EJ Spy School - Speedy Spy

EJ Spy School - Speedy Spy by Susannah McFarlane, illustrated by Dyani Stagg (Scholastic Australia)

PB RRP $7.99

ISBN 978-1-92193-198-7

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Ten year old Emma Jacks is rushing to get to school when her spy School watch alarm rings. Rushing now to get to the secret entrance of the SHINE headquarters, Emma wonders what task A1 will have for her this time.

Emma completes the maze code in record time then is admitted to the SHINE lab, where, as EJ10, spy in training, her mission is revealed. She needs to rescue an animal agent from the animal training unit. For this task, EJ10 will need both speed and clear thinking. 'Speedy but sure,' A1 tells EJ, is one of SHINE's mottos.

And EJ does need speed as there seems to be a Shadow agent following her. Will she complete the task and earn her Spy School Speed Badge?

The spy gadgets in the story allow for plenty of play on words, such as turning phrases like 'get your skates on' and 'you'd better fly' into reality at the press of a button.

Speedy Spy is the seventh book in the EJ Spy School series written for young readers who like adventure, action, animals and spies. Short chapters, large font, simple concepts and illustrations on most pages make this series readable for these beginners, while great gadgets and plenty of action will keep them hooked.

EJ Spy School: The Race

EJ Spy School: The Race by Susannah McFarlane, illustrations by Dyani Stagg (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $7.99
ISBN 978-1-92193-153-6
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

In the first Spy School book The Test Emma Jacks was recruited to work for Top Secret spy agency 'Shine'. In this story, The Race, she is an agent in training. Her first spy training lesson is in fitness and EJ10 is unsure of how she will go in a difficult looking obstacle race. Will she make it around the course in her allotted 15 minutes? And does she have time to rescue a baby duckling along the way?

Based on the bestselling EJ12 Girl Hero series, EJ Spy School is for younger readers, 5 plus. In The Race Emma is introduced to spy gadgets and the fabulously fun way she gets from school to emergency missions.

Written especially for beginner readers, The Race incorporates short chapters with large text broken up by black and white illustrations and a simple storyline with no plot deviations. Already popular, the exciting world of Emma and her friends on Shine Agency missions, is now accessible to a younger readership who I’m sure will love these books as well.