An exciting mystery for young adults based at the historical secret code breaking centre at Bletchley Park.
It is refreshing to read a children’s story which isn’t about fantastic creatures, IT, dating or science fiction.
I, Spy is a good, old fashioned, adventure story about 3 teenagers, Robyn, Mary and Ned during World War 2. They discover that all is not as it seems in the adult world around them and seek to find clues and unravel the mystery. There are lots of interesting facts about nature, art and pigeon breeding which may develop in the mind of a younger reader to investigate further. There are special guest appearances by real characters such as Agatha Christie, Alan Turing and Winston Churchill. Even the Royal family get a mention! It is all so believable - if only the Official Secrets Act didn’t prevent the truth being known.
My only criticism is a few instances of sloppy proofreading which really is unforgivable in a book which is aimed at younger readers (p 102 ‘words’ should be ‘worms’ p166 ‘leaning against open the back door’). How can we expect our children to become literate when the books provide such poor examples?
Hence, I have given I, Spy only 4 stars instead of 5.
Lovely cover with lots of interest - again good old fashioned storytelling like Enid Blyton was for so many of us 60 years ago.
It is refreshing to read a children’s story which isn’t about fantastic creatures, IT, dating or science fiction.
I, Spy is a good, old fashioned, adventure story about 3 teenagers, Robyn, Mary and Ned during World War 2. They discover that all is not as it seems in the adult world around them and seek to find clues and unravel the mystery. There are lots of interesting facts about nature, art and pigeon breeding which may develop in the mind of a younger reader to investigate further. There are special guest appearances by real characters such as Agatha Christie, Alan Turing and Winston Churchill. Even the Royal family get a mention! It is all so believable - if only the Official Secrets Act didn’t prevent the truth being known.
My only criticism is a few instances of sloppy proofreading which really is unforgivable in a book which is aimed at younger readers (p 102 ‘words’ should be ‘worms’ p166 ‘leaning against open the back door’). How can we expect our children to become literate when the books provide such poor examples?
Hence, I have given I, Spy only 4 stars instead of 5.
Lovely cover with lots of interest - again good old fashioned storytelling like Enid Blyton was for so many of us 60 years ago.