Jump Start

EJ12 Girl Hero #2

by Susannah McFarlane

Evil agency Shadow is up to something in the middle of the rainforest. Something that could see them get the jump on Shine. Special Agent EJ12 needs to leap into action. She must crack Shadow's codes and foil their plans.

Genres: Childrens, Espionage, Chapter Books

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Susannah McFarlane is a successful children’s book author who, after many years working as a publisher, now spends her time writing and creating stories that kids love to read.

She is the creator and writer of the awarding-winning EJ12 Girl Hero series, the creator and co-author of the hugely popular series for boys, Boy vs Beast, and the author of the Little Mates series of alphabet books for under fives.

Susannah, who was also the original concept creator of two of Australia’s leading tween fiction series Go Girl! and Zac Power, understands kids and loves creating stories they enjoy to read. Her understanding and belief in the need for age-appropriate but fun content for kids comes from over twenty years experience as a children’s book publisher and from having worked with some of the world’s leading brands and writers. Susannah actually counts Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh, Tintin, and Enid Blyton as friends, not just former colleagues!

Susannah is also the founding director of Lemonfizz Media, a boutique children’s publisher that focuses on developing a small number of publishing projects across all content platforms, and a speaker on children’s publishing for the RMIT Editing and Publishing course.

She was previously the managing director of Egmont Books UK; the vice-president of the Egmont Group; the co‐owner, managing director and publisher of Hardie Grant Egmont; a contributor to the UK trade journal Publishing News; and the Convenor of the Children’s Publishing Committee and Board Director of the Australian Publishers’ Association.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going out on a limb and saying this is one of my favourite series to read to kids, or at least to a very specific 8 year old.... It's empowering, educational and with a good environmental message. Adnittedly it goes a bit over the top on all those three things which is annoying at times, but my daughter loves it and I genuinely enjoy reading it to her.... that's a big win win in my book...

[pooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I swear this series is just some illegal, extremely expensive social experiment done on Emma, cus this can’t be real. I still enjoyed it tho

[Eleanor James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying revisiting blasts from the past. Nostalgic easy read.

[Mrs Child · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very much the female version of Zac Power. Girl secret agent with gymnastic talents who overcomes her fear on the beam! Little far fetched but I'm sure middle primary girls will enjoy the experience.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!<3

[Ava.maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great very good

[Jane-i-o · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma (EJ12)is scared she can't jump on to the beam at gymnastics but when she goes on a mission with nuts the little
monkey she is more confident.She and her team win!

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well it's like a girl book of zac power it is great

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Jacks is in the school gym practising for the final competition of the year. The one her team wants to do well in. They all need to perform well. The problem is Emma thinks too much and is certain she can't jump. Her friend Hannah is on the same team and encourages her to do what she normally does, jump high and well. Emma is afraid of letting her team down, so much, she can't perform her jumps.

Ten-year-old Emma is also SHINE's leading Secret Agent EJ12, in the under 12 division. Her phone alerts her to the next mission. She goes to the girls' toilet where it all starts. Who knew that the SHINE entrance to their secret headquarters? A tunnel is linked to the end toilet that spins around leaving the cubical empty, then EJ12 lands on a beanbag and goes for a thrilling ride.

This time her mission takes her to an isolated jungle. She has to jump a lot and is scared but knows SHINE depend on her. Hannah is her Bestie during the mission encouraging her to go for the jumps across the flimsy rope bridge. After another successful mission, Emma returns to school and flies through the gym competition.

This Scholastic series created by Susannah McFarlane is entertaining and motivational as the message within is self-reliance.

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma loves two things in her life, gymnastics and being a secret agent. The gymnastics is worrying her because she can’t do high jumps as hard as she tries. If she can’t stop sabotaging herself, she will cause the team to lose and won’t perform as she aspires to.
A phone call saves her from a gymnastics lesson, and she’s sent to find out what SHADOW is doing. To solve the mystery, she must quickly work out the coded messages; the enemy knows she’s onto them. Can Emma solve the mystery and do high jumps at gymnastics?
I enjoyed the coded messages and the strategies the main character used to solve the problems she was confronted with.
Recommended for readers aged eight years and older. This shorter story is fast-paced and would suit reluctant readers.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because I like secret agents and I want to be a gymnast when I grow up.

[Alyssa Wilson Leggoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among one of the best books I've read!

I love this book ,because it tells you about what would happen if you had a double life part of it being a spy!

[~emily~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in love with this series. They are all so cool and amazing. I still wish there were some more pictures.

[mikayla herondale]

emma clearly had a deep fear of failure but like me too. nuts is giving major ‘you’re on your own, kid’ energy.

[Haylee Braat · Rating 3 out of 5]

CB Read

[CATastrophe]

This is a story I read as a kid. I don’t know how to rate it, since I haven’t read it since. But the memory of its existence has lived on in my mind.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it so much

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a very terrible plot it wasn't as capturing as the other books of the series.....
EJ12 seems to be a similar version a Zac Power. I rate it a 3/5 because me and my sister was greatly DISAPPOINTED with it....
This was a put down for my sister; a fan of EJ12

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first EJ12 book I read. I'm still reading books for younger kids so I can better answer questions about them. I thought it was a fun read, I like her 2 separate lives and the challenges she faces. Although I didn't read the first book, it didn't seem to impede the story at all.

[Anika J · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasso boring sometimes
Lol

[♀ ☾ ✧ the dragon queen ✧ ☾ ♀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

hi this is 2018 14 year old me who remembers that 8 year old me loved this book so,,,,,yeet

(i'm going to repeat this statement for literally every book i add to my children's literature shelf okay)

[Tt99100k20979]

very cool