Series books are such a great way to get kids interested in books. Get them hooked on the first book of a series and they can’t wait to read more. It’s like built in insurance that your kids will love to read.
So here we go with Series Saturday where, every Saturday, I am going to feature a series that we love. And if Series Saturday isn’t enough alliteration for you were have Spy School as our first series (this was not planned).
Spy School is a seven book series by Stuart Gibbs. I just love the covers of these books! They are bright and colorful and cohesive with the “spy” on the front of every one. I love the whimsical details like the flip flops and pineapple swim trunks. My kids were drawn to this series just from fun covers.
Middle Schooler, Ben Ripley, is surprised when CIA agents show up at his house to recruit him to a top secret spy school. He thinks it because of his stellar math scores, but he soon finds out that he’s in over his head. After an attempted assassination his first night at the school, he thinks he has been mistaken for a talented cryptographer. He soon finds out he’s been chosen as a ruse to catch a criminal element that is threatening the school and the CIA.
Ben endearingly blunders through several spy tests put to him including a fake attack by ninjas. But with the help of Erika Hale, a really smart and stealthy student that he develops a crush on, he determines he might just have what it takes to be a spy after all.
This is a book that any middle grade child will love. There are spies, the CIA, kids who outwit the adults, and a little bit of awkward middle-school crushing. Although I could have used a little less of Ben and his friend talking about how pretty their girl crushes were and more discussion about how smart they are, you can definitely tell that Ben is intrigued by Erika’s brains, wits, and craftiness. He also willingly accepts her help because he knows she is so much better at the spy thing than he is.
I would definitely recommend this book for your kids. Let me know in the comments if there is a series your kids are obsessed with or even a series or book with a cover that you love!
Click on the links to buy each book and, as always, I do receive a small commission.
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