Review of Spies Wanted
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Erin Dydek
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Review of Spies Wanted
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Spies Wanted" by Lonnie Spivak.]
Jeanie Miller may understand Einstein’s theory of relativity, but that knowledge creates barriers that make finding friendship difficult. When she learns that her family must move across the country due to her father’s job, the 12-year-old genius tentatively embraces the opportunity for a fresh start. Stepping out of her comfort zone, Jeanie meets Jimmy and Annie, and the three quickly establish a friendship. But will these new acquaintances stand with Jeanie when she discovers a terrorist threat to the United States?
If no one believes the adolescent with the over-active imagination, how will she save life as she knows it? It’s up to Jeanie to take matters into her own hands, but will her plan succeed? Find out in the young adult novel Spies Wanted.
I loved how Lonnie Spivak created an engaging tale for middle-grade readers with this action-packed adventure. The plot was exciting and reminded me of the Spy Kids movies I enjoyed growing up. Jeanie is a realistic character that readers will empathize with because many can relate to the isolation of feeling different or rejected by their peers. In this novel, young readers will rally behind Jeanie and come along on her journey to embrace change, step out of her comfort zone, and trust her abilities to make a difference in the world. I also appreciated how the author built healthy youth-adult relationships through Jeanie’s interactions with her parents and the spies she eventually hires to help initiate her plans. The positive relationships demonstrate to young readers the importance of mentorship and finding supportive adults to aid in achieving success even when the journey is difficult.
Another aspect I enjoyed throughout this novel was the author’s easy-to-understand explanations of challenging concepts. Each time a technical subject appeared in the plot, Spivak used simple, understandable terms to educate and inform the reader with key terminology and concepts. I have read many spy/government thrillers over the years and thought I was familiar with most terms and acronyms, but I had the delightful opportunity to learn a few new things along the way!
There was nothing that I disliked about this novel. Each chapter brought discoveries and challenges while the content remained appropriate for readers aged 8-12. The book appeared professionally formatted, and I found fewer than ten minor errors. Therefore, I gladly give Spies Wanted four out of four stars.
I recommend this book to middle-grade readers interested in sinking their teeth into an informative spy thriller. This educational book will help readers to become fully immersed in the terminology and acronyms associated with the genre without becoming overwhelmed. Parents will also appreciate that while the young characters are involved in the action scenes, they are not directly involved in violent actions. Instead, Jeanie and her friends use cunning and creativity to solve problems and attain their goals. The author also kept violence minimal through general non-graphic terms, and there is only one swear word in the 16-chapter book. I can’t wait to see more books from this author in the future!
******
Spies Wanted
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Jeanie Miller may understand Einstein’s theory of relativity, but that knowledge creates barriers that make finding friendship difficult. When she learns that her family must move across the country due to her father’s job, the 12-year-old genius tentatively embraces the opportunity for a fresh start. Stepping out of her comfort zone, Jeanie meets Jimmy and Annie, and the three quickly establish a friendship. But will these new acquaintances stand with Jeanie when she discovers a terrorist threat to the United States?
If no one believes the adolescent with the over-active imagination, how will she save life as she knows it? It’s up to Jeanie to take matters into her own hands, but will her plan succeed? Find out in the young adult novel Spies Wanted.
I loved how Lonnie Spivak created an engaging tale for middle-grade readers with this action-packed adventure. The plot was exciting and reminded me of the Spy Kids movies I enjoyed growing up. Jeanie is a realistic character that readers will empathize with because many can relate to the isolation of feeling different or rejected by their peers. In this novel, young readers will rally behind Jeanie and come along on her journey to embrace change, step out of her comfort zone, and trust her abilities to make a difference in the world. I also appreciated how the author built healthy youth-adult relationships through Jeanie’s interactions with her parents and the spies she eventually hires to help initiate her plans. The positive relationships demonstrate to young readers the importance of mentorship and finding supportive adults to aid in achieving success even when the journey is difficult.
Another aspect I enjoyed throughout this novel was the author’s easy-to-understand explanations of challenging concepts. Each time a technical subject appeared in the plot, Spivak used simple, understandable terms to educate and inform the reader with key terminology and concepts. I have read many spy/government thrillers over the years and thought I was familiar with most terms and acronyms, but I had the delightful opportunity to learn a few new things along the way!
There was nothing that I disliked about this novel. Each chapter brought discoveries and challenges while the content remained appropriate for readers aged 8-12. The book appeared professionally formatted, and I found fewer than ten minor errors. Therefore, I gladly give Spies Wanted four out of four stars.
I recommend this book to middle-grade readers interested in sinking their teeth into an informative spy thriller. This educational book will help readers to become fully immersed in the terminology and acronyms associated with the genre without becoming overwhelmed. Parents will also appreciate that while the young characters are involved in the action scenes, they are not directly involved in violent actions. Instead, Jeanie and her friends use cunning and creativity to solve problems and attain their goals. The author also kept violence minimal through general non-graphic terms, and there is only one swear word in the 16-chapter book. I can’t wait to see more books from this author in the future!
******
Spies Wanted
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Sylvia’s Garden by Diana Yu
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Luchris Curtis
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When a terrorist threat is on the air, a young adult feels the need to act. I love the plot and the storyline of this book. I'd love to know if Jeannie plan worked in the end.
Thanks for your honest review.
Thanks for your honest review.
