Spy School At Sea effortlessly sails like few middle grade books can

Upper elementary school kids love the Spy School book series from Stuart Gibbs. One could insert ‘middle school’ instead of ‘elementary’ in that sentence. You could also just simply say that readers aged eight and up love the Spy School book series. It’s an example of an author who can create characters and a story that’s thoroughly engaging, as well as, very smart. Moreover, Gibbs is able to do so at a level that’s not going to scare away young readers due to its big vocabulary, nor adult readers due to being too juvenile. Spy School At Sea is the ninth book in this venerable series that deepens the personal relationships, without showing any age in our young protagonists.

Another amazing thing about Spy School At Sea is that readers won’t be confused by the book’s characters. Any book series with eight stories before the current one has characteristics, foibles, and history that will be alluded to, but, hopefully not concentrated on too much. Gibbs does a great job of having the characters do their thing, then in a sentence or two summing up the connection or backstory and moving on.  Readers of any age will be able to jump into At Sea and in very quick order know the relationships, crushes, and enemies that lie in wait.

It all starts off in the principal’s office where Ben Ripley and his friends have been summoned. They attend, wait for it, a spy school in Washington, DC, have been on missions around the world, saved it numerous times, and have a laundry list of bad guys who know them by name. Mike, the best friend, Erica, a girl who Ben certainly doesn’t have a crush on, and their ‘parents’ who are also operatives are provided with their latest mission.

The orders that they’ve been given have something to do with a deadly manatee. Of course, this is merely a cover story that’s meant to be a ruse for most of the people who see the orders. The agents deduce that their main nemesis, Murray Hill will be on the ship once it ports in Nicaragua. They also figure out that the cruise ship is the largest, most regal, and potentially pampered vessel sailing. While the team of spies has never been keen on taking a cruise, they’re due for some luxury, even if it does have a little bit of work associated with it. 

Author Stuart Gibbs is able to say so much, without making the content too much. His style of writing is right at home for fifth-grade students and older. The stories that he writes are able to convey a sense of adventure that nobody, outside of those who work in the spy realm, has experienced. However, at the same time, he weaves in elements that everyone is able to relate to.

In Spy School At Sea the budding crush between Ben and Erica gets a little stronger when he encounters real danger. Ben’s ‘parents’ act just like parents, with his dad getting seasick, for real, for most of the trip. Murray is a great heel in the spirit of Bling Bling Boy from Johnny Test, except slightly more villainous than his TV counterpart who is obsessed with Mary Test.

Most importantly, At Sea is really fun to read. The book absolutely runs from the first page to the last. It’s a book that fans of the series will rush to read. Those new readers will be able to read it, understand the relationships, be left breathlessly hanging at the end of each chapter, and then find the previous books in the series to see where they’ve been and what they’ve done.

Spy School At Sea is from Stuart Gibbs and is available on Simon & Schuster

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