Children's fiction. Spy character with a journal containing secret codes, hidden letters in envelopes, fold-out boardgame with tokens for characters. Cover: yellow, girl, pattern? Read 1995-2001.

[Emmy]

When I was a kid, my best friend had this really cool book. If I remember correctly, it was a fictional spy journal, and it had secret codes, hidden letters in envelopes, and a fold-out boardgame complete with tokens for your characters (I think at least one of the characters was a fly, and I think there was someone named "Trudy"). The cover was yellow, if I recall.

I borrowed this book from her a ton, and it must have been during the '90s or early '00s. I think the book was published in the '90s.

Thanks in advance! You guys always find what I'm looking for :)

[Ayshe]

Just a guess: Spies?

[Emmy]

As I remember it, the book was less about how to be a spy, and more about a character who was a spy. Thank you anyway, though!

[Emmy]

I think the cover had a pattern to it, too. Like, it wasn't just yellow but there were polka dots or little x's or something else going on. And I think the girl on the cover had curly red hair.

[Kris]

Any chance this was sold as a board game and not a book?

[Emmy]

Hi, Kris! It was definitely a book. The board game aspect only popped up on one of the pages. The rest of it was presented like a journal with secret codes, letters tucked into envelopes on different pages, etc.

[Adele]

Search for the Rare Plumador has a pop out game board with tokens for the characters. You can see pictures and details here: http://danielburwen.com/search-for-th...

[Emmy]

Hi, Adele:

This book looks amazing! Unfortunately, it's not the one I'm thinking of. But, I'll add it to my list of out of print books to track down :)

[Ann]

It might be too recent but...Spyology?

[Adele]

This might also be too recent (2006) but Super Secret Spy Kit? You can see a picture here: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/super-s...

[Emmy]

Thank you, Ann and Adele! Unfortunately, I don't think either of these are the book I was thinking of. I would have been probably 8-12 when I borrowed this from my friend, which would put this sometime between 1998 and 2002. She might have gotten it earlier than that, though.

[Florence]

Could it be a tie in to the Harriet the spy books? The film came out around then so it was everywhere!

[Emmy]

Florence wrote: "Could it be a tie in to the Harriet the spy books? The film came out around then so it was everywhere!"

I don't think so...? But, then again, I haven't read any of the Harriet the Spy books.

[Rainbowheart]

Top Secret?

[Emmy]

The cover is not the same, and unfortunately I can't find a preview on Amazon. Going to say "no" for now.

[slauderdale]

"Follow That Spy" (Ann Sullivan, 1997) features a character named Trudy and some yellow design elements on the cover. No entry on Goodreads, but:
https://www.amazon.com/Follow-That-Sp...
https://books.google.com/books?id=9MQ...

[slauderdale]

Also,
I Spy School Days: A Book of Picture Riddles

[Emmy]

slauderdale wrote: ""Follow That Spy" (Ann Sullivan, 1997) features a character named Trudy and some yellow design elements on the cover. No entry on Goodreads, but:
https://www.amazon.com/Follow-That-Sp......"

Not the cover I remember, but this is definitely the closest yet. I'm trying to find a preview online. If I could see inside of the book, I'm sure I'd recognize the illustrations.

[Adele]

You can see the front and back cover and the inside cover page for Follow That Spy here - https://www.ebay.com/p/AP-Follow-That... This does not seem to be interactive or have a fold-out board game though. Maybe there was a follow-up or tie-in?

[Rosa]

slauderdale wrote: "Also,
I Spy School Days: A Book of Picture Riddles"

That's not a journal.

[Emmy]

Adele wrote: "You can see the front and back cover and the inside cover page for Follow That Spy here - https://www.ebay.com/p/AP-Follow-That......"

Thanks, Adele! Looking over this, I don't think it's the same book I read....

[Emmy]

Haven't gotten any hits on this one for a while. Gonna attempt to bump it and see if anyone remembers it :)

[Rainbowheart]

Secret Spy Journal is from '03, so it might be too new.

How to Be a Spy in 7 Days or Less is from '07, so that's way too recent.

[Emmy]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Secret Spy Journal is from '03, so it might be too new.

How to Be a Spy in 7 Days or Less is from '07, so that's way too recent."

Hi, Rainbowheart--I think those titles might be a bit too new. I lost contact with this friend around 2005, but we were drifting apart earlier than that. It was most likely between 1995-2001.

[Rainbowheart]

Spy Science?

The Secret Agent's Handbook?

The Usborne Spy's Guidebook?

[Emmy]

Bump.

[Kris]

Emmy, I copied book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Emmy]

Hi, Kris: That's very helpful, thanks :)