Spy Sisters Versus Snake Ten-Fangs: Volume 1(Spy Sisters)

A new middle-grade spy action comedy/adventure series kicks off with three sisters who use martial arts to save the world.

When the world is in danger, when royal families need protection, when supervillains steal from orphans and little old ladies, the Spy Sisters are trained to save the day!

Meet the spies. Their real names are classified:

Sister #1, code name, Kay-7. She is thirteen, and it's her job to protect her younger sisters--and the whole world. That's a lot of pressure for an eighth grader who has a big history test on Wednesday.

Sister #2, code name, Scarlett (or Scar for short). She's ten and hates jumping out of airplanes. Villains fear her left-handed yellow boomerang.

Sister #3, code name, Mia. She's in first grade. Her favorite color is purple. She's a language expert, even though she's only six.

When their parents are kidnapped, the Spy Sisters accept a super-secret mission from Dr. Nobody to track down and defeat the notorious Snake Ten-Fangs. With the help of their family's bionic dog, Scarlett's flying carpet, and Kay-7's smartphone named Brad, the Spy Sisters must travel from India to Alaska to the Galapagos Islands.

Can they save their parents--and the world? It's what the Spy Sisters do.

Alan Markham holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. For several years he was a special education teacher, during which time he taught kindergarten through twelfth grade. He was an elementary school librarian and is currently a high school librarian. Martial arts have had a great influence on his writing. He studied karate in college, and while living in Taiwan, he became acquainted with kung fu. After he got married, he and his three young children studied karate together at a local dojo. His oldest child became an assistant instructor to the dojo sensei.

"A fun adventure with a side of whimsy. . . . Young readers who enjoy martial arts, spy stories, and humor will devour this book. Themes in the book revolve around family, sisterhood, serving the greater good, and overcoming fears."

"Nonstop action, lots of fun repartee, and wholehearted emotions make this novel impossible to put down. . . . A funny and action-packed debut that will appeal to young fans of sister and spy-centric thrillers."

"The sisters must employ their bionic dog, combat ribbons, a bomb disguised as a potato, and their martial arts skills to take down their nemesis. Twists and silliness are crammed into this action-packed adventure."

"The tongue-in-cheek tone is balanced with earnestness, and the inventive gadgets, swift pacing, young heroes, and clear moral ("We can never stop doing what's right, even when bad things happen") will please adventure fans. Bruner's humorous, cartoonlike illustrations throughout increase the book's accessibility and appeal. . . . A lighthearted madcap caper."

"An irreverent blend of daredevil antics, gadgets galore, and straight-faced send-ups to classic spy and thriller tropes promise excitement from beginning to end and beyond. Astute readers will revel in Markham's wry humor, clever wordplay, and boldly determined heroines."