Both little book bunnies are Stuart Gibbs fans. Caramel in particular has read and reviewed every single book in his Spy School series. So as you can expect, he was thrilled to learn that the fourteenth book in the series just came out last week! Below is his review of Spy School Goes East. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.
Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we get to talk about a brand new Spy School book!
Caramel: Yep, and I am happy to say I really liked it. So in this book they go east. And they have already gone north and south. So maybe they’ll go west next time!
S: Yeah, I wonder where “west” could be. Remind us where “north” and “south” were? And where is “east”?
C: So the events happened in Mexico in the south book, and the north book is about Alaska and Russia. And in this book, the story is taking place in China, specifically in a fictional place in China, it’s called Space City, but it also contains a few places that are real: Shanghai, the Great Wall, and the Gobi Desert. It also contains several non-existent companies, such as Sky-tech.
S: Cool! I also saw a map of sorts in the inside of the book.
C: Yes, there are in fact interesting things like that in this book. In the back there is also, I think, a journal or rather a travel log.
S: Is it supposed to be Ben Ripley’s travel log?
C: No, it is the author himself, who is explaining how he got the ideas for the places and the plot. He actually went to China to see what he was writing about. And that’s cool.
S: Agreed!
S: Okay, so tell us about the main story. Why is Spy School going to China?
C: So, in the previous book Spy School Blackout, the team were trying to figure out the worldwide blackouts. Then it turned out that their ‘friend’ Orion was in fact the guy behind it all, and they solved that mystery and saved the planet. But then they also learned that Erica Hale’s parents and grandparents had gone missing in China, where Orion had sent them, so now in this book, they go there to get them back.
S: Oh I see. And they meet a lot of new people, some friendly and some evil, I am assuming?
C: Yep, and we also meet a recurring character (I love those), Jessica Shang who first showed up in Spy Ski School, the daughter of the guy who tried to nuke Colorado. You might recall that she is also daughter of the lady who tried to destroy the Panama Canal (in Spy School at Sea), and the niece of the guy who tried to sell Ben into slavery (in Spy School Goes Wild).
S: Oh my! Her whole family is full of Ben’s enemies. But I seem to recall you had told us before that Jessica herself is actually quite nice. And she kind of likes Ben?
C: Yeah they are friends, and apparently Erica is Ben’s girlfriend now.
S: Oh, I see. But nothing mushy going on, right?
C: No, no mushiness. Erica and Ben are just partners solving mysteries and world problems together.
S: Cool. Okay, so did you enjoy this book?
C: Yes, I did. Very much. It was funny, and had some cool plot lines and hooks, as well as references to the other books in the series. Gotta love consistency among an author’s works! Tui Sutherland in Wings of Fire does this really well, too. Hint hint.
S: You will definitely get another one of those books in the coming months! But there may yet be another Spy School book as well. As you suggested, I am expecting a “going west” story some time.
C: Me too. And I’m assuming it will also be good.
S: And when it does come out, I am sure you will review it.
C: Yes I will!
S: Okay, Caramel, this is probably a good time to wrap up this review.
C: Yep, this is a school night after all…
S: Okay, what do you want to tell our readers?
C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!
