Media Review: Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

Stuart Gibbs’ Spy School is an action-packed novel of an espionage world wrapped in middle-school chaos and laugh-out-loud moments. This novel cleverly blends action, comedy, and mystery through an unlikely protagonist, Ben Ripley—a nerdy, awkward twelve-year-old who’s recruited by a secret CIA spy school by mistake.

The plot kicks off when Ben, a math-loving seventh grader, is recruited into the CIA’s Academy of Espionage. He quickly learns that he’s not exactly there for his brilliant spy skills but as the bait of a mysterious mole that is giving CIA’s classified information to its biggest enemy: SPYDER – An evil organization that causes chaos for a prize. Pushed into a world of cryptic missions, assassination attempts, and mysterious classmates, Ben must prove he’s more than just bait for someone else’s game. Alongside Erica Hale, a talented spy who is a descendant of Nathan Hale, Ben begins to investigate secret plans that could lead to destruction and chaos.

Ben’s narration is packed with humor and that makes the story highly entertaining. The pacing is fast, with intriguing clever plot twists to keep even reluctant readers turning the pages. Erica, meanwhile, serves as the cool, competent, and impressively skilled spy. Their relationship is one of the book’s more rewarding aspects, allowing for both character development and genuine friendship.

However, the book isn’t flawless as feel overly convenient and characters are flawless. While this works for comedic effect, it can make the danger feel less urgent, which undermines the stakes at perilous moments. One such example is when Murray Hill, Ben’s nemesis and the mole, uses Ben’s clock for the nuclear bomb that is supposed to be set off. This makes the story overly convenient as Ben’s clock is just a “piece of Junk” that could be easily broken.

Still, Spy School remains an entertaining and suspenseful re, especially for middle-schoolers. It creates suspense and character development that push the readers further into the book.