ALA Booklist (Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2022)

Ben Ripley, a 12-year-old CIA spy-in-training who was first introduced in Spy School (2012), returns in another lighthearted action adventure. This one finds him his disgust quired to attend summer spy camp. Dreary, yes? But then something astonishing happens; he is approached by an agent of the supersecret evil organization Spyder, which is trying to recruit him to join the dark side. It seems Spyder hopes to capitalize on a unique talent that Ben doesn't even know he possesses. What's going on here? Whatever it is, it will involve superspy Alexander Hale and his equally talented daughter Erica, on whom Ben has a serious crush. Spies, counterspies, moles, and a Civil War reenactment (don't ask) speed the brisk action. There are too many plot conveniences, but the characters are both comic and convincing (no mean feat), and the story boasts some nifty surprises. Fans of the genre will be pleased and will look forward to the next volume in this series.

Horn Book (Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2022)

After escaping assassination by the top-secret organization SPYDER, Ben Ripley (Spy School) is looking forward to chilling out this summer. But SPYDER is turning up the heat, insisting that Ben come to work for them. Gorgeous fellow-spy-in-training Erica is ready to help, and her legendary grandfather also appears on the scene. Clever descriptions and plot twists make this a top-notch summer read.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2022)

Having survived his first year at the CIA Academy of Espionage (Spy School, 2012), 12-year-old Benjamin Ripley is looking forward to heading home for an assassin-free summer vacation with his family and old friends. That was the plan anyway. Instead, Ben is headed to Spy Camp, a "wilderness education facility," and the nefarious organization SPYDER is once again hot on his trail. The title of the novel is a bit misleading, as Ben hardly spends any time at the Happy Trails Sleepaway Camp for Boys and Girls. On the day he arrives, Ben receives a mysterious letter from SPYDER offering him the opportunity to lend his "special skills" to their efforts or be killed. And if it weren't for 15-year-old Erica Hale, Ben's secret crush and the "savviest spy-to-be" at Spy School, Ben would likely be facing certain death. Gibbs' screenwriter roots are evident in the explosive action sequences as Erica assumes responsibility for saving Ben and dashing SPYDER's evil plans. Unfortunately, Ben is often overshadowed by Erica's fearlessness and superior spy skills. Readers may find themselves scratching their heads every now and again over who is the true protagonist and whether or not Ben has what it takes for a future in espionage. Still, the quirky cast of characters, witty dialogue and high-stakes action make for an entertaining read that will likely satisfy adrenaline junkies. (Adventure. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2022)

Gr 5-7 This companion to Spy School (S &; S, 2012) follows 12-year-old Ben as he finishes up his first year of training after being recruited by the CIA, and he now has spy camp to look forward to. Important details from the first book are seamlessly woven into the story. Before Ben even leaves for his wilderness training camp, he discovers an elaborate plot against him. He joins up with Erika, the smartest kid at school, and her bumbling father, the acclaimed agent Alexander Hale, and the three try to figure out how to save what turns out to be not just their lives, but much more. Erika is a strong female character, and the vocabulary throughout is quite sophisticated. However, for a middle-grade book that presents itself as a goofy spy adventure, it borders on having too much realistic violence with kids wielding guns, assassination attempts, hostage situations, and sniper attacks. While there is plenty of violence in children's literature, it's a concern here because the story is set in the real world. That being said, fans of Anthony Horowitz's "Alex Rider" books (Philomel) and kids looking for a thriller will most certainly be drawn to the story. Kerry Roeder, Professional Children's School, New York City