School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-7-Cody Saron is a regular James Bond at the young age of 13. After exploring the world and fighting crime with his dad, an undercover CIA agent, he is sent to live with his aunt in Connecticut when things get a little too intense. For the first time in his life, he is attending a public junior high. Navigating the choppy social waters of school is far more difficult than all of the secret missions in Santiago. Logsted does a good job of combining crime-fighting action and middle-school angst with current issues. Cody befriends an older neighbor who has just returned from serving in the military and has lost an arm. Throughout the book, Cody has a feeling that he is being watched, and when his suspicions turn out to be true, he must rely on his years of defense training for help. He is a master at martial arts, and this skill makes for action-packed sequences. The secondary characters are a bit cliched; the gym teacher is a complete blowhard, the assistant principal is wound too tight, and gangs of bullies attack the slow chubby kid. While not considered top-rate fiction, the story will hold the attention of reluctant readers.-Mairead McInnes, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Cody Saron, raised by his CIA operative father, tackles his first truly dangerous assignment: middle school. Cody's martial arts training comes in handy when he uncovers a plot against his life. Though characterizations are thin, the story's action sequences, baseball rivalries, and credible school environment make this bit of wish fulfillment a good choice for reluctant readers. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
While growing up with his secret-agent dad, Cody Saron has amassed his own espionage-appropriate, action-hero arsenal of tricks and gadgets. After his dad is pulled into a particularly dangerous situation, Cody is sent to live with his aunt in a quiet Connecticut suburb. Adjusting to regular junior high proves very difficult for a kid used to a childhood of adventure. Cody is the sort of student who corrects his teachers, and he vanquishes the school bullies through his incredible martial arts skills. Logsted balances a suspenseful story with funny scenes featuring the highly trained, suit-wearing Cody and his awkward attempts to fit in at his new school. The popularity of novels starring teens who have been given the responsibility of securing the Free World may eventually run out of gas. This effort, however, will appeal to readers by finding humor in the formula.--Morning, Todd Copyright 2009 Booklist
