Ruby Redfort's third adventure begins with Ruby in survival training. Though Ruby is an amazing code-breaker and has a great amount of book knowledge, she is still struggling with the practical test of actually surviving on her own in the wild, and she fears she may not become an agent. In the midst of trying to prove herself worthy at Spectrum, Ruby becomes involved in trying to solve two mysteries: One, priceless jewelry is disappearing from the department store, and two, rare wild animals have been spotted in and around her hometown. Throw in some espionage in the perfume industry and a few bad guys, and Ruby has her hands full.The female protagonist in this novel is lively and will easily appeal to readers of both genders; however, the style makes it difficult to follow the storyline. Child alternates between regular narrative, scripted dialogue, and excerpts of training handbooks. This constant switching can confuse readers, making it tricky for the young readers to which it is targeted to keep up with what is going on. It also feels like it takes longer for the conflict to resolve than is really necessary. Readers can figure the mystery out before the heroine, making things drag on as readers wait for Ruby to "catch up" with what they already know. Overall, it is a decent choice for those who enjoy the mystery genre, but it would rank higher if it was written in a more cohesive manner.Dawn Talbott.

In her third adventure, spy-in-training Ruby Redfort joins forces with best friend Clancy to unravel a mystery involving missing jewelry, perfume, and wild animals on the loose. Child delivers an irreverent and fast-paced (if rambling) escapade that will appeal to any reader who has fantasized about life as a code-cracking secret agent. Back matter explains how to encode one's name using molecular structures.

The latest Ruby Redfort adventure features Child's trademark wit, with clever allusions to popular culture, gentle digs at out-of-it parents, and a complex yet accessible plot. An intriguing prologue establishes both Ruby's fearless and self-sufficient character and the introduction of one of many marvelous, seemingly unconnected factoids: a huge blue wolf believed to be extinct. Then we jump ahead nine years to the present and Ruby's ordeal at Spectrum's survival training camp, a step in her training to become a field agent. The obstacles in her path include not only possibly extinct animals but also clairvoyant old ladies, priceless missing jewels, and a wicked cold she can't seem to ditch. All the old friends are back: helpful and impossibly suave butler Hitch, irascible yet kindly housekeeper Mrs. Digby, and of course Clancy Crew, Ruby's sometime partner in crime. With short chapters, great hooks, and periodic interactive activities (Morse code, anyone?), as well as fascinating tidbits about science and natural history, it's a great read-aloud for families or the classroom and will be snapped up by the series' many fans.