Playing with Fire

SCHOOL FOR S.P.I.E.S.

by Bruce Hale

Max Segredo, tossed out by yet another foster family, has finally come to the end of the line. After being wrongly accused of setting a fire, he is sent to the Merry Sunshine Orphanage — on his thirteenth birthday, no less.

But what kind of group home offers classes in surveillance techniques, lock picking, and mixed martial arts? When the staff announces a “field trip” that involves breaking and entering, Max knows this is no ordinary orphanage.

Yet Max has something more important on his mind. Someone has slipped him a message stating that his father is still alive. Max is eager to find Simon Segredo, even though it might mean betraying everyone at Merry Sunshine. Because when it comes to family, blood is what counts. Right?

Genres: Adventure, Middle Grade, Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Espionage, Action

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

A serious book addict, Bruce wanted to be a children's book author since he was in 4th grade (right after he got over wanting to be a pirate, Tarzan, and Daniel Boone). Today he's the author-illustrator of over 70 seriously funny books for kids, so some dreams do come true.

The Malted Falcon, one of his Chet Gecko Mysteries series, was an Edgar Award finalist, and Murder, My Tweet won a Little D Award for Juvenile Humor Writing. Bruce has written everything from picture books and easy readers, to graphic novels and novels.

Bruce's recent Monstertown Mysteries series blends horror and humor, based on his childhood love of monster movies. His other series include Class Pets, about the secret lives of classroom pets, and the forthcoming Outerspace Mystery Pizza Club books, due in 2024.

A Fulbright Scholar (in Storytelling), Bruce is also a popular speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and knuckleheaded dog Riley. When he's not writing or reading, you may find him hiking, kickboxing, or singing with a latin-jazz band called Mezcal Martini.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by James, age 9, 12/17/18

This book is about an orphan who has gone through several different foster homes and is accused of setting fire to the last one. Max's case worker finds him an orphanage he calls "more than he deserves," and "the end of the line." After that comes juvie.
But this orphanage has classes on surveillance techniques, lock picking, and mixed martial arts. Clearly this is no ordinary orphanage. But Max has other things on his mind: someone left him a coded note (in the Ceasar cypher) suggesting that his father is still alive. Before Max has much time to think about it, the school announces a field trip that involves breaking into, entering, and stealing information from a high security warehouse.
Also, never judge a book by its cover. The scene illustrated there never happens. But it was what made the book attractive, so I guess it worked.
I would recommend this book to people who like books about spies with action.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphan Max Segredo was wrongly blamed for burning his foster parents’ house. He did NOT do it! But anyway, this little incident earns him the title of “Pyromaniac.” Thus, Max finds himself at the Merry Sunshine Orphanage as a last chance before landing in juvenile hall. Max soon finds out that this isn’t an ordinary orphanage – it teaches special skills – SPY skills!

At the spy school/orphanage, Max learns:

to pick locks,
break codes,
and do martial arts, among other things. Max also learns that
his dad is still alive (via coded message)

Soon Max finds himself on a dangerous mission trying to stop smugglers, and an evil group of spies while trying to find his dad!

This is a great book! I love spies (that’s on my list of what I want to be when I grow up) and this book was AWESOME!!! I REALLY really really want a sequel to this book (and seeing that it’s book 1, I expect a book 2!), and I can’t wait to read book 2 when it comes out! Max is a great character! I like how Max adapts very well to the situations in the school. I like Mr. Hale’s writing style – he adds just the right amount of humor, action, and sarcasm in this exciting book!
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[aem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining. Mixed race; good diversity. But kind of insulting to make the director speak like that. She speaks seven languages and has a masters degree. Accent okay, but poor grammar - highly unlikely...

[Viola Sung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but it was too boring at the start, there wasn't enough suspense. I liked the twists and turns throughout the story.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's another decent addition to the growing category of spy series. Max has been scuttled from one foster family to another since his mom died and his dad went MIA. Once again he is booted and blamed for a fire he didn't start. He’s sent to an orphanage, where it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out, is actually a spy training school. Classes in decoding and acrobatic dodging are a dead give-away. On top of that, he learns that his father is alive and well, but in hiding as a spy. Max’s personal mission is to break out of the orphanage and track down his dad. Which he does.

As every good spy book aims to do, the author keeps you guessing about who's good, who's bad and who you can trust. The first half of the book is more tame and mysterious while Max learns spy tactics and tracks down clues about his dad. The second half is more typical spy action were they are on the run from the bad guys. I loved the kid characters, but the adults, not so much, especially the Asian orphanage director who was dreadfully underdeveloped. Here's an example of great dialogue between the kids.

Nikki: “If you get caught, you do not give me up, even under pain of torture. I’ve got a black belt. You know what that means?”
Max: “Your brown belt is at the cleaners?”
Nikki: It means I can cause a whole encyclopedia of pain.”

This book is not as over-the-top hilarious as many kid spy books tend to be, but still entertaining for the diehard fans.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A PYRO?? Not again.....it is Max's 13th birthday and he is being blamed for another fire! Max is sent to a place called Mercy Sunshine - from the outside: an orphanage, from the inside: a school for spies. Max and his new friends learn some great skills: picking locks, getting lost in a crowd, following a suspect, etc.. Max also learns through a few coded messages....his father is still alive - he is not an orphan. Great story with plenty of action. For us Macgyver fans - this is the book for you!

[Tsewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A PYRO?? Not again.....it is Max's 13th birthday and he is being blamed for another fire! Max is sent to a place called Mercy Sunshine - from the outside: an orphanage, from the inside: a school for spies. Max and his new friends learn some great skills: picking locks, getting lost in a crowd, following a suspect, etc.. Max also learns through a few coded messages....his father is still alive - he is not an orphan. Great story with plenty of action. For us Macgyver fans - this is the book for you!

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Losing another foster home to an unexplainably dangerous accident, Max ends up in an orphanage that secretly trains its kids to be spies - but does he finally have a place to belong despite the risks, or will the hunt for his father, once thought dead, draw him over to the enemy's side? Hale delivers an entertaining spy adventure for young readers, a bit bogged down by stuffy metaphors and predictable twists but otherwise humourous and mildly thrilling. Who can Max trust...and can he be trusted when his family is on the line?

[Vish]

This book is about an orphan named Max Segredo, who was tossed out by yet another foster family. Max has finally come to the end of the line. After being wrongly accused of being a pyromaniac, he is sent to the Merry Sunshine Orphanage — on his thirteenth birthday, no less. But some thing is off about this group home. What orphanage offers classes in surveillance techniques, lock picking, and mixed martial arts? This book uncovers a chilling plot and is very funny.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max is a troubled foster child hes been kicked out of so many foster homes. When he ends up at a strange group home he knows something is going on. He gets notes that his father is still alive and might betray his own family to find him.

[Shayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ... Read aloud to my 8-yo daughter. She loved it! Probably better for a tween or teen, though. Story deals with kidnapping and murder. A bit dark. Very suspenseful and engaging, though. Well written.

[CooperB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it had a mix of confusion and fighting.

[TBO The Bookaholic’s Outlet]

1 hb

[Ben]

good book

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max is an orphan who has to go to a foster home each time moving because he is blamed for setting fire to the last one.

[Allison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checked this book over for my younger brother. I'd recommend for 12+

*a little language

[Sue Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge spy movie/novel fan so getting me to pick this one up was pretty easy. It doesn’t hurt that it is written by Bruce Hale. His sense of humor is tops and always keeps me laughing. Yes, his target audience is the middle grade boy and that tells you all you need to know about what I find funny.

The book opens with Max Segredo standing on the lawn as fire trucks try to put out the fire. His latest foster home has just gone up in flames. Yes, his file claims he’s a pyro but he didn’t start the fire. Not that that keeps anyone from blaming him.

Bouncing from one bad foster situation to another is a drag but its better than juvenile hall. When his case worker picks him up, Max hopes juvie won’t be his next destination. At least that’s what he hopes until they pull up in front of the grim, uninviting facade of the Merry Sunshine Orphanage. Doors with multiple locks. Security systems and an armed welcoming committee. Max isn’t sure what he’s gotten into but he’s sure he needs to find a way out.

Max isn’t sure what is up at the orphanage. Classes are far from normal. Instead of reading or math, he has lock picking, surveillance and code breaking. In code breaking, he deciphers the note someone has placed in his bag. YOUR FATHER IS ALIVE. Max may not be an orphan after all.

The action in this book is nonstop as Max and the other kids learn the skills they will need to become top-notch spies. The toughest part isn’t lock picking or scaling walls but figuring out who is on your side. Is it true that there are no good guys or bad guys but simply shades of grey? Max ultimately has to decide just how important his friends are and how much he can forgive.

The themes in this book (loyalty and family) run deep but the story itself is fast-paced and full of irreverent humor. With a host of characters, this book will appeal to a variety of readers. It is listed for grades 3 to 7. Younger readers won’t be put off by the hint of romance but these is “onscreen” violence and one death. That said, it is not graphic or gory. It is a fast read but has enough sub-plots and twists and turns to occupy a more advanced reader.

This is book one in a new series — School for S.P.I.E.S. Fortunately book #2 is already out and I have it on request at the library.

Originally reviewed on The Bookshelf, suebe2.wordpress.com.

[Sully · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, and I really tried to enjoy it. After all, I grew up on the likes of Artemis Fowl and Alex Rider, and this book seemed to be on par with those series at first glance. I had a hard time putting my finger on why, but this series just doesn't add up to others in the genre.

For one, all the character names in this book are absurd apart from the man character, named Max. We have a guy named Dijon (yes, as in the mustard). Then we have Cinnabar (which made me hungry for a cinnabon every time I read it) and her sister Jazz. The list goes on and on so I will spare you. I know this shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did, but I just could not get over the character names in this novel. In a novel with an unrealistic plot, I want the characters to be at least somewhat realistic to help me suspend my belief.

And then you have the entire character of Annie, the headmistress of the school/orphanage/whatever you want to call her. Her broken English was so annoying I had to just glance over the majority of her dialogue in the book. I know this is a typical characteristic given to characters not just in novels but in video entertainment as well, but come on. It was way over the top in this book.

Then I get to the plot itself. It wasn't that the plot was bad, it was just that the novel was written in such a way that I never connected with Max or any of the other spy orphans. You would think having a main character that is an orphan would automatically garner some sympathy, but it surprisingly didn't in this case. The subplot of the possibility of Max's father being alive played out to conclusion, but when we reached the climax I did not even care about the outcome. The second half of this book was really hard for me to get through; I definitely struggled.

While I am usually a huge fan of spy novels (especially of over the top spy novels featuring adolescent spies), this one never managed to catch my interest. It's hard to explain where the book took a wrong turn (the characters, the plot, all of it), but it definitely fell short of solid entertainment.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book with its spy school and great characters. Max is definitely a sympathetic character, starting at the beginning where he is accused by his foster father of starting the fire that burns down their house, which he didn't do apparently. When Max ends up at the spy school he meets Hantai Annie Wong who runs the school, the half-Chinese lady who speaks Japanese and barely English. He is baffled by the classes he takes that introduce him to dodging flying projectiles and picking locks. He eventually learns that this so-called orphanage is really a school for spies. But the only thing Max is really interested in is finding his father, who he learned from a secret coded message is still alive, and he doesn't care who he has to hurt to find him.

I enjoyed the diversity inherent in the story, Max is half Thai and half Caucasian (I strongly suspect of British origins judging by some of his slang). Wyatt, who Max recruits to help him find his father is Australian and his slang is quite entertaining, not to mention a bit baffling. This book would be great for teaching kids about how different the same language can be. I also liked the underlying theme of family being where we find it and not depending on blood. And the metaphors and similes are fun. Here are some examples:

"A shaggy black-and-brown dog the size of a Shetland pony sat by the long table, watching every bite, ropes of drool dangling from its mouth. When Max passed by, it growled, rumbling like a distant avalanche."

Bottom-heavy and block-headed, they resembled a pair of angry Russian nesting dolls.

Mostly though this book is an entertaining story with great characters and an adventuresome plot. Recommended.

[Kolby J. 6 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing with Fire by Bruce Hale is a book about a boy named Max who is kicked out of every foster home he lives in. So when Mr. Darney takes Max to Merry Sunshine Orphanage and tells him this is his last chance, Max knows that he can't mess this last one up. At this orphanage Max takes classes in lock picking, surveillance, and mixed martial arts. When Max finds a note telling him that his father is still alive Max embarks on a mission of his own. While reading this book I like how the author added lots of mystery and adventure to the book with so many events. I like books that have a lot of action and adventure and lots of events that include these things. The author brought these things in slowly to the book, which added to the event and gave it a scary feeling. I also like how the author goes in deeply to the books and really describes the different events in the book. I do wish however that the author would add background to the book to show more of rivalry or history of the events or characters. I really think this would add more to the book and make it more interesting. The theme that I found upon reading this book was to remember there are people who are on your team who will help you. Max want's to be independent in finding his dad, so he forgets that his friends are there to help him and does things on his own. This causes much trouble for Max and tears away relationships that he has built. You have a team for a reason if you don't use them and do things on your own then you will get yourself into a whole lot of trouble.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max just wants to have his own family, but cannot seem to even stay in a foster home for long. His latest family's house caught fire and he was blamed for it and ends up in the Merry Sunshine Orphanage. This orphanage is not what it seems and soon Max is in classes to become a spy. As interesting as the orphanage is, Max doesn't want to stay, because he's been receiving coded messages that his father may still be alive. He takes every chance he can get to slip away to find out more about his father's whereabouts.

The character of Max has a bit of awkward humor which often does not go over well. It shows a bit of what his life has been like going from one foster home to another that he doesn't always want to make connections. Max is untrusting at best, a great trait for a spy, but not so much when trying to create relationships. Throughout the book, he is caught on searching for his father and having the family back that he never did.

The intriguing codes and characters in this book create quite an environment for Max to explore. I love the disguises and different ways they went about spying in the book. I really enjoyed the different aspect of the books, which kept me reading until the end.

Final Verdict: A solid spy novel and fantastic start to a new action series for kids.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Max is an orphan who has been shuttled around to seven different foster homes in the last six years. When his latest home burns down he is sent to The Merry Sunshine Orphanage. The orphanage run by Hanti Annie is more than a home for orphans though it is a spy school. Max receives coded messages that indicate his father is alive. A covert mission gives him the perfect chance to see if he can find and rescue his father from the evil LOTUS group. Max must decide if his only blood relative is his family or if the group at the orphanage has become his family. Loyalties will be tested.

This book was a little over the top even though it is about orphans being trained as spies. I didn't feel like we go to know any of the characters enough to really care about them one way or the other. I also thought the storyline with Max's father was fairly predictable and not nearly as inventive as the plot suggested. I liked the fact that there was a very multicultural cast of characters though I thought it was a missed opportunity to have Hanti Annie speak pidgin and not understand English that well when she was an accomplished spy who spoke seven languages. I think some kids will enjoy this book, but there are better spy stories out there.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Playing With Fire by Bruce Hale was a fabulous start to a series. It was very different from what I was anticipating, but still turned out to be a really great read! It was my first read from Bruce Hale, and I'm very eager to check out more from him.

Bruce Hale keeps the plot moving at a lightening fast pace - I read the book in under 2 hours! I just couldn't put it down. The setting was so bizarre, and readers get to find out about it alongside the story's main character, Max.

I loved the characters - they all have such different pasts, but they are bonded together by their common past of being an orphan. Max has his own charm, as he does what he believes best. Cinnabar and Wyatt are the best sidekicks - and were easily my favorite character in the book.

I loved how innovative the characters were - they were super inventive and work together to accomplish what they need to get done. I love that there was such a focus on friendship!

In a full blown, action packed story of espionage and friendship, Playing With Fire is a book that fans of a good middle grade will not want to miss. I absolutely loved and cannot wait to see where the next book goes!

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Segredo's 13th birthday starts with arson that gets him removed from yet another foster home. (Honestly, it wasn't his fault...although he's starting to get a reputation as a pyro.) As an orphan, his life has been chaotic, but his new placement is different. He's put into an orphanage training spies. When your classes consist of lock-picking, code-breaking, and various stealth techniques you can bet field trips are going to be unique. And is it really true that all the good bad guys have a shark tank? Max is unsure who to trust. Then he finds out that his father may still be alive and it becomes his goal to reunite with him and have a genuine family. Max needs to decide just what "family" is, and which side he's on. This is a high action first book in the "School for S.P.I.E.S." series. Max is a likeable, mouthy character who can't help but get himself into trouble. He also seems unusually skilled in spycraft. This is an enjoyable book that will especially appeal to middle-schoolers although there's nothing here to upset the parents of younger readers. (Well, except for the breaking and entering, some violence...and did I mention the shark tank?) A fun read.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being bopped around to different foster homes and being dubbed a pyromaniac (even though he is innocent), Max finally lands in an orphanage. At least what he believes to be an orphanage! He has actually been inducted into "spy school". He also receives a cryptic message on his first night that reads "Your father is alive!" Is he really not an orphan, after all? Is it possible that he will be reunited with his father? And who exactly was his mysterious father? This books holds plenty of intrigue for older middle grade readers.

There is also multiculturalism aplenty, so it would fulfill our committee's quest for more inherently multicultural titles. The spy students are of so many different ethnicities, and Max himself is half Thai.

A high-interest middle grade novel, overall. I preferred Stuart Gibb's "Spy School", published in 2012. It had an extremely similar plot line, but was a bit better written, in my opinion.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable offering for 5th/6th graders, particularly boys, who are looking for an adventure/spy novel. Max is an orphan who, after yet another failed foster placement, finds himself at the Merry Sunshine Orphanage, where classes in lock picking, self-defense, and surveillance take the place of ordinary academics. Max has found himself in a training school for teen-aged spies... Soon after arriving, Max receives a coded message that his father - long presumed dead, is alive - and was a renowned spy! Will loyalty to his newfound friends at the orphanage trump Max's longing for a reunion with his father? If you're older than 15, you'll predict the outcome of this story, but students may enjoy this mix of action, suspense, and gadgets. Give to students who have exhausted Alex Rider, or who are action junkies.

[mandyfujita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by Bruce Hale. I thought it was going to be like the Spy School by Mr. Gibbs, but it was surprisingly very entertaining and complex. Max Segredo is an orphan who was been through many foster homes. The first two families, someone died and the last family had their house burnt down. He ends up at the Merry Sunshine Orphanage and discovers its a spy school for kids. What is different about this book is that Mr. Hale tells us about real spy training that the kids do with an evil organization called LOTUS. Things are escalating so the missions are life threatening rather than made up drills.

I cannot wait to see what Bruce Hale has instore for Max in the second book. Enjoyable read.

[Jack L 6 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Novel Playing with Fire (School for S.P.I.E.S.,#1) by Bruce Hale. Max is a foster child who grew up in foster homes that he always seemed to destroy. After the sixth home his lawyer decided to send him to a last chance home. Witch turned out to be a school for spies. Witch came naturally. This book is a good book probably for a little lower reading levels. The storyline was predictable but still fun to read. It never really had a slow part. Like the time they broke into a building i felt like i was in there with them. The author really makes you feel involved. At times i was lost because it didn't make sense all the sudden it skipped a couple weeks and i got super confused. A life lesson i got from the book is “Loyalty above all else”.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed what I read of Bruce Hale's Chet Gecko books, a series of mystery titles for middle grade readers, so his jump to a middle grade spy/science fiction thing sounded good. I ultimately found a lot of it to be kind of lacking, with a main character who isn't entirely likable and a spy school setting that has been done more than a few times before and, frankly, done better (N.E.R.D.S and H.I.V.E. in particular come to mind).

This is not a bad read by any stretch, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's a rock solid one. If this is a genre that's enjoyed, it's worth a look, but there are other places to go first.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Advanced proof. If you're going to make a story about spies that is over the top, you need to go all the way (a'la Spy Kids). This just didn't do it for me. The adults act like children, the adults underestimate the children - in itself a drawback for me - and the lead spy is so stereotype. I don't know a single Chinese person who speaks like that. Her vocabulary is way to good to speak so poorly.

Those things aside, the story was pretty good. This one just wasn't for me.