[The Second Spy (Books of Elsewhere)] [Author: West, Jacqueline] [July, 2013]

The Books of Elsewhere #3

by Jacqueline West

In Olive's third adventure, what lurks below the house could be as dangerous as what's hidden inside . . .Some terrifying things have happened to Olive in the old stone house, but none as scary as starting junior high. Or so she thinks. When she plummets through a hole in her backyard, though, she realizes two things that may change her First, the wicked Annabelle McMartin is back. Second, there's a secret underground that unlocks not one but two of Elsewhere's biggest, most powerful, most dangerous forces yet. But with the house's guardian cats acting suspicious, her best friend threatening to move away, and her ally Morton starting to rebel, Olive isn't sure where to turn. Will she figure it out in time? Or will she be lured into Elsewhere, and trapped there for good?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Magic

Paperback

First published July 5, 2012

About the author

Jacqueline West on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacquel...

Jacqueline's blog: http://jacquelinewest.com/blog/

Reviews

[Sue Moro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three was my favorite in the series so far! This series gets better and better with each book. I've already downloaded and begun listening to book four.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those series that gathers steam as it goes, starting out interesting enough, but developing more "oomph" with each entry. This was definitely my favorite one so far. In addition to getting better, the series is also getting definitely creepier, in a pleasant, spine-tingling, look-under-your-bed sort of way (fun, but not too definitely scary to its target age).
Olive Dunwoody is still living in a large, forbidding stone house built by an evil painter/magician that is obviously trying to use her for its own nefarious purposes. It's going to require all her vigilance, as well as the help of next-door neighbor Rutherford & three guardian cats Horatio, Harvey, & Leopold to keep her safe from its evil designs. Unfortunately, the house seems to know just what Olive is thinking & exactly what she will do in the situations it manages to set up, so even while consciously trying not to, Olive keeps winding up in dangerous trouble.
This time, things are compounded by Rutherford's keeping a secret that has Olive feeling seriously mad & betrayed, as well as the fact that the usually prickly Horatio seems to be positively angry at her - just one of the strange new behaviors he's exhibiting these days. Will Olive be able to figure out what's going on with two of the most important people in her life, while continuing to stay alert for the possible return of her arch-nemesis, Annabelle McMartin?
Kids who like a little spooky in their stories will really like this series, with its dark, forbidding house that's as much a character as a setting, & the ability for people both good & bad to slide in & out of its paintings.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW can West write a cliff hanger! These books are so awesome, so well written, it doesn't matter they were written for people almost half my age. I need book 4 now!

[~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

People dont give enough credit to children’s authors in writing impactful character arcs

Meaning: Yes i cried!

Horatio defender till i die 🤞

[Steph Lovelady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still enjoying this series, but I didn't like this one quite as much as the first two. Hard to say exactly why. Maybe having the school year start split the focus between what was going on at Olive's new school and her haunted house, and I preferred the focus on the house. The art teacher is an interesting new character. I'm trusting she'll become important later, or else she's just an eccentric distraction.

The book ends on an intriguing cliffhanger...

[Rebecca (bookishbex) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic installment in the Books of Elsewhere series!! My kids and I can’t get enough! Thank goodness we already have books 4 & 5 ready and waiting to devour- we don’t want to wait to find out what happens next!

[eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars

This series never fails to impress me! Every book is just as good as the last and nostalgia definitely bumps it up in terms of enjoyment and rating (for me at least). This plot line might be my favorite out of these first three and I enjoyed the whole 'double agent' thing even if I could've seen it coming. I love the friendship between Rutherford and Olive and between Leopold, Harvey, Horatio and Olive. I also hadn't really thought about it before now but I love the art! Yeah the cover is awesome, but also the black and white drawings in the middle of the book are super cool too and sometimes it reminds me of what I'm actually supposed to be imagining in my head. I also, as always, adore the magic in this series. Name another book with talking cats, magic paintings, and people trapped in them? I'll wait. Anyways still super cool and I'd still highly recommend. :)

[Pumkin pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Books Of Elsewhere are the kinds of books that you have to get to a certain spot for it to be a 'can't put it down book. ' . Other than that, I thought it was a really good book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

We join Olive as she steps into the harrowing halls of junior high, and I would be fine if we hadn't. Part of the magic of these books was the charming seclusion from the rest of the modern world, so it was jarring to read about a girl Olive's age wearing eyeliner. (Really, I have no idea why this particular detail threw me off.) I don't think these books can transition successfully into teenager-land (like, say, the Harry Potter series), but I'm willing to suspend judgment until at least the next book.

The basic plot: someone (possibly the escaped Annabelle) has broken into the mysterious jars beneath Olive's home. One of the paintings is tantalizing, calling out to Olive and tempting her to enter despite Horatio's warnings. Something seems a little off about Olive's art instructor. And Rutherford is keeping secrets from Olive.

All that to say, this mystery was quite predictable for non-children. Like, say, me. Nevertheless, the ending was wholly satisfying. There was a lot more at stake than in either of the previous two books, and the way all the characters came together to battle evil was heartwarming. The relationships have some real emotion behind them, especially between Olive and the cats. There was some interesting development on that front-- a lot of which was between Olive and Horatio. I think the second book was more about the relationship between Olive and Leopold, so perhaps the next installment will see a deepening of the relationship between Olive and Harvey? (Or maybe not. He's a little too unhinged for that to make sense.) I am probably the biggest cat lover this side of crazy, and as a college student I am not able to have my very own feline just now. So there were several times throughout my reading experience when I suddenly felt overwhelmed by my need for a kitty. I suppose I'll just have to be satisfied with fictional cats and GIFs.



Works for me.


Oh, and hey, guys: this is the series I recommend to people looking for good talking cats. Cats that have some real personality, and don't just avoid contractions like a certain Grimalkin I know. For some reason the cats didn't seem to be as present in this story as they were in the others, but for the scenes they were in, they didn't disappoint.

One big downfall of this book, for me, was that it seemed that Olive was re-learning the lesson she was supposed to learn in the previous book! Her escapades with the paint stank of the old spellbook fiasco, and I'm a little tired of her being dishonest and secretive in her dealings with the cats. It was so obvious that she was going to mess everything up.

Then it was obvious that Horatio wasn't himself, because REALLY, when does he say dopey things like "You can trust him", or whatever it was he said? Horatio is too sassy for that. And I find it reeeally hard to believe that none of them noticed he was made out of paint. Not sure how I feel about Rutherford's Cullenish powers of mind-reading, either.

But hey! Leopold was goshdarn cute in this installment. I want to cuddle him sooooo much. And Olive's declaration of love for Horatio basically made me melt. I. WANT. KITTY.

[Lanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite middle grade series! :) & my first book read in 2016! :)

I absolutely love "the books of elsewhere". These are a perfect choice for fans of "Alice in wonderland." And "Coraline" I'd definitely give this series to a young reluctant reader.

The writing style is beautiful & I absolutely love the characters. Olive is a great main character, the cats are hilarious, the art teacher is great, & Morton is such a cute little boy. But my favorite is ruthford. He's so wonderfully nerdy.

Here we dive deeper into elsewhere, learning more about the secrets of the pantry under the trapdoor, head off to the dangers of middle school, & try to stop Morton from leaving elsewhere.

We get a mix of olive at school, dealing with friendship problems with ruthford, & the magics of Annabell & her grandfather. I love the scenes in art classes & horatio & the bathtub. That gives us some of the first real characterization & development for the cats.

The plots picking up, gearing towards a grand finale. Also love how they've managed to use the same couple of bad guys over the past three books, but in different forms, without it getting old.

I've read these books several times and they still hold their power. Love them & would love to see s movie version.:)

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had problems with this book because of the cats and the simple story line.
Odd things are happening at the old Victorian house where Olive lives. Olive and her friend, Morton, discover that the evil (and dead) Annabelle McMartin can create havoc outside the house, too.
Martin is the only one who know the secret—and her only friend in junior high. Once again filled with talking cats, paintings that come alive, and nefarious goings-on, this light fantasy/mystery will be a go book for reluctant readers.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first 60%, then put the book down for about 6 months. It's a danger when reading kids books (as opposed to YA) that what is hidden from young readers is sometimes painfully obvious to adults. In this case the fact that Horatio was not himself. Also Olive's reaction to the idea of Rutherford leaving, it all just made me less fond of Olive and I had a hard time continuing. Still a good book and part of a good series, though.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this book so much. I wanted to enjoy it and I had been looking forward to reading it, but it felt like crawling instead of a fun brisk walk. I skimmed a lot. It picked up towards the end, which I did enjoy. I am hoping the fourth book will have some neat stuff in it now that we know a few more things.

[Milliebot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book picked up the pace nicely (book two was a little lacking) and I felt it was more unsettling/creepy than the previous book, which I loved. We have Olive struggling with trust and self-doubt again, lending believability to her character and the storyline. As usual, I don't think there are enough illustrations - they're great and I want more!

[Lasorcieredesmots · Rating 5 out of 5]

on attend dans ce nouveau tome qu’Olive apprenne enfin de ses erreurs, ce qui n’est pas encore le cas. Néanmoins, c’est une héroïne qui reste attachante et veut réparer les choses. Ce qu’elle vit au collège ne l’aide pas. J’ai d’ailleurs aimé qu’on sorte un peu de la maison et que se pose la question de la phobie scolaire, même si le terme n’est pas évoqué ainsi. Les personnages secondaires restent attachants aussi. J’ai beaucoup aimé le fait qu’on en apprenne plus sur Horatio et Rutherford. L’histoire reste donc dans la ligne des tomes précédents. Même si le schéma devient prévisible, on est pris au jeu, et le roman se termine sur un certain suspens qui donne envie de connaître la suite. Je vous conseille donc la lecture de cette série jeunesse qui fonctionne bien.

https://lasorcieredesmots.wordpress.c...

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Books of Elsewhere: The Second Spy" is a spellbinding continuation of Jacqueline West's imaginative series. With its richly imagined world, engaging characters, and compelling plot twists, it is sure to captivate readers of all ages. West seamlessly blends elements of fantasy and mystery to create a gripping narrative that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

From the eerie halls of the McMartin mansion to the magical landscapes of Elsewhere, the book immerses readers in a world of wonder and adventure. With its themes of identity, power, and resilience, "The Second Spy" is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling and thought-provoking literary escapade.

[Bebe Phramthong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsewhere is a great book. And l love to read the Elsewhere novels The Second Spy is a book all about finding Morton's parents. But Olive needed Morton to tell Olive his parents names. Olive has been trying to find Morton's parents, Olive had made a deal with Morton, the deal is that Olive only has 3 months to find Morton's parents if not Olive must let Morton borrow the spectacles and Morton must go back and live in the picture not with Lucinda Niven Morton's sister. Can Olive make it or do they have to follow the deal the came up with... READ IT THEN YOU WILL KNOW. Iam looking forward to read book 4 (so exciting.)

[Kristie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olive starts junior high (6th grade) in this book. I like the way she's a loner, making her way through school the best she can. Luckily, Rutherford is in the same grade and they can eat lunch together, until they have a falling out because he keeps a secret from her. I kept waiting for a "second spy" to emerge, based on the book's title, but this was not really explained until near the end. Still a great series. Couldn't stop listening to the audiobook. The only part I didn't like was in the first chapter where the author kept explaining/summarizing what happened in the first two books as if the reader just jumped straight into book 3. I felt like this was unnecessary. Now, onto book #4!

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series reads well. The story is engaging and once the action picks up it moves well. It feels a little dark for younger readers kind of creepy in a lot of ways, but the author does a good job. I do find it a little frustrating in that the main character continues to make mistakes that could be avoided but thinks "I want to do this, it seems like a bad idea and every else will try to stop me, but i'll be ok" again and again... All in all a decent read, but be aware it may be a little creepy for younger kids.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 3rd instalment, Olive discovers that Annabelle McMartin is back and she finds a recipe for the magic paint.

Olive tries drawing Morton’s parents and brings them to life as she still can’t locate the whereabouts of his real parents.

Aldous in a younger version of himself is helped by Annabelle to finish painting his self portrait. It later disappears from the house.

Rutherford reveals he is a reader who can read people’s thoughts and decides to stay with his grandmother, Mrs. Dewey, instead of going away to school in Sweden.

Danger still lurks as Annabelle is out there somewhere.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this one sitting on my currently reading for quite a while now, though I only actually got around to picking it up at the start of June. I honestly expected to plough through this, considering how much I enjoyed the first two of the series. Maybe if I had picked it up sooner and didn't have to wait so long (my library had all the other books except this one, so I made them order it), then maybe I would've enjoyed it more.

The last half of the book was much better than the first, and I definitely want to finish the series. At the same time, I am in no hurry to pick up the next book.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characterization is the strength of this wholesome fantasy series that parents can feel confident having their children read. Olive is an only child. In the beginning of this novel, her selfishness and self-centeredness irritated me to the point I didn't like her. But West would be doing a disservice to her character if she were to have portrayed Olive in any other way. Over the course of the story, Olive does redeem herself. The series is intriguing, full of mystery, suspense, and growing friendships. A great series!

[Lady Bouse II · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It's been my experience that those people who seem the most 'normal' are in fact the most dangerous."

It took 3 books to do it, but the author finally hit her stride with this one! I was captivated begging to end! Oooh it's getting good now!

Quotable Quotations 🗣📢

"She had other friends--friends that wouldn't leave her. She had the cats."

"You really shouldn't be sleeping on my parent's bed, you know my mother is allergic to cats."
"Yes that is unfortunate but, sometimes sacrifices must be made to achieve the happiness of others." 🤣

"The point is we love him!"
TEAM HORATIO!!!!!

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A note in her art room locker makes Olive wary of everyone, even her closest friends. But she too has hidden things from the cats and Rutherford that drives them all away, leaving her paranoid and alone…. With Annabelle still out there manifesting her unknown plan, it seems Olive is helpless to stop her — or Annabelle’s grandfather. The danger in this book is more palpable than the prior two books, making this the most exciting installment of the Elsewhere books so far.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a delightful series, and I'm enjoying each of the books far more than I would have guessed or anticipated. The characters are charming and endearing, and the story is actually quite interesting. I love the way it gently comments and reflects upon family and friendship, loyalty and love. Looking forward to continuing the series with books 4 and 5.

[Joc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been 4 stars if not for two unfixable problems: (1) It makes no sense for Olive to do what she did with the paints and against the cats, given the previous book; (2) It makes no sense that the cats did not know something was wrong with the fake Horatio, given that they have much keener senses and were in close proximity with the fake Horatio.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adorable installment in this cute middle grade series! Olive is one of my new favorite mg heroines. I love her spunk, and her ability to make mistakes and learn from them. She's just an ordinary tween girl, and she acts like one. Well, with the tiny exception of the fact that she lives in a house full of mystery and magic. Highly recommend for any fan of mg reads!

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olive still has to worry about Annabelle & Aldus since she lives in the Old McMartin house, but in this third book in the series, she also has to worry about the actions of some of her friends. While starting middle school, art & paints are very important to the mystery at home as Olive tries to stay safe and learn more about the magical paintings.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this little series. It's the first series K has been excited about. We are all reading it together so we can talk about it. K already started book 4 and I can't wait to start it too. It's as magical as Harry Potter but not as long!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though I didn’t read the first two books in this trilogy. I think I would have understood some of the things referenced in this book if I did read the first and second books. This book is definitely for young readers, but I like to think I’m young at heart.