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alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun book! Amber and her best friend complete an Escape Room challenge and, in the final moments, Amber finds herself feeling calm and forceful, keeping the others playing to their strengths until they win with moments to spare. The company running the Room invite her back for another new game...and then they reveal that actually, they've been looking for some new spies, and Amber is a perfect fit...
I keep seeing this book compared to Alex Rider (and Amber even name checks that series) but really, apart from being about teenage spies, they're not much alike. Alex was always very angsty; he didn't want to be a spy, but kept getting forced into it. Amber doesn't like lying to people, but she loves being a spy, once she starts to get the hang of it. It's more like a kid friendly version of Cherub, if anything.
I was expecting things to be much more sinister than they turned out ... I've probably read too many adult thrillers recently ... but I really enjoyed reading along with Amber. This is a fantastic read and I could see it being useful in the classroom, too.
This is a wonderful, funny, heartfelt, action packed read and I'd love to read more about Amber's adventures in the future. I'm sure she has a bright future ahead of her.
I keep seeing this book compared to Alex Rider (and Amber even name checks that series) but really, apart from being about teenage spies, they're not much alike. Alex was always very angsty; he didn't want to be a spy, but kept getting forced into it. Amber doesn't like lying to people, but she loves being a spy, once she starts to get the hang of it. It's more like a kid friendly version of Cherub, if anything.
I was expecting things to be much more sinister than they turned out ... I've probably read too many adult thrillers recently ... but I really enjoyed reading along with Amber. This is a fantastic read and I could see it being useful in the classroom, too.
This is a wonderful, funny, heartfelt, action packed read and I'd love to read more about Amber's adventures in the future. I'm sure she has a bright future ahead of her.
annacaig's review
5.0
My 15yo daughter has reviewed this book on my blog...
For too long, the world of spy fiction has been dominated by male protagonists like James Bond, Jason Bourne and Alex Rider.
The change towards the mainstream inclusion of female spies as the main character and not the love interest or a minor character, is starting with the release of Em Norry’s new book – Amber Undercover. It is a relatable, action-filled spy novel for ages 8 to 15.
Most spy novels are fun to read, but impossible to relate to as they have nothing to do with our own lives. Amber Undercover is different.
Full review here: https://murderundergroundbrokethecamel.wordpress.com/2021/03/21/amber-undercover/
For too long, the world of spy fiction has been dominated by male protagonists like James Bond, Jason Bourne and Alex Rider.
The change towards the mainstream inclusion of female spies as the main character and not the love interest or a minor character, is starting with the release of Em Norry’s new book – Amber Undercover. It is a relatable, action-filled spy novel for ages 8 to 15.
Most spy novels are fun to read, but impossible to relate to as they have nothing to do with our own lives. Amber Undercover is different.
Full review here: https://murderundergroundbrokethecamel.wordpress.com/2021/03/21/amber-undercover/
mswocreader's review
4.0
This story follows Amber Roberts your average teen who spends time going to school and hanging with her best mate Vi. One day Vi and Amber do a trail run for a new escape room and Amber is called back after the company is impressed with her performance. The reveal the escape room as a front for The Agency and reveal they'd like to train her to become a spy. Between her best friend seemingly replacing her with a new friend and her parent's seemingly replacing her with a new baby, Amber feels left out. So this opportunity is just the thing she needs.
Immediately thrust into this new world of special gadgets and secret trainings, Amber is surprised when she's assigned her first real mission so soon. She's to post as a student at a special school for gifted students in Norway. The girl who has never been outside her hometown gets to spend three weeks out of the country working undercover. Of course she's not too happy when she gets assigned a babysitter in the form of Luca, another teen agent who has been with the agency for four years. Amber has to get out of her comfort zone while trying to fit in at this school among the children of the wealthiest people in Europe.
This easy read is perfect for the age 10-12 crowd. It's fun escapism that's not trying to send heavy handed messages. Though the ending was a little quick for my liking it had a very episodic feel that left room to expand this into a series if a series isn't already in the works.
Immediately thrust into this new world of special gadgets and secret trainings, Amber is surprised when she's assigned her first real mission so soon. She's to post as a student at a special school for gifted students in Norway. The girl who has never been outside her hometown gets to spend three weeks out of the country working undercover. Of course she's not too happy when she gets assigned a babysitter in the form of Luca, another teen agent who has been with the agency for four years. Amber has to get out of her comfort zone while trying to fit in at this school among the children of the wealthiest people in Europe.
This easy read is perfect for the age 10-12 crowd. It's fun escapism that's not trying to send heavy handed messages. Though the ending was a little quick for my liking it had a very episodic feel that left room to expand this into a series if a series isn't already in the works.
helenharvey's review
5.0
A fast-paced, thrilling teen spy novel. Amber gets recruited into a secret agency and soon finds herself on an undercover mission to crack an international hacking network. But she struggles to juggle her secret spy life with her ordinary home life. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I'd love to see where Amber's adventures take her next.
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