Hey, hey, hey,
Welcome or welcome back to another episode here at the Big Kids Book Club. Today, we got looking back into the crypts of bookish history, looking for hidden gems of yesteryear!
Fear not, the TOMB RAIDER is here!
Title: VI Spy
Author: Maz Evans
Publisher: Chicken House
Pages: 336
Premise:
Divorce is tough for any kid. But when – like Vi’s parents – your mum is ex-secret service and your dad is a retired bad guy, ’till death do us part’ takes on a whole new meaning. And with her parents’ focus on each other, the real super-villains are having a field day.
To save her family – and the world – from evil domination, Vi must turn spy
Review:
I found this delightfully witty and with all the charm that Maz Evans brings to Middle Grade. The characters were unique but had a theme and balance, with enough of their focus being on the narrative growth of the plot, while the rest of their efforts being to entertain in hilarious ways.
I especially love the grandma, Independence Day, and the whole old people community of spies. There was enough twists and turns that kept me flipping through the pages at a bouncy pace, and wanting to come back to the book every time I put it down. I can see why this proved quite popular as a series as it really feels like a Disney film sort of novel – and no I don’t mean Wish grade Disney – I mean good Disney. It’s got that family film charm where the kids are laughing at the pure silliness of some of the situations, while there’s just the occasional wink to the parents who might be reading this to their kids.
The idea of super spies and how those normal every day troubles are just so much bigger (and weirder) for a family like that. And the fact that they are all named after holidays…. Chef’s kiss.
I’m so glad I dusted this off from the depths of 2021 (so far back… I know!), but it was one I missed when it first came out, so I’m glad I could get to it a few years later.
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