Genre: Spy/Comedy Summary: Max doesn't have any friends. She's moved so many times that she's found it easier not to make any friends so as not to have a great gooey mess whenever she leaves. Her parents are divorced, and the only thing Max really finds joy in is writing about the adventures of super spy Alex Crane. Then, to make her life even more miserable, her mother sends her to her aunt and uncle's chicken farm. How is Max going to survive life away from civilization with a whole bunch of country bumpkins? But when her aunt and uncle turn out to be more than she thought, Max might finally get a shot at the spy adventures that she always wanted. Other: This is a funny, lighthearted series. The way everything is portrayed is very goofy and cartoonish. The adventures are pretty fun, and the characters are good. In Search of the Time and Space Machine (shown at left) is the first book. (Ages 9+) ~Faith
Spy School (Series)-- Stuart Gibbs
*RA Genre: Spy/Comedy Summary: Ben has always dreamed of being a spy. But when a man comes to his door, recruiting him to an elite school for spies, he's shocked. I mean, sure he always gets straight A's, and he's a math whiz, but not exactly spy material. The choice isn't exactly hard. There's a man that looks straight out of a James Bond novel sitting in his living room. Who wouldn't say yes? So starts, the worst decision of Ben Ripley's probably soon to be short life, his first experience involving: the beautiful Ice Queen, a mole, a couple assassins, and a broken bedside clock. Welcome to Spy School. Other: This is a great lighthearted series. The way that Ben narrates the story, the quirky characters, and the clever little details that Stuart Gibbs uses makes the story fun and hilarious. My whole family laughed throughout the entire book, and we enjoyed have enjoyed all the books in the series so far. Their are a few mildly unsavory words in the series, but nothing too bad, and not too often. We look forward to the next book! (Ages 9+) ~Faith
The Mission League (Series)-- Jill Williamson
Genre: Spy Summary: Spencer's not interested in joining a dumb Mission League with whole bunch of "Bible Geeks"; even if they claim to be secretive spy organization that wants to recruit him for their school. But what with his grandma threatening him and his curiosity getting the better of him, Spencer doesn't have much a choice. Deciding to join the League, and with it, accepting a missions trip to Moscow, he begins to feel uncomfortable with the overall Christian faith that everyone in the league has. Sure he believes God exists, he just doesn't think God likes him very much and the feeling is mutual. Why is religion so confusing? While struggling with his faith, he tangles with a dangerous organization, and they seem to know Spencer's true identity. Why are they so interested in Spencer? What are they planning against the League? And what, exactly, is Spencer supposed to do about it? God has called, you have answered. Other: The idea of the whole Mission League is interesting and the characters aren't bad. The New Recruit could be a little slow sometimes, but this is only the first book and there was a lot to be introduced. Overall, it was a pretty good book. (Ages 9+) ~Faith
The Chance Twins (Quartet)--Jack Higgins
Sure Fire is the first book.
Genre: Spy/Action Summary: When Rich and Jade Chance's mother is hit by a car because, after living in US for several years, she forgot to look the other way when they moved back to England, the twins are sent to the father that never even knew they existed. Their father does not know how to be a dad, and his relationship with the teens starts out rocky. But Chance is kidnapped, and Rich and Jade find out their dad is a spy. The two resourceful teens must figure out how to save their dad, and later, hundreds of lives in this action-packed series. Other: The twins' differing characters and resourcefulness make this a really fun series. Because they are spy books, there is killing, although the details aren't too graphic compared to other spy books I've read. These are great books for action lovers. (Ages 11+) ~Amy
Gallagher Girls (Series)--Ally Carter
This is the first book.
Genre: Spy/Romance Summary: Cammie Morgan's mom is the headmistress for the top-secret, first-rate spy boarding school for girls, the Gallagher Academy. Cammie and her friends know how to handle bombs, speak different languages, and take grown men down with martial art skills. It seems like nothing can faze Gallagher Girls, but Cammie finds out that it is indeed possible to stump one. What do you do when you really like a guy, and he's not supposed to know who you are? Later, she must face kidnappings, danger, and ancient, mysterious organizations. With her friends by her side, she knows she can get through--barely. Other: I enjoyed this series even though there is a good amount of teenage romance that can be a little over-the-top sometimes, especially in the first book. It is a funny series, and later on, there is more action and the story gets more serious. For this reason, I like the latter books better. It's also interesting to see what new ideas Ally Carter can think up for her extraordinary group of girls. (Ages 13+) ~Amy