Tag: Stuart Gibbs

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs

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.

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs.
Caramel reviews Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs.

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!

Caramel is reading Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs.
Caramel is reading Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs.

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!

Caramel loved reading Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs and was thrilled to share his thoughts on it with the readers of the book bunnies blog.
Caramel loved reading Spy School Goes East by Stuart Gibbs and was thrilled to share his thoughts on it with the readers of the book bunnies blog.

Caramel reviews Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins

Both Caramel and Marshmallow have enjoyed reading and reviewing books by Stuart Gibbs for the book bunnies blog. Today Caramel talks about a recent graphic novel adaptation, Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel, of a 2016 book written by Gibbs; this version was published in August 2026 and was illustrated by Ward Jenkins. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins.
Caramel reviews Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about the second book in Stuart Gibbs’s Moon Base Alpha series. 

Caramel: Yep. I read and reviewed the graphic novel version of the first book and now this is the second one. 

S: So let us dive right in. Tell us what the book is about. 

C: It is about Dash, the same guy from the first book, and there’s a new case for him to solve. A person has gone missing.

S: Oh say more. 

C: The person who’s missing is Nina, the station’s commander, and so the station goes through some issues as such. 

S: Oh wait. Dash and his family were living on the Moon, right? So Nina is the commander of the moon base — Moon Base Alpha?

C: Yes, they are, and yes, she is.

S: Cool. So this sounds like a typical Gibbs mystery, and he is so good at crafting fun mysteries. I am guessing this was good, too?

C: Yes it was, it also went into some more interesting stuff, but that was later, and as such, a spoiler.

S: Okay. I guess what we don’t know won’t hurt us. At least in this case. So tell me more about the book. Do we meet any characters besides Dash from the first book?

C: Yeah, almost all of them show up at least once, most of them more than once. 

S: That’s cool. So it really feels like a series then. So do you like Dash, the main character? Does he remind you of Ben Ripley from Spy School books? Or how about Teddy Fitzroy from the FunJungle books?

C: Yes, he kind of does, which makes sense. This is the same author after all. They are all fun characters and very likeable. And they manage to solve all sorts of mysteries. But this one is different because he lives in space! How cool is that? 

S: But of course we talked about how we really do not want to leave our own planet the last time… 

C: Yeah I stand by that still, until space travel is much safer.

S: I do too.

Caramel is reading Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins.
Caramel is reading Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins.

S: So I noticed that the person who illustrated the Moon Base Alpha books is different from the person who illustrated the Spy School graphic novels. Do you like the style used in this book? 

C: Yes, I did, though the graphic novelizations for the Wings of Fire books are still my favorite. Now if only they came out with those more frequently…

S: But those books have an unfair advantage. I mean they have dragons! Not much can compete with that.

C: True, but what about dragons, in space?

S: Yeah, I suppose that would top everything! But okay, back to Spaced Out. Was it good enough for you to want more? There is apparently at least a third book in the original Moon Base Alpha series, so I am guessing they will publish the graphic novelization of that some time next year. Are you excited about that?

C: Yaaaaaaaayyyyy!

S: Okay, I am guessing that means this was a very fun read and you are excited about the next one?

C: Yes. 

S: Okay, then we will make sure to get you a copy when it does come out. So Caramel, do you think this is a good time to wrap up this review?

C: Yup. This is a school night so maybe it is a good idea. 

S: Sure, okay. Let’s do that. What do you want to tell our readers?

C Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins and recommends it to all little bunnies who enjoy space mysteries.
Caramel enjoyed reading Spaced Out: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins and recommends it to all little bunnies who enjoy space mysteries.

Caramel reviews Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs

Caramel has read and reviewed all books in the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs, so he could not pass the opportunity to read and review the thirteenth book that just came out last week: Spy School Blackout. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs.
Caramel reviews Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs.

Sprinkles: I know you could not wait to talk about this book today! 

Caramel: Yes! We got a new Spy School book! How cool is that? 

S: Very. Okay so this is book thirteen, right?

C: Yes, in fact it is. And a very good thirteenth at that, most things are no longer good after the first ten books or movies, for example fast and furious.

S: Caramel, you have not even watched one of those movies! I did. Actually I did not think it was terrible. It definitely kept me paying attention. 

C: Nope, I don’t know the movies, it is true, but I’ve heard it got bad after the first two.

S: Yes, I suppose critics did not like them. But the studio keeps making them so lots of people must be watching, don’t you think? Doesn’t mean we would like them of course. And anyways, I think your point was that this book is still very good even though it is number 13 in the series. 

C: Yep, it is very very good

S: So tell us about it a bit. I am guessing it is still about Ben Ripley. 

C: Yes. In this one, the group is in Indonesia to take a vacation, and then the power goes out.

S: Oh, that is interesting. I had read the quick summary which said “On their latest mission to save the world, Ben and his friends face a conniving villain, assassins, pirates, sharks, and very big lizards in the most remote—and deadly—location of any spy school yet!” And I was wondering where that most remote and deadly place was. So they are in Indonesia!

C: Yeah, but the power is not just out in Indonesia, but around the whole world, everywhere.

S: I guess that is why the book is titled “Blackout”. 

C: Yep, you are pretty smart, Sprinkles!

S: I am humbled and honored. Anyways. So the power goes out everywhere. How could that happen? Who could have done such a thing? Power networks around the world are not all connected, are they? 

C: Birthday cake.

S: What do you mean?

C: it’s apparently the code word for a precision attack on the power systems.

S: So someone simultaneously attacks all the networks. I am guessing it is a cyber-attack, like a virus or something. 

C: Yep, pretty much.

S: Hmm, that sounds terrifying. Remember how a few days ago we were talking about how we get to stay up after sunset because we have electricity and can still read or do other things at home even when there is no natural light? 

C: Yep, I do remember us talking about that. 

Caramel is reading Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs.
Caramel is reading Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs.

S: I cannot imagine there not being any light at night. And the fridge would not work, either! Oh my goodness, that would be horrible too.

C: Yep, it would be almost world ending, or saving at the same time.

S: Wait, are you suggesting the person or group that does this has some environmental ideals and that is their reason? 

C: No, not really, they are just evil. But I was thinking just that since humans rely on power so much, if it disappeared, the carbon emissions would decrease by a huge amount and then maybe forcing us to find a way around it, but would also cause all infrastructure to fail, and most likely make many people die from either hypothermia or too much heat. And all the machines in hospitals would stop working once the generators ran out and so on. 

S: Yes, people could still probably use gas-based cars and generators, but so much of the world we know would collapse. That is a terrifying scenario, Caramel. Okay so that is the basic idea of the book, then. But I am guessing our hero Ben will figure things out?

C: I shouldn’t really give it away but I suppose it is no big secret. After twelve times when the world was about to end Ben saved it, you would expect he would do it again.

S: Phew! I wonder how he does it. But don’t tell me. We don’t want to spoil it for our readers. 

C: Yeah, I guess we don’t. You and our readers, too, will just have to read the book! 

S: Hmm, I also might ask you after we wrap this up?

C: Hmm, we will see how much I will tell. 

S: Okay, we will see. But overall you really enjoyed reading this book, right? Compared to the other twelve, how do you think it would rank?

C: I think this might be my favorite so far!

S: Wow! That is impressive. Maybe I will read the book after all. Okay, I suppose it is time to wrap this up then. What would you like to tell our readers, Caramel?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunnies reviews!

Caramel was delighted to read Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs, and is hopeful that there will soon be a fourteenth book, or at least maybe a graphic novelization of some of the earlier books.
Caramel was delighted to read Spy School Blackout by Stuart Gibbs, and is hopeful that there will soon be a fourteenth book, or at least maybe a graphic novelization of some of the earlier books.

Caramel reviews Space Case: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Ward Jenkins

Caramel has reviewed many books by Stuart Gibbs before. Today he talks about a recent graphic novel adaptation, Space Case: The Graphic Novel, of a 2015 book written by Gibbs; this version was published in August 2025 and was illustrated by Ward Jenkins. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Space Case: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Ward Jenkins.
Caramel reviews Space Case: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Ward Jenkins.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about a brand new graphic novel by Stuart Gibbs. And I know you and Marshmallow both love books by this author. So I am guessing this was something you were curious to read?

Caramel: Well, to be honest, I did not know about it before last week, but when I did, then I really did.

S: What does that mean? You just dove into the book and read it and now know everything about it? 

C: Kind of, but I will try to explain well. 

S: That is good. So please do go ahead. What is this book about?

C: It is about a boy named Dash who is living on the moon.

S: Wait. He is living on the moon. How is that possible?  

C: Yeah, he lives with his mom and dad who are scientists, and work there.

S: Okay, I see. Is the story happening in the near future then? 

C: I think so, but the specific date is not stated.

S: I see. Would you like to be living on the moon Caramel? I mean, if it were safe and there were a base and other folks living there and so on.

C: Maybe, I don’t know.

S: Okay. I understand. There are just too many possibilities, and I have to say I love seeing the blue skies and the trees and the mountains and so on. On the moon you would not see those. Then again you could see the Earthrise! And that might be worth at least a trip…

C: Yeah, if it’s for a day or a week, maybe it may work, but for a long time, no way.

S: Yeah, we bunnies quite like this planet!

Caramel is reading Space Case: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Ward Jenkins.
Caramel is reading Space Case: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Ward Jenkins.

S: Okay, let us get back to the book then.  

C: So anyways, one day, Dash hears a conversation, and hears the scientific leader of the mission, or at least a leader of something, Then a little bit later, that scientist is found dead. 

S: Hmm, sounds mysterious. So this is a murder mystery?

C: Yeah, kinda.

S: Gibbs sure likes to write mysteries! You basically read and reviewed all his Spy School books and Marshmallow read and reviewed all his  FunJungle books, and both series are mysteries. Weird things keep happening around the main character and the main character and their friends have to figure things out. 

C: Yes, I have read and reviewed all the Spy School books, and they were good.  And this is very good too. 

S: Apparently it is also a part of a series. Did you know that this is the graphic novel version of a book from 2015 and there are two more books in this series? They are called the Moon Base Alpha series. 

C: Really?

S: Yes. But the other books are still only regular books. No graphic novel version yet. 

C: Hmm, kind of like the Spy School books. He first writes the books, and then the graphic novel versions come out, one by one, but really slowly…

S: Yes.

C: I might like to read those other books, too, then. I am not sure I can wait till the graphic novels come out.

S: Okay, so does that mean this book was really good, too? 

C: Yes, very good. It was a lot of fun but also exciting! 

S: So I am understanding that you liked the book a lot and would not mind looking into the other books in the Moon Base Alpha series.

C: Yeah, why not? It was a good book.

S: By the way, a new Spy School book is coming out soon. I am guessing you would like to read that, too?

C: Yes! Of course! 

S: I think we understand each other, Caramel. I will start looking into getting those books for you. And you will start looking into going to bed. 

C: Yup. I think this is a good place to end this review. 

S: Great! So what would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Space Case: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Ward Jenkins, and is looking forward to reading more about Dash and his adventures.
Caramel loved reading Space Case: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Ward Jenkins, and is looking forward to reading more about Dash and his adventures.