Full Speed

by Jacqueline Harvey

After a school excursion goes horribly wrong, Kensy and Max are left with a sneaking suspicion that the incident was no accident. But there’s no time for investigation as the twins are whisked away to Switzerland on a fully sanctioned Pharos mission.

Upon landing in Zermatt, Kensy and Max are tasked with infiltrating the Van Leer family. Strange as the Van Leers are, proof of their misdeeds is scarce. And when a surprising figure appears in the ski town, it seems there is more than one mystery to solve. Kensy and Max are on a mission for justice and won’t stop until it’s served.

Genres: Childrens

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2020

About the author

Jacqueline Harvey has combined a successful career in education with her love of a good story. She is the author of many novels for younger readers and a picture book, THE SOUND OF THE SEA, which was awarded Honour Book in the 2006 Australian Children’s Book Council Awards.

Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.

Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.

Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.

Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.

Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.

Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015

Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015

Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)

Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013

Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013

Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.

Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012

Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year

Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013

Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards

Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012

Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.


Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010

Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.

Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020

Reviews

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST KENSY AND MAX BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait till the next book comes out!
Recommend you read it (after the first 5 of course)

[Aarna RAJA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fantastic action.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good considering my usual feelings towards spy books. I love all of the characters with my whole heart (especially Max), and somehow them being in Switzerland is just *chef's kiss*. Also, Autumn appeared for only a few scenes, but there were fabulous Autumax moments anyway (that's what I'm calling the ship, don't argue, this fanbase is so niche we barely exist I CAN NAME THE SHIP). What is it about Switzerland that just makes the romance moments come out in Jacqueline Harvey books? because I remember very distinctly when I was reading Alice-Miranda books, that it was in Alice-Miranda In Switzerland (on page 192, to be specific) where one of my favourite Lucinta moments happened.

(oh dear. i am beginning to feel that my kensy and max reviews are even more chaotic and unhinged than my wings of fire reviews. oh dear. i just am chaotic and unhinged i guess)

[Kaylyn Crump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kensy and Max go on vacation to Switzerland to go on a mission because the Van Leer family was really bad and hacking things. They stole a lot of money saying they were the company and that everything was really safe. They hacked the beacon. There was only one good person in the Van Leer’s family, and his name is Soren. Kensy and Max had to become friends with him and found out that he was actually adopted, and his real mom was the Van Leer’s maid.

In the end, Kensy and Max captured Hieke and Fox Van Leer. Kensy used her bracelet, that turns into a claw, and Max used a rope.

My favorite part is when Max was teasing Song about having a girlfriend, because he waved to Hieke and Hieke waved back with a smile on her face.

I really loved this book and will definitely read it again. 500 stars!

Kaylyn (9 years old)

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It good to see Kenzie actually liking someone for once not just people liking her. It really eludes to the fact the twins are getting older. But Max making dumb decisions because he is scared reminds us that they are children

[Sanuli Tuduwage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book to bits.
Very funny, very intriguing and very, very gripping.

[Brydie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the Alps backdrop for this instalment and the storyline and characters were just right! Very junior 'Spy Who Loved Me'. I always loved the ski chase in that movie too.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story from Jacqueline Harvey. My girls love listening to Kensy and Max and I secretly look forward to bedtime to find out what happens next too! Can't wait for the next installment.

[April Pupedis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! The story is creative and the characters are interesting. My kids love breaking the codes at the beginning of each chapter. Also lots of fun spy tech.

[Abby Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this one. The plot was fun and of course snow, snow, snow!