Spy School: Project X by Stuart Gibbs

Spy School: Project X by Stuart Gibbs, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022.  9781534479494

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Mystery

What did you like about the book? Oh my gosh!  Ben Ripley attends the CIA’s Academy of Espionage.  After the principal’s office is blown up followed by the decimation of the school’s quad, Ben and his friends learn that Ben’s nemesis, Murray Hill, has put out a hit on him.  Time to run.  He, Erica, Zoe, Mike and Chip escape one threat after another on Ben’s life.  Murray has informed his internet followers that Ben is a criminal looking to destroy the government.  Soon it is also shown that Ben is really an alien, capable of just about anything.  The group are joined (rescued) by Erica’s grandparents and then her parents as well and also add on Erica’s younger sister, Trixie.  The action is absolutely non-stop, with humor thrown in.  Ethnicities are not addressed.

Anything you did not like about the book? No.

To whom would you recommend this book? Those who are reading the Spy School series will more than welcome this new addition.  It does stand on its own for new readers though looking for non-stop action.

Who should buy this book? Public, and middle school libraries

Where would you shelve it? J Fiction (series)

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Only if you are following the series and want to keep up with the story.

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review

Date of Review:  September 6, 2022