
Spy School Secret Service
Categories
Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Young Adult, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Middle Grade, Espionage
Content Type
Book
Binding
Hardcover
Year
2017
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Language
English
ASIN
148147782X
ISBN
148147782X
ISBN13
9781481477826
File Download
PDF | EPUB
Spy School Secret Service Plot Summary
Introduction
Ben Ripley stood facing President David Stern himself, trying not to faint. Just moments ago, he'd been at spy school solving cryptography homework when Erica Hale, the academy's top student, had whisked him away for a covert meeting inside a black SUV. Now the leader of the free world needed his help. An evil organization called SPYDER had infiltrated the White House and planned to assassinate the president. Ben, a thirteen-year-old spy-in-training with merely average combat skills but exceptional mathematical abilities, would pose as a friend of the president's son to investigate. What Ben didn't know was that he was walking into an elaborate trap. SPYDER had engineered the entire mission, manipulating even his handler Cyrus Hale into sending him inside the White House. Within days, Ben would find himself framed for attempting to kill the president, hunted by every intelligence agency in America, and forced to clear his name while uncovering a nuclear plot that threatened the entire world. With only his wits and a few loyal friends to help him, Ben would have to outsmart both SPYDER and his own government before time ran out.
Chapter 1: Presidential Summons: The Unexpected Assignment
The black SUV crawled through Washington's notorious traffic, its windows tinted against prying eyes. Inside, Ben Ripley sat frozen in disbelief, trying not to stare at President David Stern seated across from him. Just hours ago, he'd been solving cryptography homework at spy school. Now he was being recruited for a mission by the most powerful man in the world. "Benjamin," the president said gravely, "a tremendously serious matter has been brought to my attention, and Agent Hale here assures me I can trust you to help take care of it." Cyrus Hale, Erica's grandfather and one of CIA's finest operatives, handed Ben a dossier stamped FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: OPERATION PUNGENT MUSKRAT. Ben struggled with the wax seal as Cyrus watched impatiently. "We have reliable intel that SPYDER is planning to assassinate the president," Cyrus finally said, snatching back the stubborn dossier. "They've infiltrated the White House." Ben's mind raced. SPYDER—the sinister organization that had tried to recruit him twice before trying to kill him—was nothing if not resourceful. "Who's 'we'?" he asked. "My team," Cyrus replied tersely. "Is this an official CIA operation?" The president chuckled at Ben's directness while Cyrus frowned. "As you know, I've expressed concerns before about SPYDER infiltrating the CIA. With the exception of you and Erica, I don't trust anyone at the Agency." The plan was simple yet dangerous: Ben would pose as a friend of the president's thirteen-year-old son, Jason, allowing him unrestricted access to the White House. No one would suspect a middle schooler of being a spy. "When do I start?" Ben asked. "Today," Cyrus replied. "SPYDER's plans are already in motion." The SUV pulled over near Dupont Circle. Cyrus instructed Ben to take the subway to the White House—the most normal approach for a teenager visiting his friend. President Stern looked longingly at the Metro entrance, lamenting how long it had been since he'd enjoyed the anonymity of normal life. As Ben stepped out, the weight of his mission hit him. He would be infiltrating the most secure building in America, hunting for a traitor who could be anyone. What Cyrus hadn't told him was that this mission wasn't what it seemed. In fact, Ben wasn't being sent to catch an assassin—he was being set up to become one.
Chapter 2: White House Infiltration: Friends and Foes
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building loomed before Ben, its ornate architecture contrasting sharply with the ultra-modern security checkpoint at its entrance. A line of diplomats, military officers, and various officials stretched ahead of him, each insisting they deserved priority over the others. Ben, the only middle schooler in sight, kept getting pushed aside. When he finally reached the front, two bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois dogs immediately went berserk, lunging toward him and barking frantically. Secret Service agents instantly drew their weapons. "Don't shoot!" Ben yelped, hands raised. "I'm only here for a playdate!" Agent Fry, a wall of muscle with a permanent scowl, ordered Ben to remove his jacket. The dogs continued barking as another agent, Nasser, wiped the garment with a chemical detection cloth. The machine beeped green. "No explosives residue reported," Nasser announced, looking confused. "The dogs aren't supposed to get this excited about meat," Fry insisted. "They're only supposed to respond like this to explosives." "I know there are no explosives!" Fry exclaimed. "I'm just saying that our response here was justifiable!" An enthusiastic White House aide named Kimmy Dimsdale rescued Ben, apologizing profusely. "I know those agents are only doing their job, but sometimes I think they get a little paranoid." She escorted Ben through the sprawling maze of the West Wing, where harried staffers rushed between cramped cubicles. "The presidential basketball court is over that way," she chatted, pointing outside. "Did you know the White House even has its own bowling alley?" The West Wing was nothing like Ben had imagined—no grand columns or plush carpets, just outdated office furniture and too many people crammed into too little space. They passed the Situation Room, smaller than Ben's living room at home and filled with decade-old equipment. They made their way to the residence floors where Ben would finally meet Jason Stern. Kimmy knocked on a door decorated with a handmade sign proclaiming: JASON'S ROOM. KEEP OUT! From behind it came the sounds of gunfire—a video game. "Cool!" Jason called out. "Send him in!" The room was that of a quintessential teenage boy with posters of athletes and rock bands, sports equipment scattered about, and a large television showing a first-person shooter game. Jason himself was slumped in a beanbag chair, his back to Ben. "Uh... hi," Ben said. No response. Jason kept blowing away virtual enemies. "Mind if I play too?" "Yes, I mind!" Jason snapped angrily. "My father might be able to force me to hang out with some loser I've never met, but he can't make me like it. So sit down, shut up—and don't touch any of my stuff." Ben sighed. The smiling, polite boy he'd seen on TV was an act. Instead, the real Jason Stern was a raging jerk—and now Ben was stuck with him. This mission had just gotten a lot more complicated.
Chapter 3: The Framed Assassin: From Protector to Fugitive
Ben's second visit to the White House was proceeding as miserably as his first. Jason Stern remained hostile, and the Secret Service dogs again went crazy over Ben's winter jacket despite his having washed it thoroughly. This time, though, the agents hurried him through security. As Kimmy led them through the West Wing corridors, Ben noticed Vladimir Gorsky—a Russian arms dealer with suspected ties to SPYDER—exiting the Situation Room with several military officers. When Gorsky spotted Ben, he recoiled in alarm. Before Ben could process this reaction, the door to the Oval Office opened. The president emerged, surrounded by aides and Secret Service agents. When he spotted Jason, he broke into a warm smile despite his son's obvious scowl. President Stern extended his hand to Ben, graciously pretending they'd never met. "You must be Benjamin. I've heard so much about you." As they shook hands, Ben felt something click inside his jacket—something small but ominous. A cold realization washed over him: his jacket contained a bomb. SPYDER had made him their unwitting delivery system—a "Bombay Boomerang." They'd never wanted him to find an assassin; they'd turned him into one. Without hesitation, Ben bolted past the president, frantically tearing off his jacket. The Secret Service, confused by his running away from the president rather than toward him, initially hesitated. Ben reached the Oval Office, flung his jacket over the famous presidential seal in the center of the carpet, and slammed the door shut. "Everyone get down!" he yelled, diving behind a secretary's desk. The explosion rocked the building. The office door tore off its hinges, and a ball of fire rolled through the gap. Secret Service agents tackled both the president and Jason as the sprinkler system activated, dousing the West Wing in water. Ben glimpsed the president—face blackened by smoke but alive—before Secret Service agents flattened him against the soaked carpet. "Stay right there, kid," an agent growled. "You're under arrest." "I'm not an assassin!" Ben protested. "I've been set up!" No one listened. The agents dragged him from the White House into a waiting sedan with bulletproof glass separating the backseat from the front. As they drove away, Ben stared back at the smoldering hole in the side of the White House, a dark wound in the iconic white walls. "Who are you working for?" demanded the older agent in the passenger seat. "I'm not working for anybody," Ben insisted. "Whoever did this planted a bomb in my jacket. I'm guessing they waited until they knew I was inside, then used a remote radio trigger." The sedan hit the Arlington Memorial Bridge, where traffic had slowed to a crawl due to construction. That's when Ben spotted movement among the construction equipment. Someone was targeting them. Bullets thudded into the car windows, creating webs of cracks across the bulletproof glass. The agents ducked down, abandoning Ben as a construction crane swung a massive hook toward the vehicle. The hook tore the roof clean off, leaving Ben exposed. As the car teetered on the edge of the bridge, Ben made a split-second calculation and jumped, plunging into the icy Potomac below. The sedan exploded above him as he swam with the current, eventually crawling ashore far downstream. In less than an hour, he had gone from presidential envoy to America's most wanted fugitive.
Chapter 4: Underground Alliance: Finding Allies in the Shadows
The secret tunnel beneath the National Mall hadn't changed since Erica had shown it to Ben over a year ago. He had accessed it through a hidden entrance in the Chester Alan Arthur monument, descending into darkness to escape both SPYDER and the U.S. government. Now he huddled beside a small fire he'd built from wooden beams, his clothes drying nearby. His phone was dead, eliminating any chance of contacting help. The government above was doubtlessly crawling with agents hunting for him, and SPYDER clearly wanted him dead. Ben had never felt more alone. After a sleepless night, he emerged cautiously and made his way to a hotel with a payphone. With coins scavenged from a fountain, he called Zoe Zibbell, one of his few friends at spy school. "Ben!" Zoe answered immediately. "I've been so worried! The news was saying you might have drowned." "I need your help," Ben said, skipping pleasantries. "Can you get to Erica and ask her to contact Cyrus for me?" "Ben..." Zoe's voice grew hesitant. "Cyrus isn't going to help you. He's the one leading the investigation to track you down." Ben fell silent, stunned. "He thinks I'm a mole for SPYDER?" "He says that doesn't mean they couldn't have bought you off. SPYDER has flipped plenty of agents before." "Who else is on my side?" he asked desperately. "Jawa and Chip, of course. And there's Warren. Warren might be snotty with you, but he really respects you." "How about Erica?" Zoe paused. "I don't know which side she's on." "You don't have to go to her," said a voice on Zoe's end of the line. "I'm right here." Erica had somehow infiltrated Zoe's room without detection. She snatched the phone and spoke directly to Ben, her voice crackling with anger. "I trusted you, Ben. And you betrayed me!" "I didn't do it!" Ben exclaimed. "I was set up by SPYDER!" "Don't try to lie your way out of this. I know exactly what happened. They turned you. Just like they've turned everyone else." Her words cut deeper than any knife. Ben had thought Erica, of all people, would believe in him. "I'm coming for you, Ben," Erica continued. "There's nowhere you can run. There's nowhere you can hide. I will not rest until I find you. Do you understand?" "I understand," Ben said quietly, then hung up. Outside the hotel, he heard the screech of tires—agents arriving to capture him. He had three seconds at most. Ben bolted down the service stairs to the loading dock and slipped into an alley moments before black SUVs swarmed the entrance. He needed to move, to think, to find some way to prove his innocence. But Erica's words kept replaying in his mind. She had promised to hunt him down... yet something about her message nagged at him. "You're the one who needs to find hope," she had said. "You're going to need it." Find hope? Ben froze, then smiled. Maybe Erica wasn't against him after all. Maybe she'd been sending him a coded message. The Hope Diamond. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It was worth a shot—because right now, hope was all he had left.
Chapter 5: Unmasking the Traitor: The Enemy Within
The Harry Winston Gallery in the National Museum of Natural History hummed with the hushed reverence of visitors admiring the world's most precious gems. Ben scanned the room nervously, lingering near the Hope Diamond's display case. If he'd misinterpreted Erica's message, this would be a deadly mistake. "Hey," a voice said behind him. He turned to find what appeared to be an ordinary middle school girl—trendy clothes, hair done up, chomping gum—but he recognized Erica's ice-blue eyes beneath the disguise. Relief flooded through him. "Amazing rock, huh?" she asked loudly. "What do you think it's worth, like a bajillion dollars?" "Something like that," Ben replied, matching her casual tone. "Let's go see something else," she said, turning away. Once they reached the noisier main hall, Ben whispered, "Thanks for coming." "Don't thank me yet," Erica replied, dropping her ditzy character. "We're not in the clear." She froze, staring down into the rotunda. "In fact, I'd say about a hundred percent chance." Four men in suits and sunglasses had entered the museum—government agents. Erica led Ben away from the railing as the agents started toward the Hope Diamond. They ducked through exhibits of butterflies and mummies, eventually reaching the dinosaur hall. "I wasn't trying to kill you on the bridge," Erica explained as they walked. "I had to do something to get you free. If they'd gotten you to the Pentagon and locked you up, it would have been almost impossible to extract you." "So you swung that hook at the car on purpose?" "Yeah. I realize that was a bit dicey, but I'd never operated a crane before." "A bit dicey? You realize if you'd been off by an inch, you would have killed me?" Erica shrugged. "Well, we all make mistakes." She suddenly stopped beside a triceratops model, staring at two tourists across the room. "Trouble dead ahead." She spun around and ran the way they'd come. The seemingly ordinary tourists bolted after them. "SPYDER?" Ben asked as they raced back under the brachiosaur skeleton. "Yes." Erica didn't slow down. They emerged onto the rotunda mezzanine and nearly collided with one of the government agents, who immediately recognized them. "Hey! They're here!" Erica darted into a gift shop, upending a bin of polished stones behind them. The agent slipped and crashed into a rack of dinosaur toys. They reached a viewing window overlooking the Hall of Ocean Life with its famous suspended humpback whale model. Without hesitation, Erica vaulted over the railing onto the skeleton of a bowhead whale displayed below. Ben followed, landing awkwardly. Erica swung from the skeleton to the model humpback, its support cables straining. "Clear the room!" Erica ordered the tourists. "Now!" The SPYDER agents appeared at the hall entrance just as the humpback tore free from the ceiling, crashing down between them and cutting off pursuit. Erica and Ben fled through the museum's subterranean storage area, a labyrinth of shelved artifacts. Just as they neared an exit, the SPYDER agents stepped into their path, guns drawn. "Nice try," the female agent taunted. "But this is the end of the line for both of you." Suddenly, someone in black attacked the agents from behind, wielding a dinosaur bone like a staff. Within seconds, both SPYDER operatives were unconscious on the floor. Their savior calmly wiped blood from the prehistoric weapon and spoke in a clipped British accent. "Hello, darling. I see you've gotten yourself into a spot of trouble per usual." Erica smiled. "Hi, Mom."
Chapter 6: Nuclear Gambit: SPYDER's True Objective
"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Hale," Ben said as they hurried through the Smithsonian employee parking garage. "Please, call me Catherine." Unlike Erica, Catherine Hale exuded warmth and enthusiasm. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Benjamin. Erica has told me ever so much about you." Ben glanced at Erica, surprised by this revelation. "It was for the mission," she said quickly, a tinge of embarrassment coloring her face. They reached Catherine's minivan, where she revealed a hidden compartment in the floor. "I'll also need you to get in there." The space was tight, forcing Ben and Erica to lie face-to-face. "Now, no kissing in there, you two," Catherine teased. "Our safety is at risk." "Mother!" Erica gasped, mortified. Catherine drove them through police checkpoints surrounding the museum, her charming British accent and embassy credentials easily convincing authorities she was merely a cultural liaison delivering artifacts. Once safely away, Catherine revealed she worked for MI6, British Intelligence—a secret even from Erica's father, Alexander Hale. "There have always been so many things to keep secret," she explained. "As thrilling as that may be," Erica said, "we need to focus on the task at hand. We have to figure out what SPYDER is up to right away." "Oh, Ben's already done that," Mike said. "He has?" Erica asked. "SPYDER wasn't going after the president," Ben explained. "They were really targeting the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was in the West Wing at the exact same time." "So they merely tried to make it look like a presidential assassination to distract from the real objective," Erica said. "Of course. Typical SPYDER. But why go after the chairman?" "I haven't worked that part out yet," Ben admitted. "I need you to try," Erica urged. "Is there anything else you can recall?" Ben closed his eyes, mentally reconstructing the moments before the explosion. He remembered Vladimir Gorsky and the military officers exiting the Situation Room, the chairman with his chest full of medals, and another officer hurrying away with his back turned. "If Cyrus is right, and SPYDER really does have operatives deep inside all branches of the government," Ben said, "what's the chance they have a high-ranking agent in the defense department?" "How high?" Erica asked. "Vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Ben replied. A hush fell over the minivan. "The chairman of the Joint Chiefs controls the launch overrides for our entire nuclear missile system," Erica said. "The president can authorize a launch, but that still has to be confirmed by the military. The ultimate authority lies with the chairman." "So how does the system work?" Ben asked worriedly. "There is a portable control system kept in a secure briefcase," Erica explained. "There are several layers of security—thumbprint readers, retinal scans, voice recognition software. And the only place that can be set up is in a secure room at the Pentagon." Suddenly, Erica started laughing. "The secure room is at the Pentagon. The military's information-extraction facilities are also at the Pentagon. That's why Grandpa handed us over to the military! He isn't suspicious of us anymore! He's getting us through Pentagon security!" Ben remained skeptical. "Even if you're right, we're still prisoners. What are we supposed to do about that?" "I'm guessing Grandpa has a plan," Erica said. "The best way to beat SPYDER is to beat them to that briefcase."
Chapter 7: Pentagon Showdown: Race Against Armageddon
The Pentagon, the world's largest office building, sprawled before them as the military police van backed up to a loading dock. Ben and his friends—Erica, Mike, Zoe, Chip, and Jawa—were handcuffed and lined up as Cyrus Hale observed grimly. "They're just kids!" exclaimed Sergeant Martinez, the leader of the armed guards. "Don't let that fool you, soldier," Cyrus warned. "They are extremely dangerous." Erica spat in her grandfather's face when he approached her, but Ben noticed something else: Cyrus discreetly slipped her a key during the exchange. They were marched through the Pentagon's endless corridors. Despite being handcuffed, Erica and Ben whispered urgently. "Do you like me?" Ben asked, taking advantage of Erica's sedative-induced honesty. "You're taking advantage of my weakened mental condition," she replied. "Yes, and you're avoiding the question." Erica pursed her lips tightly. "It's complicated," she finally said. "We live in a dangerous world, and serious relationships make it even more dangerous. It affects our ability to make decisions. It gives our enemies leverage over us." "So you're planning to go your whole life without ever connecting with someone?" "I connected with someone once before. And look how that worked out." "Erica, I'm not Joshua Hallal." "I know. But I'm not ready for a relationship, Ben. And I don't think you are either." The guards brought them to a nondescript door deep in the Pentagon's sublevels. As they approached, Erica warned, "If you don't release us right now, I'll be forced to knock you all unconscious." The soldiers laughed. "With your hands cuffed behind your back?" Martinez asked mockingly. "Oh," Erica said. "Remember when my grandfather came over to me and I spat in his face? That was all an act. He was really slipping me the key to the handcuffs." Before the soldiers could react, Cyrus launched into action, followed by Erica, whose hands were indeed free. Together with Chip, Jawa, and Zoe, they quickly subdued the entire escort. "We need to move," Cyrus ordered. "The room where Finch will come to activate the portable nuclear launch unit is this way." They raced through the maze of corridors, collecting weapons from unconscious soldiers. Rounding a corner, they spotted Elmore Finch—the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs—stepping out of the secure room, flanked by armed guards. An aide beside him carried a thin steel briefcase. The aide was Murray Hill—Ben's old nemesis from SPYDER. "Ripley!" Murray gasped. "Not again!" Finch ordered his soldiers to open fire as Murray turned and ran. The team scrambled for cover. "Get them!" Finch roared as combat boots thundered after them. Cyrus shot a pipe, creating a steam cloud to cover their retreat, and led them up a stairwell to the main floor. They commandeered electric carts used for navigating the massive building and gave chase to Finch and Murray, who had fled in their own cart. The bizarre high-speed pursuit careened through Pentagon corridors, sending employees diving for cover. When they cornered Finch's vehicle, Ben leapt at Murray, wrestling for the briefcase as the carts collided. They crashed through a Revolutionary War exhibit, sending mannequins and artifacts flying. The severed head of a George Washington display ricocheted off a wall and decked a three-star general. Ben tumbled across the floor, separated from the others by a sparking power line that had fallen from the ceiling. Murray brandished an antique bayonet from the destroyed exhibit, keeping Ben away from the nuclear briefcase that had slid across the hall. "Back off, Ben!" Murray warned. "You're not going to get away with this." "Don't you want to hear how I figured it out?" Ben asked, edging closer. "Come any closer and I'll gut you like a fish." Ben spotted a sword from the exhibit—George Washington's own blade—and grabbed it. An absurd duel ensued as Murray tried to reach the briefcase. Washington's sword proved remarkably sharp, slicing through the briefcase handle when Murray used it to block Ben's attack. The case tumbled free, sliding toward an exposed electrical wire that would destroy its circuitry. Before it could reach the wire, Elmore Finch intercepted it. Behind him, a dozen soldiers had subdued Erica, Cyrus, and the others. More surrounded Ben, guns drawn. "Arrest him!" Finch ordered. "That's the boy who tried to kill the president!" Ben realized conventional arguments wouldn't work. He needed a new strategy. "Okay," he said to the soldiers. "You got me. But I didn't do it alone. I'm only a kid. I don't know how to build a bomb." "Who helped you?" asked one soldier. "Him!" Ben pointed at Finch. "He wanted me to kill the chairman so he could take over the Joint Chiefs!" Cyrus quickly backed Ben's story, adding, "If I wanted to steal that briefcase from you, why would I do it inside the Pentagon? You're surrounded by soldiers who work for you." The soldiers looked uncertainly between Finch and Cyrus. "Why are any of you listening to this?" Finch screamed. "I'm the chairman of the Joint Chiefs!" "Fine with me," Cyrus said, offering his hands. "But I'd recommend hauling your boss in as well. Unless you're a big fan of nuclear war." A three-star general arrived, assessing the chaotic scene. "Sounds like a good plan to me. Soldiers, take everyone involved in this whole insane fracas into custody until we get to the bottom of this." As the soldiers cuffed them all—including Finch and Murray—Ben caught Erica's eye. She smiled, pleased with the outcome. Despite everything, they had managed to keep the nuclear launch codes out of SPYDER's hands. Murray glowered at Ben. "I'm getting tired of this thwarting, Ben. Really tired of it." Ben grinned back. Yes, he was being arrested for attempted assassination, but he was relatively sure Cyrus could provide enough evidence to clear his name. SPYDER's plans had been foiled again. And frankly, after the past few days, he was looking forward to a nice, quiet jail cell.
Summary
Three days later, Ben stood in the White House Rose Garden, where scaffolding still covered the damaged Oval Office. Hundreds of dignitaries and reporters had gathered for his medal ceremony—a public declaration of his innocence and heroism. The official story claimed Ben had spotted Elmore Finch's bomb and bravely thrown it into the Oval Office, saving countless lives. The truth about SPYDER remained classified, another government secret buried beneath layers of national security. As President Stern began his speech, Ben barely listened. His mind raced with unanswered questions: Where had Warren and Ashley gone? How many more SPYDER agents remained hidden in government? And what had they really wanted with Vladimir Gorsky? More pressingly, Ben noticed Jason Stern standing nearby with a smug expression—until a large wet spot suddenly bloomed in the crotch of his pressed khakis. The audience tried to stifle their laughter as Jason, mortified, backed away and tumbled into the celebration cake. Ben caught Erica's eye in the crowd. Even she was struggling not to laugh. She had orchestrated this perfect revenge against the obnoxious First Son, another example of her incredible skill. Perhaps Erica wasn't ready for a relationship—maybe she never would be. Ben wondered if he'd go through his whole life waiting for another kiss from her, or if someday their stars would align. But in the meantime, Ben knew one thing about Erica Hale for certain: he was awfully lucky she was on his side. Together, they had thwarted SPYDER again—though Ben sensed the shadowy organization was far from finished. The world would need them again, and next time, they would be ready.
Best Quote
“There were rumors that at age three Erica had thwarted a trio of bank robbers with only a juice box and a Slinky.” ― Stuart Gibbs, Spy School Secret Service
Review Summary
Strengths: The book offers a thrilling espionage adventure with a compelling premise involving a young protagonist, Ben Ripley, tasked with uncovering a sleeper agent in the White House. The narrative is filled with twists and an engaging climax. The humor is a notable strength, providing unexpected laughs that enhance the reading experience. The book is described as enjoyable for readers of all ages. Weaknesses: Character development is noted as a potential area for improvement, with the reviewer suggesting that the characters could be stronger. However, this critique seems minor compared to the overall enjoyment of the story. Overall: The review conveys a positive sentiment, highlighting the book as a fun and suspenseful read. It is recommended for its engaging plot and humor, appealing to a broad audience, particularly younger readers.
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