A bright young cast of aspiring spies elevates this measured thriller.
In Warner’s YA novel, a series opener, capable teens face off against terrorists.
Kansas high-school freshman Jack Straw dreams of becoming a spy. The same goes for his karate-skilled trio of best friends (Philomela “Phil” Nightingale, Peter Rochelle, and Collin Jensen), who all know how to take care of themselves. But they look out for others as well, like a meek schoolmate whom a bully targets. So when Jack learns his sister’s best friend, Kelly—an Afghan refugee—is in trouble, his instinct is to protect her. A terrorist cell, after Kelly’s family for allegedly leaking Al Qaeda names, may be planning to sneak into the United States for revenge. Jack makes it his mission to ensure Kelly’s safety and hands out assignments to his pals (Peter is tasked with befriending a girl whose thuggish brothers may have details on anything “a bit sketchy”). When the terrorists finally show up, it won’t just be Kelly’s family in peril but Jack, his friends, and their families, too. Warner assembles a dynamic young cast; Collin is the youngest and smartest (taking senior-level classes), while Phil, the sole female in Jack’s clique, is arguably the toughest one. (Simple, black-and-white illustrations provide profile pics of the teen leads.) This taut, fast-paced narrative is surprisingly somber, and not just due to the serious fights that the teens get caught up in. They’re also prone to anger in a variety of circumstances, as when Collin intimidates Phil’s ex without knowing any specifics about their breakup. While the friends land in more than one precarious spot, they don’t find many opportunities for espionage, as much of their time is spent keeping loved ones out of harm’s way. Nevertheless, Jack and his crew have the makings of exemplary secret agents—they’re whip-smart, plucky, compassionate, and most assuredly able to carry a series.
A bright young cast of aspiring spies elevates this measured thriller.Pub Date: June 4, 2024
ISBN: 9781685134709
Page Count: 254
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Perhaps a more genuinely enlightened protagonist would have made this debut more engaging
Audrey Rose Wadsworth, 17, would rather perform autopsies in her uncle’s dark laboratory than find a suitable husband, as is the socially acceptable rite of passage for a young, white British lady in the late 1800s.
The story immediately brings Audrey into a fractious pairing with her uncle’s young assistant, Thomas Cresswell. The two engage in predictable rounds of “I’m smarter than you are” banter, while Audrey’s older brother, Nathaniel, taunts her for being a girl out of her place. Horrific murders of prostitutes whose identities point to associations with the Wadsworth estate prompt Audrey to start her own investigation, with Thomas as her sidekick. Audrey’s narration is both ponderous and polemical, as she sees her pursuit of her goals and this investigation as part of a crusade for women. She declares that the slain aren’t merely prostitutes but “daughters and wives and mothers,” but she’s also made it a point to deny any alignment with the profiled victims: “I am not going as a prostitute. I am simply blending in.” Audrey also expresses a narrow view of her desired gender role, asserting that “I was determined to be both pretty and fierce,” as if to say that physical beauty and liking “girly” things are integral to feminism. The graphic descriptions of mutilated women don’t do much to speed the pace.
Perhaps a more genuinely enlightened protagonist would have made this debut more engaging . (Historical thriller. 15-18)Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-316-27349-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A treat for mystery readers who enjoy being kept in suspense.
Everyone believes that Salil Singh killed his girlfriend, Andrea Bell, five years ago—except Pippa Fitz-Amobi.
Pip has known and liked Sal since childhood; he’d supported her when she was being bullied in middle school. For her senior capstone project, Pip researches the disappearance of former Fairview High student Andie, last seen on April 18, 2014, by her younger sister, Becca. The original investigation concluded with most of the evidence pointing to Sal, who was found dead in the woods, apparently by suicide. Andie’s body was never recovered, and Sal was assumed by most to be guilty of abduction and murder. Unable to ignore the gaps in the case, Pip sets out to prove Sal’s innocence, beginning with interviewing his younger brother, Ravi. With his help, Pip digs deeper, unveiling unsavory facts about Andie and the real reason Sal’s friends couldn’t provide him with an alibi. But someone is watching, and Pip may be in more danger than she realizes. Pip’s sleuthing is both impressive and accessible. Online articles about the case and interview transcripts are provided throughout, and Pip’s capstone logs offer insights into her thought processes as new evidence and suspects arise. Jackson’s debut is well-executed and surprises readers with a connective web of interesting characters and motives. Pip and Andie are white, and Sal is of Indian descent.
A treat for mystery readers who enjoy being kept in suspense. (Mystery. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9636-0
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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