In Search of the Time and Space Machine

Spy Force #1

by Deborah Abela

Meet Max Remy.She may look like an ordinary eleven-year-old, but in truth she's a superspy. And she's involved in a dangerous mission with the international agency Spy Force.

When Max's entirely too-busy mother sends her off to visit Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Ben on their farm for the summer, Max is less than thrilled. What could possibly be more boring for a superspy than a vacation in the middle of nowhere? But when she and her friend Linden uncover a Time and Space Machine that can carry them anywhere in the world, Max thinks things are looking up! But do they dare try the device? What will happen to them if they do? And more importantly, what if they aren't the only ones who know it exists?

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

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Deb knew she wanted to be a writer when she was 7 years old. Her first story was about a man made out of cheese. It wasn’t very good. She’s had much more practice writing since then and strangely enough her first writing job was for a kids’ show on channel Ten called “Cheez TV”. After 7 years of writing scripts about everything from llamas to bungy jumping and how to go to the toilet in outer space, Deb wrote her first novel - Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine.

It’s about a feisty girl called Max and her best friend Linden who travel the world as secret agents fighting bad guys. It’s an action packed series based on loads of adventures Deb had, just after she left school. She’s slept beside alligators, been harassed by monkeys (and who hasn’t) was almost
traded for a camel and was thrown in jail at gunpoint, twice.
Deb still claims her innocence to this day.

Together with sport icon Johnny Warren, Deb also created
the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series. It’s about a
young boy called Jasper and his best friend Lil, who love
their soccer and dream of being soccer legends, just like
Johnny. Deb lives in Sydney with her partner Todd, who
is almost as cute as Linden.

Reviews

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm 22 and this is still the funniest children's book I've ever read

[Khushi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually cried when i started reading it again.... like for absolutely no reason. I think i just missed it too much.

[Rogerio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is junior spy stories, well written. Max life and personality has good insight on what early teenagers may experience at school and at home, especially the sense of feeling weird and inadequate. Different family portrays are showing up. The story of course is just as impossible as one could expect for the age.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book for strong 3-5 grade readers. Some fantasy, family situations.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you get past the first chapter (which is a bit whingy) it's great!

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max Remy Superspy was one of my top favourite series as a kid/pre-teen. A badass, angsty, messy, uncoordinated, tongue-tied, bullied, messed-up aspiring writer and spy, Max, and her chilled out, open, kind male partner-in-crime, Linden (hey that's my name!). This first book is a fast-paced read, covering a lot of ground (literally and figuratively) quite speedily. However, this re-read also showed me how terribly written it is... I understand the extracts from Max's stories have to read as though written by a 12yo, but the rest of the book has that vibe as well. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for simplistic writing, clear cut and using just the words that are needed... This is not that. This is not just middle grade reading. This was turns of phrase that made no sense and bizarre similes. Every page had a sentence that threw me. I could not have been more disappointed. I have read some beautifully written middle grade books lately, and this is just so far behind that it's embarrassing. The pace also left much to be desired about the intricacies of plot, but that didn't bother me so much for this style of book. Anyway. Fun to revisit the first of this series and remember what I related to so well in Max, but the lack of finesse in the writing really disappointed me I'm afraid.

[Sara Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max leaves her boring life behind for the summer holidays and finds herself on an epic adventure fighting the evil Dr. Blue with her new friend, Linden. Adventure, fun, and a tiny bit of romance thrown in for good measure!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was honestly one of my favourites in primary school, I enjoyed it so much.

[Mella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this series a million times as a kid. I was even lucky enough to meet the author and have my books signed. I love Max. She's such a perfect example of the awkwardness of growing up and trying to be yourself and not knowing who that is and making friends and falling in love and all the happiness and fear and anger and insecurity of being a tween. Max is totally relatable and very likeable - even if she can be grumpy and standoffish and mean. In fact I liked her more because of it. She was experiencing all the crazy emotions I was - and she was a spy. Alex Rider was cool and all and the Cherub kids were awesome but they had nothing on Max.

I loved her friendship with Linden ( - he was so nice and you can see why she develops a crush on him - but I adored her relationship with Toby) and Toby and the relationship she builds with her aunt and uncle. Spyforce is everything you want a secret spy agency to be with weird and wonderful gadgets and fun and crazy missions.

Yes, for an adult it can be simplistic - but as a kid it's everything you want to read - funny and entertaining. Fantastic series. Solid 4-5 stars overall.

Frankly I want the author to revisit Max - as a young adult/older teen. I would love to read about an older Max and Linden and Toby and see what trouble they get into as high school emotions take over. Please Deborah Abela?

[Karen Serquinia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always reading young adult fiction to find a new good series for Django. I think this might be something he's interested in when he's 10 or 11...I'm not sure. But he likes having to figure out the mystery and go on a mission or adventure, and that's what happens here.

11 year old Maxine (Max) has to go spend the summer with her aunt and uncle in the country instead of in LA with her dad or NYC with her mom. She's bummed to be out in nowheresville, but she had a kid named Linden for company and some pretty eccentric relatives - she thinks they're country bumpkins, but they're really internationally known scientists and inventors. And that's just the beginning of this story!

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great, fun read which I think lots of kids my age and younger will enjoy. It's exciting while easy to follow, and has a certain sparkle to it, which you don't get in many children's books these days.

I gave it three stars solely because it was perhaps a little too 'young' for me; had I read it three or four years ago, it would have been four or five stars from me. It's a book that dares to dream; it revels in the impossible and un-imaginable. It's different. It's fresh. It's fantasy - light fantasy, no dark forces etc, which is also pretty rare.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

-11 year old Max Remy is spending her summer with her aunt elanor & uncle Ben. She thinks they are farmers, but they are actually scientists who used to work for the British Government. She finds out that her uncle built a ‘matter transporter’ With the help of her friend Linden, a helper on the farmer, they transport themselves to London to find Ben’s brother Francis. However, once there, they find out that someone really wants their hands on the time & space machine components, Mr. Blue.
-Easy to read to spy book for kids

[Ambi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book series has a special place in my heart. I remember distinctly walking around the local library and complaining to my Mum that there was no good books. She then reached into a shelf and pulled out this one. As a closed minded eleven year old I was skeptical, but I gave it a go. Little was I to know that this would be the series to introduce me into the love of reading. In the six years after reading these books, I have collected them all and plan to pass them onto my own children in the future. These books are still my favorite book series and I shall love them to bits xx

[Felicity Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 The books of my childhood! These books are great! They offer a complex main character who has flaws, is a tad frustrating (which makes her that bit imperfect) and a great heroine for young girls. It's every kids dream to suddenly find themselves in a world of spying and adventure and Deborah has captured the magic perfectly for young readers. Could not put it down and instantly went out and bought the rest of the series.

[Annalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been so long since I've read this book and it was so much fun to dive back into the world and read about Max's first adventure all over again! I'm reminded of how desperately I wanted Max and Linden to get together... But poor Max! She's only 11 and has no idea what to do with boys! (same tbh)

Anyway, I love this book. It was one of my favourites when I was a kid and I'm glad I finally own it so I can revisit the world any time I want.

[Neville Ridley-smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing too special. It was an ok story and a quick read - very fast moving. It's one of those kids books that's a bit over the top in terms of technical reality - like Zac Power - where the author makes up fanciful devices like a zandoodle bangowham that can teleport people around. And it ended rather abruptly I thought - not quite deus ex machina but close. A pleasant read.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn' think this book was very smoothly written and was rather predictable. The main character, Max, is a brat but with just cause since she is ignored by her divorced parents most of the time. It is kind of frustrating because she is writing a spy novel but never tells how the spy gets out of her dangerous situations. I'm hoping things gets better as the series progresses.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confession: I only read about 2/3s then skipped to the last chapter. I didn't find it engaging enough but I do think kids would enjoy it. There is enough action without being overwhelming to keep the pages turning for those who like spy, time-travel mysteries.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has got to have been my favorite when I was younger, and is one of those books where even though you're too old for it now, you still love them because they have a great story, is entertaining, and everything was just so cool as a kid ^^
can't wait to give these to my kids haha

[R K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful read for the young 'uns. Max is a great lead character who gets into lots of mischief during her adventures, and the supporting characters are also great value, especially Linden. Loved the eccentric aunt and uncle scientists. Suspect I will devour the rest in this series quickly.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

for younger young adults - pretty fantastical, of course, but entertaining. am going to read all 3

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is laugh out loud funny. You will be rolling on the ground laughing in two seconds flat.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, looks cheesy on the outside, a bit on the inside too, but still really good!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

First one in the series.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

realy good

[KarenB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fast read with likeable characters.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute, fast paced read that I think my daughter will enjoy when she gets a little older. It was mildly repetitive with whining but the overall story was well worth the time to read it.

[Denis · Rating 3 out of 5]

loooooooooooooooooooool

[Kayla Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this ages ago. Great for kids. I liked it a lot when I was younger, suited for preteens.

[Catalina · Rating 3 out of 5]

very easy but fun too!