Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Summary: Hale Jordan has grown up at the Sub Rosa Society (SRS) where his parents both work as spies, and he and his younger sister Kennedy are being trained to follow in their footsteps. Unfortunately, Hale is a bit slow and out of shape, and he hasn’t been able to pass the physical exam to become a junior agent. What he lacks in brawn, he makes up for in brains, which comes in handy when his parents disappear. When Hale starts to investigate their last mission, he discovers the shocking truth about SRS. Teaming up with Kennedy and the allegedly villainous League agents, Hale has to not only rescue his parents, but prevent SRS from taking over the world. Right before they left, Hale’s parents told him, “Heroes don’t always look like heroes, and villains don’t always look like villains.” Hale discovers the truth of this over and over in a plot filled with twists and counter twists. Grades 4-7.

Pros: Told in Hale’s smart and laugh-out-loud funny book, this action-packed adventure will appeal to reluctant readers.

Cons: The ending seems to set up a sequel possibility, but no mention of it yet in the book or on Amazon