The balance between romance and action misses the mark slightly, but ultimately, readers will be glad they strapped on their...
Eleven months and several life-threatening adventures into his spy training, 13-year-old Benjamin Ripley is being activated as a primary agent on his first official mission.
Ben, his not-so-secret crush, Erica Hale, and a host of their fellow classmates from the CIA’s Academy of Espionage are being sent to Vail, Colorado, over winter break to gather intel on Leo Shang, a Chinese billionaire businessman and potential nefarious mastermind with his sights set on the United States. To do this, Ben must befriend Shang’s daughter, Jessica, at ski school, which seems easy enough until his handsome best friend from home turns up unexpectedly and inadvertently threatens to ruin the entire plan and blow Ben’s cover. Fans of the series will enjoy spending time with Ben, Erica, and a host of secondary characters that are finally given a chance to shine, most notably Ben’s friend Mike. With the exception of Jessica Shang and presumably Ben’s classmate Jawaharlal O’Shea, it appears to be a mostly white bunch, but they certainly do add to the fun. As this funny and familiar entry opts to focus on the burgeoning love triangles, the series’ signature fast-paced action is saved predominately for the last quarter of the novel.
The balance between romance and action misses the mark slightly, but ultimately, readers will be glad they strapped on their boots and went along for the ride. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-4562-7
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A high-stakes story that provides historical facts and intriguing magic wrapped up in one exciting quest.
Three cousins from Miami are magically transported back in time.
Siggy, Camila, and Jorge couldn’t be more different—Siggy is an aspiring influencer, Camila is a daydreaming bookworm, and Jorge is a bold adventurer. But they share Tía Xía, their history-loving aunt. When Jorge spots Tía Xía with a “diamond-encrusted sword,” he wants answers, but he, Siggy, and Camila just have more questions when they stumble through a portal in Tía Xía’s front yard. They’re transported back to 1862 Virginia, just before the Battle of Puebla, the reason Cinco de Mayo is celebrated today. To find their way home, the kids and their aunt must travel south to Mexico to deliver the magical sword to General Ignacio Zaragoza before May fifth. Heading south, they traverse their way through the ongoing U.S. Civil War and encounter Alfonso, a Cuban American drummer boy in the Union Army, Oscar, an enslaved boy, and Pascuala, an Indigenous girl who speaks Nahuatl and is supporting the Mexican Army. The original plot, historical setting, and fantasy elements are compelling, and the themes about understanding your heritage and taking pride in who you are will resonate with Latine readers especially. Otheguy also thoughtfully explores politics, ethics, family, and morality. Bernatene’s accomplished illustrations scattered throughout provide readers with visuals that will help guide their imaginations.
A high-stakes story that provides historical facts and intriguing magic wrapped up in one exciting quest. (historical notes, glossary, further reading, bibliography) (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781665915182
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An adventurous scenario that nearly but doesn’t quite achieve strong disability representation.
Thirteen-year-old Em and her diabetic alert dog face the dangerous Colorado wilderness alone.
While playing in a championship volleyball match, Em starts to feel sick. She pushes through so she won’t disappoint Dad, who only seems interested in her when she’s playing sports. More importantly, Em doesn’t want him canceling their upcoming backcountry cross-country ski trip, her chance to show him that she’s fun to be around outside of sports. But everything changes when she learns that she has Type 1 diabetes. Em’s matched with black lab Molly, a diabetic alert dog, who Dad says can join them on their trip. However, a whiteout separates Em and Molly from Dad, who falls and breaks his leg. They make it to a cabin, and with Dad sheltering, Em risks everything to go find help with Molly by her side—even though her supply of insulin was damaged. The book attempts to walk the fine line between perpetuating the trope of the “inspirational disabled person” and presenting a character who displays intrepid adaptability while honoring her own limitations. Em’s internalized ableism is heartbreaking, however, perhaps because the compressed timeline—a matter of months between her diagnosis and the trip—doesn’t allow for in-depth, nuanced processing on her part. Em eventually realizes she can still live a “normal” life, but ultimately, it feels as though it’s despite her diabetes rather than because disability is normal. Main characters read white.
An adventurous scenario that nearly but doesn’t quite achieve strong disability representation. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Dec. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781338857887
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
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