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75th out of 281 books
—
437 voters
Spy School
by
Stuart Gibbs (Goodreads Author)
Can a normal, average kid become a superstar secret agent? Maybe not, but it’ll be fun to watch him try!Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: C.I.A. or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his...more
Hardcover, 291 pages
Published
March 6th 2012
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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The local librarian handed us this book (along with _Dead Guy Spy_) after she stubbornly argued that--just because of his gender--my son would not like _Harriet the Spy_. I still want to revisit Harriet, but I have to admit the librarian was right that this page-turner would be a better fit for my son. His reading level is a year ahead of his grade in school (just finished 2nd), so it's difficult to find reading material that's a challenge but avoids content above his maturity level. This book h...more
I would have given it four stars had there not have been useless cussing in the book (one "damn" and three occurrences of "ass"). It's really too bad,too, 'cause it would be a great mystery/action/adventure book, otherwise. What young reader wouldn't love a good spy novel, especially when the main character is a young boy? Such a shame!
This message will self destruct in approximately 30 seconds. Meet Ripley. Ben Ripley. He thought spy school was going to be all fancy clothes, exotic places, and crazy cool weapons. He was only sorta right. See, at 12 years old, Ben is a truly gifted mathematician. So, he knows that exactly 4,583 days after his twelfth birthday, secret agent Alexander Hale recruited him to the Academy of Espionage for the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. He also knows that it is awfully suspicious to recrui...more
Spy School 5/31/12
By Stuart Gibbs
Spy School, a Mystery/Action-Adventure book is about a kid named Ben Ripley, who is a nerd. He is sent to a school to be trained as a CIA agent. The problem is that Ben is horrible at being a spy.
But just when he thought he hated spy school, an assassin tries to kill
Him.
Now Ben tries to solve the case on his own. But there might be a bigger problem then an assassin, there might be a bomb under the school.
Be starts working with Erica, a fellow student.
Aft...more
By Stuart Gibbs
Spy School, a Mystery/Action-Adventure book is about a kid named Ben Ripley, who is a nerd. He is sent to a school to be trained as a CIA agent. The problem is that Ben is horrible at being a spy.
But just when he thought he hated spy school, an assassin tries to kill
Him.
Now Ben tries to solve the case on his own. But there might be a bigger problem then an assassin, there might be a bomb under the school.
Be starts working with Erica, a fellow student.
Aft...more
Ben is surprised when he is recruited by the CIA to go to their Academy of Espionage, which is cleverly disguised as a geeky science academy because aside from some cryptography skills, he's not that smart. Turns out that he has been brought in as bait-- the word is put out that he invented a special code, and people start coming after him. The daughter of the man who recruited him, Erica, tells him that all is not as it seems at the school, and there is a mole that must be found. Of course, if...more
Spy School
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012, 291pp, $ 15.99
Stuart Gibbs
ISBN 978-1-4424-2182-0
“Bing Bong Bing Bong...” I was watching a fantastic spy gun shooting against his enemies. As I thought, and I believed most people did the same way. But sometimes things are not what you think they are. Ben Ripley, a 12-year-old agent, who knew nothing about using any powerful weapons or strategies for defending himself while being aiming as a target for the assassins. Was he a good s...more
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012, 291pp, $ 15.99
Stuart Gibbs
ISBN 978-1-4424-2182-0
“Bing Bong Bing Bong...” I was watching a fantastic spy gun shooting against his enemies. As I thought, and I believed most people did the same way. But sometimes things are not what you think they are. Ben Ripley, a 12-year-old agent, who knew nothing about using any powerful weapons or strategies for defending himself while being aiming as a target for the assassins. Was he a good s...more
review submitted to School Library Journal--
Ben Ripley, self described nerdy math genius, receives a mysterious summons to join the Spy School,a secret recruitment arm of the CIA. Since his life’s ambition is to become a spy, he is thrilled by the offer. But once at the school, Ben finds it to be a very different sort of place than any other. His introduction and initial assessment upon arrival involves ninjas, flying bullets, and Erica, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. His first encoun...more
Ben Ripley, self described nerdy math genius, receives a mysterious summons to join the Spy School,a secret recruitment arm of the CIA. Since his life’s ambition is to become a spy, he is thrilled by the offer. But once at the school, Ben finds it to be a very different sort of place than any other. His introduction and initial assessment upon arrival involves ninjas, flying bullets, and Erica, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. His first encoun...more
Looking for a book that contains nothing but awesomeness? Spy School’s your book.
In fact, I chose Spy School for a book group I run for 4th grade reluctant readers. We meet every week. Week one, I give them a long-read (novel) If they’re half way through by the next week, I feed them some graphic novels or other perusable non-fiction. When I pulled out Spy School, they were a little intimidated by its length. “Do we have to have it finished in two-weeks?” I told them not to worry, try for 100 p...more
In fact, I chose Spy School for a book group I run for 4th grade reluctant readers. We meet every week. Week one, I give them a long-read (novel) If they’re half way through by the next week, I feed them some graphic novels or other perusable non-fiction. When I pulled out Spy School, they were a little intimidated by its length. “Do we have to have it finished in two-weeks?” I told them not to worry, try for 100 p...more
School Library Journal (February 1, 2012)
Gr 5-8-Ben Ripley, a 12-year-old math genius, receives a mysterious summons to join the Academy of Espionage, a secret recruitment arm of the CIA. Since his life's ambition is to become a spy, he is thrilled by the offer, but his first day is hardly what he expected. It involves ninjas, flying bullets, and Erica, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. A fellow student asks him to hack into the computer mainframe for him because the rumor mill says that...more
Gr 5-8-Ben Ripley, a 12-year-old math genius, receives a mysterious summons to join the Academy of Espionage, a secret recruitment arm of the CIA. Since his life's ambition is to become a spy, he is thrilled by the offer, but his first day is hardly what he expected. It involves ninjas, flying bullets, and Erica, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. A fellow student asks him to hack into the computer mainframe for him because the rumor mill says that...more
This review was originally posted here on TotalTeenFiction
I was standing in the queue for the checkout machine at the library when the cover of this book caught my eye from the "quick choice" shelf. "Spy School? That's sounds so cool!" - were pretty much my thoughts upon seeing it. I scanned tagline ("Can an undercover nerd become a superstar secret agent?") and read the first few pages and knew I had to take it out there and then. Spy School tells the story of thirteen year old Ben Ripley who a...more
I was standing in the queue for the checkout machine at the library when the cover of this book caught my eye from the "quick choice" shelf. "Spy School? That's sounds so cool!" - were pretty much my thoughts upon seeing it. I scanned tagline ("Can an undercover nerd become a superstar secret agent?") and read the first few pages and knew I had to take it out there and then. Spy School tells the story of thirteen year old Ben Ripley who a...more
This book was interesting because my brother came home and he had this book. That night I just picked it up and started reading it! It was amazing my whole family loves to read we are readaholics. So for the next couple days Palmer and I kept stealing it from each other and reading when the other was away. We were done in a couple of days and we could not stop talking about it! We had both also read Belly Up which we both enjoyed also. Ben's story was awesome and I loved Erica. I liked how deep...more
We loved this book. Spies are always fun - why wouldn't they be - and a spy school for kids who have been selected by the U.S. government is even better.
Our main character has crushes on girls, doubts himself, is treated poorly by bullies in his spy school, makes friends and big decisions and all of this while he is occasionally being targeted by rival spies and their weapons.
It's funny and clever and I think that is important but more than that I like that the kid isn't some remarkable student...more
Our main character has crushes on girls, doubts himself, is treated poorly by bullies in his spy school, makes friends and big decisions and all of this while he is occasionally being targeted by rival spies and their weapons.
It's funny and clever and I think that is important but more than that I like that the kid isn't some remarkable student...more
Spy School is simply a really light, funny novel. At first the writing seemed a bit too plain but the book soon shapes up to be a great adventure with endearing characters. Erica's age changes from 15 to 14 in the book but apart from that anomaly I love the detail. There were several quotable moments that made me laugh when I read them. The mystery was what a junior fiction mystery book should be like with twists, challenges and misdirection. The character interactions felt real and Ben was a li...more
Here's an exciting novel for all those boys who love spies. Ben Ripley, 12, gets recruited to a training center for junior CIA operatives, fronting as a science school. He loves James Bond and is drawn in immediately, only to find that he is a decoy to reveal a double agent who has infiltrated the school. This is life and death, some pretend, but also very real risks for Ben. A beautiful girl is involved too. But if life as a nerdy kid in regular school was dicey, this is frightingly exciting. G...more
Fun! I agree with Mrs. Yingling ... this one is not as believable as Gallagher Girls or Alex Rider but for all of it's goofiness it's still enjoyable. Ben is a reluctant hero but a hero all the same.
Will we see Mike again?
If I were in a middle school library this would be a definite. Because I'm in an elementary ... hmmm. Will have to think. Definitely have some 4th and 5th graders that could read it and would enjoy it. But ... I don't know. Good thing there are still at least a few weeks left t...more
Will we see Mike again?
If I were in a middle school library this would be a definite. Because I'm in an elementary ... hmmm. Will have to think. Definitely have some 4th and 5th graders that could read it and would enjoy it. But ... I don't know. Good thing there are still at least a few weeks left t...more
This would be a potato chip book, quickly read and fun. Definitely feel a series coming on.
Ben is approached by Alexander Hale to come to a special and secret boarding school for spies. And, yes, Alexander is a descendant of the famous Nathan Hale. From his first visit to the campus, Ben is caught up in adventure and intrigue. For him the best part appears to be Erica, great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Nathan Hale, but he's puzzled by her relationship with her father.
Good escapist f...more
Ben is approached by Alexander Hale to come to a special and secret boarding school for spies. And, yes, Alexander is a descendant of the famous Nathan Hale. From his first visit to the campus, Ben is caught up in adventure and intrigue. For him the best part appears to be Erica, great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Nathan Hale, but he's puzzled by her relationship with her father.
Good escapist f...more
This is a fun, exciting book about a 12-year-old boy, Ben Ripley, who is recruited for the top-secret Espionage Academy, where the CIA trains junior operatives. The spy school masquerades as an elite science academy. It's a terrific story, involving the search for a devious mole in the academy, and it's packed with action, suspense, fantastic characters, witty dialogue, and, best of all, much hilarity. I'm happy to see that there will be a sequel, Spy Camp. Yay!
I really liked this book.
I liked the characters, the plot, the setting and the descriptions. Something I would change is the fact that there is slightly too much action, the main character gets attacked and saved and attacked and saved, too often and too quickly. I think this makes the story not believable. But overall I really liked the action and the funny bits. I would recommend this book to most people who like funny adventure books (WARNING: some minor cursing).
I liked the characters, the plot, the setting and the descriptions. Something I would change is the fact that there is slightly too much action, the main character gets attacked and saved and attacked and saved, too often and too quickly. I think this makes the story not believable. But overall I really liked the action and the funny bits. I would recommend this book to most people who like funny adventure books (WARNING: some minor cursing).
Judge this book by its cover. It's simple and fun, about an average, kind of dorky middle school guy (okay, his math skills are above average) who one day is invited to attend spy school. From the first few moments at school his life seems to be in danger, but he'll learn more quickly that way, right? There's a pretty girl and an unexpected ending, lots of action and probably sequels will follow. Light entertainment and a quick read.
I loved Belly Up by the same author, and found it a satisfying whodunit with a slap at the intelligence community in Washington, DC. Ben, a math nerd, is recruited to attend the CIA's "Academy of Espionage" at the tender age of middle school. Only, as befits a spy novel, nothing is as it seems; and no one is who they appear to be. Humor, action aplenty, and a convoluted plot will interest both male & female mid-grade readers.
An okay read. It had a good story and made me laugh a few times. The plot was a nice contrast to the constant glamorization of spies. However, it was also drawn-out and frustrating at parts. My biggest problem with it was the portrayal of most adults as idiots and most kids as overzealously clumsy. The few exceptions among the characters failed to balance out the overwhelming cast of morons.
True rating: 4.5 stars.
A huge load of fun! Good characters, a fast-moving, interesting plot, humor, surprises, suspense, solid writing, and even a smidgen of romance. On that topic: I have to say I'm ticked off that Ben didn't get his promised hug. I know, I know. She didn't say when. Well, it had better happen in the sequel!
A huge load of fun! Good characters, a fast-moving, interesting plot, humor, surprises, suspense, solid writing, and even a smidgen of romance. On that topic: I have to say I'm ticked off that Ben didn't get his promised hug. I know, I know. She didn't say when. Well, it had better happen in the sequel!
Ben is delighted when the CIA asks him to join an elite spy school. But when his life is endangered within hours of arriving on campus, he begins to rethink things. Can he stay alive long enough to find out who wants to kill him? Yes, the book is aimed at kids, but I had a blast reading it. The story moved quickly with some good twists, and I really liked Ben.
My full review at Epinions.
My full review at Epinions.
I just kept comparing this one (unfairly) to the Gallagher girls books by Ally Carter. They're for two completely different audiences, but I kept wanting more out of Spy School. That said, I hope to pawn this one off on some boys this summer. Might even try some Wimpy Kid fans-- see what they think.
An interesting concept and it will probably go into my classroom library for my older reluctant readers. It is middle school humor funny and the plot is even interesting, but I found the main character maddening. And for me it is all about the characters.
I read this first and then recommended it to my 9 year old son. He flew through it in about 2 hrs. He gave it a 4.5! My only concern was apparently, according to him, , there were two curse words in it...how did I miss that? He cannot wait to read Spy Camp and neither can I!
The cover caught my eye and the nonstop action kept it, even during the downsides. I didn't call any of the twists and I read this book with a "holy crap" smile on my face. I kinda love this book, even though it's technically a kids book.
I thought that this was an awesome book! There was so much actoin! I love action! The plot was pretty good. It could have been better, but it was still a good plot. I really think that the author should make another spy school book. I would be very interested in reading it!
This was a three and a half for me. I think my fourth grade gifted readers will love it. Plenty of exciting action, almost nothing scary. The language ("ass" appears twice) would be more objectionable in my book than the weaponry.
Love these books! half way through Spy Camp now and just know my kids at school will devour these. Great stories! Love Erica. Good to see smart capable young women! Highly recommend to my kids!
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