Recon Academy: Shadow Cell Scam

Recon Academy

by Chris Everheart, Arcana Studio (Illustrator)

The U.S. Navy is launching a secret spy satellite near Seaside High School. However, the Recon Academy is too distracted to provide their usual security. Each member has just received a brand new laptop computer for free! The deal is too good to be true. When the machines go haywire, the team must scramble to save themselves and the satellite.

Genres: Childrens, Graphic Novels

55 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

I'm living proof that harnessing talents like staring out the window and watching TV can be put to use for the good (or at least the entertainment) of humankind.
Fifty percent of my childhood was spent staring out a classroom window, wondering what was going on "out there." I daydreamed about interesting places, fascinating people and exciting adventures.
As a reluctant and struggling young reader, my hunger for stories was fed mostly by TV and movies. I still haven't read all the classics (I promise I will eventually). PRIDE AND PREJUDICE wasn't on my reading list as a kid. But I distinctly remember going to the drive-in movies with my dad and little brother and seeing SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT for the first time! I wanted to LIVE in a world where a Trans Am really could jump a creek from a collapsed bridge and keep tooling down a dirt road away from the county mounties.
In high school, though, I was lucky enough to be inspired by a dedicated teacher to read and connect to the arts and humanities. It opened up a world that I might otherwise never have known. I went on to study art and anthropology/archaeology in New Mexico and Minnesota and traveled throughout the lower-48, Western Canada and Alaska. My jobs have included: archaeological illustrator; art gallery manager; motion picture/TV/indy film crew, writer, director and actor; waiter; maitre d; pool boy; slime line worker (people who've worked in an Alaskan fishery know what this is).
While working at an ad agency, I started writing my first book - a political thriller - because I needed to express my passion for stories but couldn't afford to go to film school. It stuck. I found that story is always lurking just below the surface of my conscious mind, so writing fiction comes very naturally to me. I got a contract to write action/adventure books for young readers and found it so easy and fun to write to my 12-year-old self (ref: "reluctant and struggling reader" above).
So I write for young readers and grown ups alike - short stories, novels, chapter books, graphic novels. I still love daydreaming about interesting places, fascinating people and exciting adventures. But window gazing has gotten even better - because today I get to share my daydreams with you. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Cohen Dieter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book and this is my favorite author and favorite series you should check it out

[Babbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each member of the Recon Academy has been sold a fantastic new laptop but soon they discover they are ticking bombs. At the same time the Navy is launching a secret spy satellite nearby and the team has been too busy to provide any security but now they rush to save themselves and the satellite from the Shadow Cell. This book features on the lone female in the four member group, Emmi, whose special skill is martial arts. Very intricate, exciting story with an involved plot which is suitable for the publisher's recommended ages 8-13. The artwork is well done and reminiscent of what one finds in cartoon shows of this nature. The book is much harder to read than the 1.7 RL would have you believe with such phrases as "they're only prototypes", "time to decrypt their code" and "heat detection monitor". With my son's reading level we had to do shared reading, with me reading the harder words but the story was definitely a hit with him. He wants to read all four books. Fortunately we have one more at home, then we'll be off to the library!

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This GN was really fun, and I think it would make a good cartoon.

Four normal kids have non-normal abilities, so they are being tracked by the Shadow Cell Organization. SCO thinks the best way to catch them is by giving them all laptops that come programmed with "The Countdown Virus", which steals their information then promptly explodes. But, they all escape from this unharmed.
Next, SCO wants to stop the rocket launch, but RA spoils that as well and watches the launch take place.
I'm not sure how many of this series there are, but I would love to read more RA GNs.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun, engaging read involving four high school students that have different superpowers. It probably would have helped if I had read the first book, but I got into the story nonetheless. I love the feel of this graphic novel, it's fun and adventurous and great for kids who are fans of comic book heroes. There are some great resources at the end for librarians and teachers - discussion questions, writing prompts, and a glossary.

[Tamara the Librarian · Rating 1 out of 5]

O read it and said it was eh.

[Kahmari · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't even read the book yet

[Adrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's is amazing