MY MOM IS A SPY

The peaceful life Idris shares with his mum is upended when her boyfriend, David García, and his daughter, Lucía, come to stay for half term.

Though Idris knows his mom is a worker in a paper clip factory, Lucía is convinced that she is really a spy. Idris is skeptical, but Lucía, a spy enthusiast herself, becomes more suspicious when three pangolins are stolen from the zoo where her veterinarian dad works. And, even more strangely, on a trip to the zoo the next day, Idris’ mum seems to be associating with a vulturelike man named Victor. After Mum goes missing, Idris works with Lucía to find her and uncover the mystery of the stolen pangolins. Idris must come to terms with the realization that his mother has been keeping a secret from him, but, when they are reunited, she assures him her parental love was never in doubt. In this book, the first of a new adventure spy series, veteran author McNab and TV personality and veterinarian French have created a fast-paced spy caper complete with good guys to root for, nefarious villains, and plot twists. An animal lover, Idris is a relatable narrator; his interactions with Philby, Lucía’s dog, and Budi, an unhappy and withdrawn ape, will resonate with readers. Some British vocabulary appears but will be easily understood through context. Idris and his mother appear light-skinned in the illustrations; Lucía and her father are cued as Latine.

Thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful. Kids will eagerly await the next volume.