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Dear Kid Lit Friends,
Okay, we are going to talk about spies today. SPIES!!! There is something about spies that is so compelling, and here are some books about them!
The Eye That Never Sleeps by Marissa Moss and Jeremy Holmes is one of my daughter’s favorite picture books. It’s the true story of the spy that saved Abraham Lincoln’s life! Allan Pinkerton’s life changed when he helped the Chicago Police Department track down a group of counterfeiters. From there, he became the first police detective in Chicago and established the country’s most successful detective agency. He went on to solve more than 300 murders and recover millions of dollars in stolen money. However, his greatest contribution was protecting Abraham Lincoln on the way to his 1861 inauguration. Though assassins attempted to murder Lincoln en route, Pinkerton foiled their plot and brought the president safely to the capital.
Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is one of my favorite chapter book series ever! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . . Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret — she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her!
Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls by Beth McMullen is a terrific middle grade series about Abigail, who is stunned to discover her boarding school is actually a cover for an elite spy ring called The Center, along with being training grounds for future spies. Even more shocking? Abigail’s mother is a top agent for The Center and she has gone MIA, with valuable information that many people would like to have—at any cost. Along with a former nemesis and charming boy from her grade, Abigail goes through a crash course in Spy Training 101, often with hilarious—and sometimes painful—results.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs is a can’t-stop-reading middle grade series about Ben Ripley. Ben may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: C.I.A. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science—but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior C.I.A. academy. Could the C.I.A. really want him?
City Spies by James Ponti is a new middle grade series. It begins with Sara Martinez hacking into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.
BONUS! Three new books that I love!
Women’s Art Work: More Than 30 Female Artists Who Changed the World by Sophia Bennett, illustrated by Manjit Thapp: A great collection of stories of fantastic female artists.
American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar: A terrific middle grade book about an Indian American girl who navigates prejudice in her home town.
Lift by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat: A sweet picture book about an elevator button that transports you to fantastic places.
What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
Until next time!
Karina
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