Adam Selzer is one of my favorite novelists for kids. I find him consistently hilarious, whether he’s writing about middle school gifted and talented programs (How to Get Suspended and Influence People), spelling bees (I Put a Spell on You) or, in this book, the fantasies that get you through the day when you’re a third grader with a teen-aged brother who doesn’t spend time with you anymore.
The chapters in Selzer’s newest novel start with spy alternate reality intros worthy of Alex Rider or James Bond, and the narrator, Andrew, gives us plenty of insider spy information like, “All good spies have a sidekick, and monkeys make perfect assistants… Monkeys aren’t cheap. Not anymore.” Andrew has decided that because his big brother Jake has been so secretive and private since he turned 13, he must have “gone pro” and become a real spy. That would explain Jake’s closed bedroom door and his strict hands-off policy about his fancy calculator. Andrew can’t resist borrowing the calculator, but then it gets confiscated. Just think how important Andrew’s mission to get the gadget is if his brother really is a spy, and if the calculator really is a communication device! But even if Mr. Summers isn’t going to blow up the world, Andrew’s adventures (and a thrilling finale at the school’s annual concert) should keep readers laughing and turning the pages. ~Tegan