Spy Camp Quotes

“You’re only a first year!” Tina cried. “And you’re already getting death threats! Do you have any idea how lucky you are?”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Apparently, it was common for children to participate in the Civil War, and thus, lots of fathers had brought their sons along for a fun family weekend of simulated violence and bloodshed.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“I see it,” Alexander said. “It says: EXTERIOR MONKEY MONITORING ORGANISM.” “No,” Claire corrected. “It says SURFACE MISSILE CONTROL SYSTEM.” “Oh,” Alexander said, trying to save face. “I must have been using the wrong dialect.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Erica approached a door marked RESTRICTED: DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, then jimmied the lock and entered without authorization.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“I could imagine her as a kindergartener, making a high-tech raid on the family cookie jar.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“All we needed were guts, brains, and semiautomatic weapons.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Death is a really good negotiating tactic.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Hey Ben! Just wanted you to know we’ll be coming for you soon. Your pals at SPYDER I”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“I was regarded as sort of cool; preventing the destruction of your school and capturing the agent responsible does great things for your social life.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“his fake sideburns had been torn from his cheek and was now perched on his ear like a small rodent, but he was too angry to notice. “What have you done?” he screamed at us. “What have you done?” “Well, it’s obvious,” I said. “We’ve blown up a rebel minivan.” In the farmhouse, the SPYDER agents disappeared from the upstairs windows and never reappeared again.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Lousy tea-sipping limeys,”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“the river spit me out.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Well, apparently, you’re right about me. I really am a complete and utter screwup.” “Oh, that’s not completely true,” Erica said. “You were quite good at playing dead.” “I was?” Alexander asked. “Yes,” Erica replied. “Though I suppose it wasn’t much of a stretch. After all, your brain’s been dead for years.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Except me. I turned back to the cliff and stared down into the woods where Joshua Hallal had vanished. And Erica. She stood beside me, staring into the void as well. “I owe you my life, Ripley,” she said. “No,” I said. “You owe your father.” “Who would never have found us if it wasn’t for you. And he certainly wouldn’t have figured out how to stop those missiles, either.” Erica turned to me. “In fact, I’m not sure I could have stopped them. How’d you do it?” I thought about using the Alexander Hale method again, concocting a tale that would make me sound brave and smart and cool under pressure. Instead, I used the Benjamin Ripley method and told the truth. “I just unplugged the system.” Erica stared at me for a moment. And then she laughed. I’d never heard her do this before. It was surprisingly childlike, a sweet little titter that revealed the girl beneath her tough exterior. “Ripley,” she said. “You’re one of a kind.” At that moment, I didn’t care if the president or anyone else ever found out that I’d thwarted SPYDER’s plans. I didn’t care if Alexander Hale stole the credit from me again. Erica Hale knew what I’d done, and that was all that mattered. Her laughter was the greatest reward I could have ever asked for. “By the way,” Erica said, “happy birthday.” I glanced at my watch, startled to see it was well after midnight. With all the excitement, I’d actually lost track of what time it was. I wasn’t sure which was more startling to me: the fact that I’d forgotten it was my own birthday—or that Erica had remembered. “Thanks,” I said. “I didn’t exactly have time to shop, given the kidnapping and all, so I got you this.” Erica pressed something into my hand. To my surprise, it was a human tooth. There was a tiny bit of blood at the end, as though it had just been forcibly removed from someone’s mouth. “Is this Murray’s?” I asked. Erica smiled. “I told him that if SPYDER ever messes with you again, he’s gonna lose a lot more than that.” It was certainly the most disgusting present I’d ever received. And yet, I couldn’t help being touched by the sentiment behind it. “Thanks,” I said. “Could you give me a little help getting back?” Erica asked. “Of course,” I told her. Then I wrapped my arm around her waist to take her weight, and we started through the woods together.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Even a watch that’s broken is right twice a day,”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Only half of the bored parents waiting for their kids at FunLand were actually bored parents waiting for their kids; the rest were undercover CIA agents. Several of the kids were as well. The CIA had deployed every one of its shortest agents to protect me.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Nicaraguan,”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Unfortunately, Alexander forgot step one—try to fight them off—and went right for step two: play dead. He dropped to the ground so quickly that the mother bear actually tripped over him, like he was a human speed bump.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“for a fun family weekend of simulated violence”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“[Redacted X X X X X]”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“counterterrorism.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“home”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“I’d paid close attention when Cyrus had explained how to load a cannon, so I knew how to do it. And I’d learned a thing or two about jury-rigging explosives during my time at spy school. Now, I scrambled to create the diversion Erica needed before Lousy Sideburns sent reinforcements my way. There was a bag full of gunpowder charges by the cannon. By themselves, they would just pop and smoke for the enjoyment of the spectators, but all together, there was enough gunpowder in them to make a significant explosion. I threw two charges down the barrel of the cannon, then dug through Cyrus’s haversack. As I’d expected, there was a roll of duct tape inside.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Get a hold of yourself, woman!” Alexander told her. “There’s been a security breach!”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“The Battle of Second Winchester,”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“he said. “I believe I have a leech in my underpants.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“Nate Mackey forgot he was in the top bunk, groggily rolled out of bed, and began his day by belly flopping six feet onto the floor.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“You can remember entire books?” Erica looked at me curiously. “You can’t?” “No!”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“As Erica had warned, he couldn’t outrun them. Soon, they were nipping at his heels. Unfortunately, Alexander forgot step one—try to fight them off—and went right for step two: play dead. He dropped to the ground so quickly that the mother bear actually tripped over him, like he was a human speed bump.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp

“The bears that are following us.” “Don’t be absurd,” Alexander snapped. “There are no bears in this part of the country.” A loud, angry growl echoed through the trees. A large bear emerged from the forest only a few feet away from Alexander. Then two more appeared behind it. Alexander went as pale as a dead fish. Erica sighed. “Don’t you ever get tired of being wrong?” she asked.”
― Stuart Gibbs, Spy Camp