NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of these books in return for my honest review.
Book Description: This book opens in a small town in Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own fact-finding mission. The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer.
Review: This is a fantastic novel for young adults. It's clean - devoid of cussing and sex, which the YA genre is flooded with these days - while still maintaining a fast paced, interesting storyline. The characters were fairly well-developed and likeable, even if some of their decisions might make older readers cringe (like unwittingly contaminating a crime scene, perhaps?). As someone who enjoyed The Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew series when I was younger, I found this to be a highly enjoyable and satisfying tale of mystery and friendship. Definitely worth reading!
Jessa's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Book Description: This book opens in a small town in Michigan where Sarah and her sister Lacey are now living with their Aunt and Uncle. Still reeling from the fact her parents have disappeared, Sarah starts the school year with her new friend Jackie Jenkins. When Sarah learns the school has been bombed, she’s filled with dread. Uncle Walt is a teacher, and he was in the school when the bomb exploded. Taking matters into her own hands, Sarah decides to search for him. The rest of the Super Spies are right behind her. When a fireman chases them away from the school, Sarah becomes suspicious. She decides to investigate. The FBI arrives on the scene. Sarah realizes this bombing could have even bigger implications. Searching for the bombers, Sarah is introduced to the world of terrorism. She fears that the bombing and her parents’ disappearance are connected and terrorists are involved. To make matters worse, the bombers are determined to finish the job. Can the Super Spies find the bombers before it’s too late?
Review: The latest installment of Lisa Orchard's Super Spies series is nearly as good as the first book; chock full of suspense, adventure, and mystery. It was hard to put down once I really got into the story and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I like how these stories deal with some difficult subject matter, such as death, without becoming too dark. I also enjoyed seeing sisters Sarah and Lacey bond and become closer than they've ever been. While there isn't anything wrong with Hinkle's as a setting, I did wish that the Super Spies would branch out and meet in a few other places to change it up a bit. The end was abrupt. I couldn't believe it ended where it did - what a brilliant cliffhanger! I can't wait to see how the next book in the series plays out!
Jessa's Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
You can get your copy of The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer HERE. Don't forget to check out the sequel, The Super Spies and the High School Bomber HERE. Want to know more about author Lisa Orchard? Check out her site HERE.
Note: This post originally appeared on Once Upon A Book HERE on May 25th, 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment