About the Book
Juvenile delinquent and budding pyromaniac Max Segredo belongs in juvie hall. At least, that's what his most recent foster family would tell you. Instead, Max ends up on the doorstep of Merry Sunshine Orphanage-their very heavily guarded doorstep. As he begins to acclimate to his new home, Max learns a few things straightaway: first, cracking a Caesar Cipher isn't as hard as it seems; second, never sass your instructor if she's also holding throwing knives; and third, he may not be an orphan after all. Soon, Max and the rest of the students are sent on a mission to keep a dangerous weapon out of the hands of LOTUS, an international group bent on world domination. Of course, all Max cares about is finding out more about his father, the man he's now sure is still alive. As the stakes get higher, Max must make some difficult choices, including who to trust, and finally learns the true meaning of family.
About the Author :
Bruce Hale (www.brucehale.com) is passionate about inspiring reluctant readers to read. He has written or illustrated more than thirty-five seriously funny books for children, including two other Monstertown Mysteries, the popular Chet Gecko Mysteries series, and the Clark the Shark picture bookseries. An actor and a Fulbright Scholar in Storytelling, Bruce is in demand as a speaker, having presented at conferences, universities, and schools across North America and internationally. His acting resume includes regional commercials, theater, and an independent film, "The Ride". Bruce's book The Malted Falcon was an Edgar Award Finalist. Murder, My Tweet won the Little D Award for Humor Writing. He lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife, Janette, and his sweet mutt, Riley.
Review :
Gr 4-8 Thirteen-year-old Max Segredo is accused of starting a fire, which gets him displaced from yet another foster home. His caseworker takes him to live in Merry Sunshine Orphanage and, in just a few hours, Max begins to see that this is no ordinary home. With classes in lock picking and mixed martial arts, he soon discovers that it is a training school for spies. Someone slips him a cryptic message stating that his father is still alive and another one saying that his father needs help. Max meets a variety of characters at the institution and, living in close quarters, they develop a bond, giving him a family. Nevertheless he wants to find his father even at the risk of betraying everyone at Merry Sunshine. The book has nonstop action, clear detailed descriptions, and a plot that's easy to follow. Readers who enjoy spy and espionage novels might find this one too simplistic in techniques used and missions taken, but it is a good introduction to the genre. Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD SLJ"
Thirteen-year-old fosterling Max Segredo knows he's just one stop away from juvie. Luckily, that stop turns out to be the Merry Sunshine Orphanage, where the third floor is off-limits due to a secret science project, and the house rules include "No unsupervised gunplay." Staffed with tough instructors with names like "Styx" and "Stones," the unusually secure "orphanage" turns out to be a vocational school to train students in "Systematic Protection, Intelligence, and Espionage Services." Max fits in nicely, until coded messages suggesting that his father, a spy himself, is still alive spark an urgent need to escape. Hale threads the narrative with colorful metaphors and throwaway lines ("But his search was as fruitless as an all-beef buffet") and festoons it with high- and low-tech tools of spycraft. He ultimately sends his diverse cast of student spies on a field trip/mission that climaxes in a face-off with shadowy LOTUS-a rival organization with the requisite black limos, palatial hidden headquarters, agents who dress like "catalog models for Victoria's Evil Secret" and even a shark tank. Dorman adds a handful of dramatic full-page scenes, and Hale closes with a note on ciphers. One character's sudden murder aside, the tone is mostly light, with family issues and conflicting loyalties (driven by troubling revelations about Max's dad) for added texture. This lightweight kid-spy romp should find some eager readers. (Adventure. 11-13) Kirkus"
This title is a humorous look at the intriguing life of Max Segredo. Max is an orphan and when his current foster home is set on fire, Max is blamed. He ends up at the Merry Sunshine Orphanage, but soon realizes this is not your average orphanage. It's actually a training school for spies. Between training exercises, Max's search for his father, secret missions, and double agents the action never stops. Spy activities and a connected website add value. This book will appeal to both boys and girls. Characters are diverse and well thought out. The School for S.P.I.E.S. series will be a winner. Darshell Silva, Librarian and Technology Integrator, Rocky Hill School, East Greenwich, Rhode Island [Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.] Highly Recommended Library Media Connection"
