good to be true—despite needing special tutoring in advanced survival techniques. So when Murray Hill finally breaks his silence with an offer to hand over the SPYDER elite, Ben knows that there must be something going on. But his hesitation doesn’t stop the assignment.

The Mission: Follow Murray Hill to an undisclosed location with no one else but Erica Hale to identify SPYDER leadership. Once found, contact the CIA to sweep in and finish the job. DO NOT CONTACT SPYDER DIRECTLY.

However, as Ben suspected, nothing goes as planned, and what should be an easy mission quickly turns deadly. Now, Ben and Erica will have to face rogue agents, trained killers, and even very hungry crocodiles in a race against the clock to find out what SPYDER is up to this time—and thwart their evil plans.

MY TIDBITS

This is the sixth book in the series, but that doesn't mean it needs to be read that way. I've only read a couple in the series, not in any particular order or anything, and it hasn't caused any troubles with diving into any of the books. This one isn't any different.

Ben is head south thanks to a tip from double-spy Murray as to where the secret base of the evil organization SPYDER might be. He and his friends/colleagues soon find themselves in a heap more trouble than they ever expected. Stuck in the exotic jungle of Mexico, they must fight for to survive not only when they come up against SPYDER but with the wilderness around them.

I enjoyed this read from the very start to the very end. It's fast paced, constantly hitting with unexpected surprises, and building tension in every way possible. Which means tons of trouble for Ben. Every moment brings something new, but it layers together wonderfully and lets the story build and build. There isn't much time for character development or emotions, but considering this is the sixth adventure, that's fine. The only thing which irritated and felt a little out of place was the romance, and a triangle at that. 

Friends of spy stories, action, mystery, adventure and all with a bit of humor sprinkled in, are going to enjoy every minute of this tale.

And here he is...

Stuart Gibbs is the author of the FunJungle series, as well as the New York Times bestselling Spy School and Moon Base Alpha series. He has written the screenplays for movies like See Spot Run and Repli-Kate worked on a whole bunch of animated films, developed TV shows for Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC, and Fox. Stuart lives with his family in Los Angeles. You can learn more about what he's up to at StuartGibbs.com.

Review: Spy School Secret Service by Stuart Gibbs

SPY SCHOOL
SECRET SERVICE

by Stuart Gibbs

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Fiction

304 pages

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: C.I.A. or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate math skills, Ben isn't surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science—but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior C.I.A. academy. Could the C.I.A. really want him?

Actually, no. There’s been a case of mistaken identity—but that doesn’t stop Ben from trying to morph into a super cool undercover agent, the kind that always gets the girl. And through a series of hilarious misadventures, Ben realizes he might actually be a halfway decent spy…if he can survive all the attempts being made on his life! 

MY TIDBITS

Little spies, spy want-to-bes, and simply those who love a great adventure are sure to love this exciting tale.

Ben's dream is to become a super spy, and he's on his best way to achieve that goal. Although he's only in spy school, he's already helped to thwart the evil SPYDER groups plans once. Now, SPYDER plans to assassinate the president of the US, and it's Ben's job to stop them. Too bad, things aren't that easy.

This is a spy book perfect for kids ages eight to twelve. Ben is a super spy, but he's still normal enough for readers to relate to and understand. He isn't a super fighter—in fact, he's rather clumsy. And super gadgets or ultra amazing gear aren't really involved. But Ben's got brains and a knack for math. Combine this with a group of friends he can count on, and even an evil group like SPYDER has got to watch their backs.

The opening scene grabs right away and draws into the characters without going over the top. It starts at school, a very familiar setting, but drops in tidbits like bomb exercises and secretly placed listening devices, which unleash the fantastical world of super spies as well. Each characters' personality comes off smoothly and believable. It easy to see them sitting at the neighboring table in a cafeteria, and still, at the same time, to dive into a spy adventure with all of the action and thrills.

Quick paced is key in these pages as well as the carefully laid layers of intrigue. There are spies everywhere, and it's hard to determine who the moles might be. As the action really gets going, Ben isn't alone but has friends to help out. There are humorous moments, tense moments and tons of surprises. And all of this stays at a level just right for the intended age group.

Summed up, this is a fun read middle grade audiences are sure to love.





And here he is. . .

Stuart Gibbs is the author of the FunJungle series, as well as the New York Times bestselling Spy School and Moon Base Alpha series. He has written the screenplays for movies like See Spot Run and Repli-Kate , worked on a whole bunch of animated films, developed TV shows for Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC, and Fox. Stuart lives with his wife and children in Los Angeles. You can learn more about what he's up to at StuartGibbs.com