The Serpent Scenario

Spy High #3

by A.J. Butcher

A deadly new drug called Drac turns its users into zombies with a craving for blood, and its up to the agents of Spy High to uncover its source, but Jennifer Chen has a mission of her own with a gang called the Serpents.

Genres: Young Adult, Espionage, Mystery, Adventure, Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Andrew James Butcher is the English author of the futuristic teen spy series, Spy High. A.J., who taught English at both Poole Grammar School and Parkstone Grammar School, in Poole, Dorset, and currently teaches at Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth, Dorset took a sabbatical from his teaching career to write Spy High Series Two. He says he has been influenced by Charles Dickens and George Orwell, but that Stan Lee, creator of many of Marvel Comics' super-heroes, is his biggest inspirational figure.

The series is published by Atom Books in the UK and Commonwealth and Little, Brown and Co. in the US. The first series has also been translated into many other languages.

Reviews

[Kate]

I can remember from when I first read it that I was very angry that Jennifer died. Now as I'm re-reading them, I can see why it was necessary. I appreciate that it makes the series more believable. That these kids aren't invincible. They could die, just like the rest of us. Can't wait to sink my teeth into the next one.

[Allie]

I'm just gonna sit over here and cry... *quiet sobbing from the corner*

I don't know how it happens... Every time I start one of these books, I always think that it'll end up being a three-star read and that I won't really like it because I only read this series to see how the plot goes and for a few of the characters. But then, somehow, EVERY TIME, it ends up being a four-star that I actually really liked...

And this book - guys. I almost CRIED. It takes a LOT for me to cry over a book. I went from "eh, some of the characters are really irritating" to "okay, they're all my children and they must be protected". XD

That being said, there were still times where I almost made this a 3.5 star read instead. At times, the book had some editing errors, which kind of takes away from the book for me (I'm major grammar police XD). I realized (or maybe just remembered) that the main characters are 14, and I honestly couldn't picture it. They all act like they're 16-17 and picturing them as 14 is so difficult for me. Also, there is a very violent scene about halfway through that made me cringe and I'm usually okay with violence in books...

[Eva]

Omg. I literally just remembered this book series from when I’ve read it as a kid and I have to say I have such a love/hate relationship with it. On the one hand, I loved these books so much, I think I reread the first two books so many times (or at least, my favourite parts), but on the other hand, Jennifer was my favourite character and her death was literally my number one most traumatizing character death in a book so far (at least, it’s the one that makes me feel like starting a riot the most). I was just so heartbroken when she died, especially since it was right after her slowest burn romance subplot (that spans over THREE WHOLE BOOKS. I was so invested, you have no idea) brings her to her first kiss. And then she dies. Eleven years later (fuck, I’m old

[Rylee]

i cried so hard when jen died

[Caden]

I thought the book was very good and I like the cliffhanger it leaves you with at the end. I was sad that Jenniffer died but thinking back to the last two books you realize that ultimately it had to happen because she never played a huge role on the team. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes a lot of action but make sure you read the first two before this one.

[Jamari Harper]

i like how there was a lot of different things happening be for the stopped the zombie drug

[Bex]

'At Deveraux they hoped for triumph but prepared for tragedy'
I picked this off my TBR and despite not having read volumes 1 and 2 it made coherent sense throughout. Back story was referred to without becoming confusion and the self contained episode was a good read.
Basically at some point in the future (Sky bikes, invisibility suits, society degrading are the hints for this) kids are recruited for spy school. This follows one team and how they are manipulate dint undertaking a mission in the underbelly of LA drug culture. Some interesting set up for future books and a lovely nod to spy shows from the sixties with teams at the school named after UNCLE and other characters.

[Chris]

This is the type of book people try to enjoy but fail. Yes, this book is better than the first one, but it still has conflicting points. And for the same exact reasons: the characters need an identity check. In most of the books you read- like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson- the personalities of the characters either fit with the book from the very beginning or blend in throughout the course of the plot or series. Not these characters. This is one of the reasons I gave this book 2 stars.

Another reason is because the author took a well known character, Jennifer Chen, and having her murdered off. Not what you want to happen to a book that already has character issues. We are introduced to the gang called the Serpents, and their new enemies, the Wallachian gang. Drac, a new drug they introduced, is a chemical that makes the blood systems in our body fail, contaminates our blood, and make us want to drink other's blood.

But there is a better side to this book (sometimes). This book has some action throughout. And especially in the end, when Jake finally avenges Jennifer's death by forcing Talon, the Serpents' leader, to slide down the side of Uptown's so-called "moon": a huge sphere of light pannels, not really a moon at all. This is what made this book. The action spread out in the chapters acted as the glue to the story and explains the changes in our "characters".

[Jerome Otte]

An intriguing tale of espionage. Jennifer Chen decides to avenge her family’s murder by going after the killers, a vicious LA crime syndicate dubbed the “Serpents.” Against his better judgement, Jake reluctantly decides to join Jennifer on her personal mission. When Jennifer dies, Bond team vows to avenge her death.

Events, however, soon take on a more dramatic tone. Another gang, the Wallachians show up. These Wallachians plan to produce a blood-craving drug and plan to use the Serpents to distribute it. The Wallachians’ leader (who thinks he’s Count Dracula) is under the impression that he’s doing Bond team a favor by planning to destroy the Serpents once his other plans are complete. Things don’t turn out so well for him, or for the Serpents.

[Ashley]

3.5 stars. This one wasn't as good as the previous two, but it was still a good read. I want to read the next one just to see one thing, but I can't tell you what that thing is, because it would spoil the story!

[Mindy]

Hmmm... very scary, pretty interesting...

[Jess Haar]

good, not great. i was hoping for more.

[Colette]

blah! weird book?!

[Kanika]

It was sad. Jennifer dies. but then Dr. Frankenstein makes a clone of her and makes jake love her again. but then she commits suicide and he feels awful. Then he starts going out with Lori. Traitor.

[Theo]

eh. Smeone dies then they take out a terrorist oginization. s' ok.

[Xavier Brooks]

full of many unexpected twist

[Belle Meade School]

FIC
BUT