Confessions of a Junior Spy

Confessions of a Junior Spy #1

by Rosaria Munda

Raised in a sanctuary hotel for spies, the daughter of one of its top agents is determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and use her hard-won spy skills to help others in Confessions of a Junior Spy, a fun, fast-paced, middle grade series opener by Rosaria Munda.

Bea dreams of becoming a spy like her mom. Growing up in the Pangean Hotel, a secret sanctuary for spies, she spends her time studying self-defense, languages, codebreaking, and field medicine, preparing for the day when she can follow in her mother’s footsteps. But her mom has a different plan for Bea: She wants Bea to attend boarding school like one of the normal folk. Bea can’t think of a worse fate, the Life is all she’s ever known. But you do not say no to the Pangean League’s top spy.

While Bea is juggling test prep and applications with desperate plans to avoid going to normal school at all costs, a new girl moves into the hotel with her family. Chantal’s family is clearly on the run, and Bea and her best friend Tommy are certain they can use their skills and knowledge to help her…. If boarding school doesn’t get in the way first.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy, Audiobook, Espionage, Friendship

224 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Rosaria Munda grew up in rural North Carolina, studied political theory at Princeton, and lives with her family in Florida. She is the internationally bestselling author of The Aurelian Cycle (Fireborne, Flamefall, and Furysong) and the forthcoming Confessions of a Junior Spy (Feiwel & Friends, 2025).

For book recs and updates, follow her on instagram: @rosariamunda

Reviews

[mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Super cute read, if a bit chaotic at times.

Pitched as John Wick meets Eloise at the Plaza, this book is about a girl who lives in a sanctuary hotel for spies. It takes place in a different version of our world, where all people have "Knacks" (basically... a metaphysical cutie mark). Some people are Normal and others are a part of "the Life". We follow Beatrice, the daughter of a famous spy, as she is coming into herself and dreaming of following in her mother's footsteps - despite her parents' own concern at the danger.

And as I said, this was super cute. Beatrice was a fun character, her interactions with the hotel and its inhabitants were fun, and I loved how original this was. There were moments that captured a John Wick energy for kids so well that it really was impressive.

It was also a bit messy. There were a lot of plot points that got brought up and then dropped, things that seemed like they would have pretty big consequences and then just... didn't. I also felt like this book struggled with its tone, trying to walk a line between childish whimsy and violence. It's an ambitious task and at times it was really well executed, others... not so much.

Overall, I still liked this. It might not have been perfect, but I thought it was cute and Rosaria Munda isn't really capable of writing a bad book.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this because I will read anything Rosaria munda writes forever <3 definitely is not my normal read, but you know what, it was delightful and made me laugh a lot and I had all around a great time reading it. it was definitely lacking some of the complexity that I know and love rosaria munda for, but that's fair enough for the age range, and im very curious to see if we get a little bit more of that as the series progresses

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beatrice lives at a Pangea Hotel with her father, who works as a chef there while her Momma travels internationally doing dangerous spy work, coming back to the hotel between missions. Beatrice helps clean her mother’s weapons, dye her hair, and even tend her wounds. Momma doesn’t want her to join Pangea, which is an international organization dedicated to world peace, and is hoping to send her to a boarding school for “normals”. Beatrice wants to become a spy, and enjoys the schooling that she gets at the hotel from various members of the organization. Her father is reluctant to send her away because he would miss her. When Chantal’s family arrives, it seems odd that they are not part of Pangea, but are just hiding. Beatrice and Chantal become friends, and do share their “knacks” with each other: Chantal has a knack for working with animals, and Beatrice’s brand new knack seems to be with knives. When Mr. Thorpe, who also has a knack for knives, arrives at the hotel, he asks if Beatrice would like to be his apprentice, but later is revealed to have evil motives. Momma decides that she and Beatrice should visit boarding schools, but are followed by Arctic assassins, which puts some wrinkles into their journey. Will Beatrice be able to stay at the Pangea Hotel with Chantal, or will she end up in an uncomfortable uniform at the Turtleneck Mountain School?
Strengths: Spy school books are always popular with middle grade readers, but some are rather lengthy for the younger part of this age range, so the shorter length (224 pages) is good. Beatrice’s desire to become a spy is understandable, given the environment in which she has been raised, and the warm and supportive atmosphere of the hotel. It also makes sense that Momma would not want her to be subjected to the dangers of life in espionage. The fact that Pangea is dedicated to “world peace” makes it easier to be a spy; I often joke that I could be a spy if I could find a cause I believed in that required such work. This is the beginning of a series, with The Mean Girl Mission set to publish on January 13, 2026.
Weaknesses: While I applaud the shorter length of this book, it would have been helpful to have more explanation on Pangea and “knacks”. There were a lot of elements that didn’t quite make sense, partly due to the lack of world building. This had the feel of a book written by an author who was used to a different age group, and Munda’s previous work seems to be Young Adult fantasy. It can be hard to adjust to a different audience.
What I really think: This might work for elementary school students who aren’t quite ready for longer books like Ponti’s City Spies, and who enjoyed Carter’s The Winterbourne Home for Vengeance and Valor or Primavera’s Ms. Rapscott's Girls.

Other choices for serious, middle school spy books include Landis' Capitol Chase, Bradley's Double Vision, Ponti's Framed, Yee and Santat's The Misfits, Carter's Gallagher Girls books, Gibbs' Spy School adventures, or Horowitz's incomparable Alex Rider series.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: Enjoyed It, 3.5 stars

This was a really cute and fun middle grade novel that follows a young girl in the secret world of spies. The Pangea hotel was cool and I enjoyed all the different aspects of spy life that Bea introduced us to, especially the Knacks. She was a fun character to follow, and I enjoyed her spirit.

Overall, it was a fun, fast paced spy adventure in which Beatrice tries to balance the life that her parents want for her and the dream she has always had.

Overall, I had a good time with this one, but it was a very short first book. I could see myself getting more attached to the characters as the series goes on. I will be continuing because it was a fun time and the author is one of my favorites!

Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advance eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Confessions of a Junior Spy releases on June 10, 2025.

[Beth Anne]

This middle grade mystery was fast-paced and reminded me of Spy Kids meets Spy School. There's not a lot of world-building here and the intended audience will be fine with that, but I think my biggest hesitation with recommending this title is that the tone is hard to read. Everything is very light hearted, even the super serious stuff. Except (like the first Spy School) kids are using real weapons, like knives and guns, and there are real consequences and even deaths. I know this is an author that usually writes for teens delving into middle grade for the first time, and I wish things had been more consistent for that age group. If you love Spy School, this will be fine. But if you're more of a City Spies reader, I'd skip this one. It doesn't have enough meat on its bones, though I supposed the set-up for future books means it could grow into that.

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this concept. I loved the idea of having a "Knack." I also really liked the hotel and how it all worked. It was really pretty good. I also enjoyed the characters and the plot. The main character was quite interesting and I liked seeing her work through everything that came to her. I did see some of the twists coming but I didn't mind. It was really a good story, it was very original too. I don't think I've read a middle grade quite like this. And I see so much potential for this series too. A great introduction and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next!

[Cynthia T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for the ALC. This is a great start to a new middle grade series dul of action and suspense. Bea has grown up in a hotel full of secret agents and her goal is to be one. Her mom wants something different for her and wants to send her to boarding school to have a more normal life. Bea does not want to go and is so excited to meet a new friend but this new friend is in hiding from a killer. Bea is on the case.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beatrice has only ever known The Life - the world of spies who are committed to a mission of supporting world peace. Beatrice is waiting for her Knack and in the meantime, her mother decides she needs to go to a Normal boarding school. Bea plots to stay at the Pangean hotel and continue to study to be a spy in the footsteps of her mother, she becomes involved with what her mother is really fighting: the Arctic Assassins.

I love the idea and concept of this book, and as an elementary school librarian, these titles are always very popular (think James Ponti, Taryn Souders, Stuart Gibbs, etc.) but this one will struggle to hold its own on these shelves. I was confused in parts - "Normals" can stay at the spy training hotel, but they are not supposed to know what is going on. When Bea and her buddy Tommy befriend a Normal staying in the hotel, they find out she has a Knack, but no one really acknowledges the Knack, and Chantal, while supposedly being protected with her family at the hotel she ends up knowing all about the hotel and its real purpose, and. no one has a problem with that...? I feel like there were many story arcs started in this book, but none of them really play out - there was a nothing and too much going on at the same time. This is marketed as the first book in a series, so there is potential for growth and more thoroughness This first title in the series was very short, so I think if this book were reimagined as an early chapter book or Hi/Lo title, or if one arc were chosen and explored more closely (ie., Chantal's background, the different classes of Knacks, Bea's parents' history, Bea's training at the spy school, more focus on getting into a Normal school and/or hiding her Knack. etc.)

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The Pangean Hotel is a curious setting where spies freely roam the hallways and rooms after their worldwide missions. It’s a sanctuary for them and houses the Pangean League, an ancient international association dedicated to maintaining world peace. Its spies are committed to helping people in trouble and they never use violence except in self-defense. The fraternal twins of the hotel’s Branch Director are snobby brats and they provide an annoyance for Bea, the book’s main character. Staff members provide all of the necessary services for spies ranging from clothing and equipment to medical services. Bea’s teachers range from the Interpreter for lessons in Latin and French, to learning chemistry from the Jeweler, and history and espionage from the Archivist.
While this book doesn’t tell a superhero story, it does include Bea’s new super ability. These talents are called Knacks and Bea eventually learns hers has to do with knives. Her best friend Tommy has a Knack for cleaning while her new friend Chantal has a Knack for communicating with animals. Bea’s Knack manifests itself when she needs to protect a friend and she’s overjoyed when she discovers it. If you ignore the fact that she could have seriously injured a bully. The residents and staff of the Pangean respond with praise and congratulations. Bea feels a comforting connection with the weapons and the Jeweler gifts her with a special knife bearing an inlaid, scrimshaw hilt, and tiny teeth. Bea’s mother, however, would prefer Bea use her new Knack to become a skilled surgeon or a chef, like her father.
The biggest conflict is between Bea and her mother and it concerns Bea attending a normal school. Bea doesn’t have any first-hand experience beyond the walls of the Pangean Hotel but she doesn’t want to spend her days sitting behind a schoolroom desk. Classes that don’t include self-defense or stitching up wounds don’t interest her at all. However, Bea’s mom doesn’t want her daughter to enter the dangerous world of spies like she was forced to do as a child. Her mother isn’t sharing all she knows about the spy business but she’s afraid of the dangers Bea’s new Knack might bring.
What didn’t work as well:
Chantal’s knack doesn’t work as well for a couple of reasons. First, she’s supposed to be a “normal” young girl so it doesn’t seem like she should have a special ability. Second, her knack is more supernatural than other knacks. Bea can’t do anything magical with knives other than throw them with great accuracy. The spies’ talents are based on exceptional skills and interests while Chantal’s communication with animals goes beyond human capabilities.
The final verdict:
This book is certainly an appetizer for greater adventures to come. Bea’s struggle to pursue a life of spying is at center stage but the appearance of an assassin brings much excitement and suspense. I recommend you give this book a shot and I’m looking forward to its sequel.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wicked cute lower middle grade read that I think young readers will eat up. It is very fast paced taking the reader through the eyes of the young FMC who is the daughter of a spy and a chef. It is reminiscent of John Wick where there is a hotel that is a sanctuary for the spy and general protection needing community combined with Eloise at the Plaza as our FMC and others live at the hotel.

I will say that this book can be a bit chaotic with many, probably too many, sub plots going on. It is definitely a read suited for enjoyment rather than a book used in a classroom for enjoyable learning as it can be hard to figure main ideas and other ELA elements that a teacher would be searching for the student to come up with. This coupled with several plot points that were introduced but never resolved and not in a “waiting for a sequel” type of way.

However, this is a start of a series so those plot points may absolutely be addressed on further books, it’s just that it leaves a bit to be desired in how things were left.

I consumed the Audio Advanced Listening Copy and the narrator Jesse Vilinsky did a fine job with the main character. She was engaging and sounding age appropriate. However, as an adult it was hard to listen to her other voices, particularly male voices. I played sections to readers in the targeted audience and they agreed that it wasn’t something they enjoyed using words like “weird and babyish” and felt like they were being spoken down to.

The good thing? Speeding it up to 1.5x speed and beyond changed the intonation enough to make it listenable. It is recorded on the slower side of average speed so it was very easy to understand whilst being sped up.

This book comes out June 10, 2025

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.


My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

[Sara Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

** “When I grow up, I want to be a spy like my mom.” **

Rosaria Munda delivers a fun, inspirational and mysterious story with “Confessions of a Junior Spy.”

Beatrice Bates lives in the Pangean Hotel with her dad Rocco, the hotel’s chef, and her mom Anya, one of the top-ranked spies in the Pangean League — a secret, ancient organization of spies whose mission is world peace while working with many of the world’s governments.

When a “Normal” girl, Chantal Davis, moves into the hotel though, Beatrice knows there’s more to Chantal’s life and vows to help her. The only problem? Beatrice has yet to find her special “Knack” so isn’t sure how she is going to help her new non-spy friend.

The other problem? Her mom wants her to attend a “Normal” boarding school and give up her dream of becoming a spy.

Can Beatrice figure out what her Knack is? Can she and her best friend Tommy help Chantal and her family? Can she figure out who she can truly trust?

Munda provides a fun, fast-moving plot that offers mystery and intrigue, with plucky young heroes, interesting adults with special skills, and even a couple of adorable animals. She also includes some good themes, like trying to find your passion and special skill set in life; it’s dangerous being dangerous (“This Life is full of danger. And I’m not talking about gunfights or car chases. The danger is losing people you love”); believing in yourself; and the power of friendship.

Even though the book is suggested for ages 9-12, anyone that age or older (even adults) will really enjoy “Confessions of a Junior Spy,” which is due out June 10.

Fans of series like Tom Phillips’ “The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves,” Taylor Tyng’s “Clara Poole” and James Patterson’s “Treasure Hunters” will love this story.

Five stars out of five.

Feiwel & Friends provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea has spent her entire life at the Pangean Hotel, a refuge for spies. She's been taught all the skills she needs to become a spy herself, and follow in the path of the mother she idolizes--the mother who's frequently gone for months at a time on missions, while Bea's father, a chef at the hotel, is a single parent. Everyone in Bea's world develops a knack at some point; her father has a knack for cooking, and her best friend Tommy has a knack for cleaning. Her mother's knack is gu ns--she was trained by the Arctic Assassins, though she escaped them to work for the league (whose name I can't remember) which fights for justice. Bea's mother emphatically does not want Bea to follow in her footsteps; in fact, she wants to take Bea out of the Pangean and enroll her in a boarding school so she can have a normal life. Ugh! Then Chantal and her family land at the Pangean, after an assassination attempt on her father. The family isn't safe until the rogue spy is caught, and in the meantime, Bea and Tommy have a new friend. Is there any way Bea can both help Chantal, and prove to her mother what kind of life she wants?

This was fast-paced and fun, and will definitely appeal to Spy School loving kids, especially girls eager to see more kids like them as spies. It hits on both the highs and lows of being a spy, and Bea has to think carefully about what she'd be risking to pursue that life. The world building at the hotel is great, and I foresee more books set there--it's essentially a spy school on its own. I liked the idea of the knacks, and how even when she develops hers, Bea learns that there are many different ways she could apply her knack so she's not locked in to any one option in life. That's a good message. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice lives in a secure hotel for spies and people needing protection. Her mom is one of those spies and her dad is the chef, and Beatrice wants most of anything to train as a spy herself. Their organization is dedicated to world peace, although who is paying and what that means is never explained: they’re the Good Guys. The only element of magical realism is that everyone has a knack, discovered in adolescence, making them extra talented at one skill. It could be cleaning, pyrotechnics, reading, math, etc. Her mother, a woman Beatrice rarely sees, was abducted as a child by the Russian government and forced to become an assassin when she demonstrated a gun knack and had to escape to become a Good Guy.

I was surprised at how violent and somber this book was, as I expected something more light-hearted from middle grade. It’s about on par with an Avengers movie. Not for easily frightened kids, for sure, and my 13 year old and I found parts hilarious that younger kids didn’t get. We listened to the audio, which is excellent, and my kids 7-13 were all very excited to find out what happens next. Beatrice is brave, foolish, determined, afraid, confused, loyal - in many ways very relatable, although her absolute commitment to a career that means throwing herself headfirst into danger is both intense and played for laughs.

We really enjoyed this, will look for the second one, and didn’t feel overwhelmed by the content. I hope more world building and explanation will happen in subsequent novels, too.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc!

[Kim Bartosch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun concept, fast pace, but lacked connection

Confessions of a Junior Spy starts strong with a fun premise—Bea, the daughter of a top spy, raised in a hotel sanctuary for spies, dreams of joining the family business. The pacing is quick, the setting is imaginative, and there are some exciting twists along the way that kept me turning the pages.

That said, a few things didn’t quite land for me. The "knack" concept—where everyone has a special skill like cooking or cleaning—felt a little off for a spy story. As a middle school reader, I think I'd be wondering what cleaning and cooking has to do with espionage. It seemed like a missed opportunity to tie those skills more directly to the spy theme. Also, Bea doesn't seem to say anything when it's brought up that she should have a cleaning or cooking knack. If I wanted to be a spy like my mom, I would make a comment on how cooking and cleaning are lame and not spy-like. Those knacks are just to support the spies that live in the hotel. While important, it's sort of "eh".

Also, I found it hard to connect with Bea. She felt a bit two-dimensional compared to her more engaging sidekick and the mysterious new girl, Chantal.

Still, if you're looking for a fast, light middle-grade adventure with spy elements, this book delivers a solid start to what could be a promising series. It just needs a bit more depth to really shine. Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC and my honest review.

[Rapunzel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I arrived on the first page of Confessions of a Junior Spy knowing only that I had loved Rosaria Munda’s previous books, and even though those were very different (this book holds none of the revolutionary commentary and mid-air dragon battles of the Fireborne trilogy), I was willing to read whatever she chose to write next. I wasn’t disappointed!

Confessions of a Junior Spy is a fun, fast-paced mystery/spy novel that was an absolute delight to read. The characters here are so much fun—everyone around the Pangean hotel has an eccentric and brilliant personality, and though I definitely have a soft spot for Chantal and Bea, these supporting characters did so much to bring the story to life. The intersecting plots of applying to boarding school and being a spy were fantastic—I can’t wait for the sequel! I also love how Munda balances a ‘Normal’ world with more eccentric aspects such as Knacks or the very presence of the Pangean, giving it a sense of fantasy-type worldbuilding despite barely straying into speculative territory.

I highly recommend Confessions of a Junior Spy to readers who love fast-paced books in the tradition of Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls and The Misfits—an incredibly fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Ashley Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of a Junior Spy by Rosaria Munda

Bea is not your average little girl, and her home is nothing short of spectacular! Growing up in the Pangean Hotel, Bea has made friends with all kinds of spies and foreign agents! Her schooling consists of codebreaking, field medicine, languages and self defense. Bea dreams of becoming a spy like her mom, but her mom has other dreams for her, which include boarding school! When Bea meets Chantal she is determined to help her by any means necessary. And thankfully she has her “knack” to help her!

This book is super cute! It’s reminiscent of the Spy Kids movies from my generation, but obviously better because it’s a book! 😉 I love the care the author took to create a whole new world for Bea and her friends. It’s very well thought out and executed! Readers instantly love Bea and can relate to her struggles.

Full of action and adventure, this book is aimed at 9-12 year olds. It speaks of spies and assassins but not in a scary way. The back of the book has “Extras” in the form of a map of the Pangean Hotel, a graphic of the different services available at the hotel, and a list of hotel rules. All of which, were fun to read as well!

I would definitely recommend this book for middle grades. It’s full of friendship, family love and adventure! I rate it as five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[K Gover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has anyone ever told you that you have a knack for something? Well to Bea, Tommy and their new friend Chantal- a "KNACK" is everything. When you realize your knack, it sings to you. You instantly know you were meant for that special skill. For Tommy it is a cleaning knack, which is great considering he and Bea live in a hotel called the Pangea. It is a sanctuary for spies. There are normies there too, which is what they thought Chantal was until they realize her knack for connecting with animals. Bea is still waiting for hers, especially since her mom is the best spy ever and her Dad is a fantastic chef for the hotel. However, when the knife knack sings to her she gets all kinds of attention. Some is flattering while others are dangers.
This middle school aged mystery has just enough edge to keep readers interested but nothing inappropriate (one inference of vodka sauce turning into underage drinking- but you need a close reader to pick up on that) The characters are very well developed and seem to have plenty of room to grow for the sequels. The villains are just dangerous enough, but the violence isn't graphic.
Recommended: grade 6+
Topics: spies, family, special traits, boarding school, friendshp
#netgallery

[The Keepers of the Books]

Bea was born in raised in the Pangean Hotel, a sanctuary for spies. She dreams of becoming a spy like her mom. She spends her days learning self-defense, languages, code-breaking, and field medicine to help prepare her. Her mom doesn’t, however, want her to become a spy. She wants to send Bea to a boarding school. As Bea juggles tests and admissions, a new girl moves into the hotel. Chantal and her family are on the run. Bea teams up with her friend Tommy to figure out how they can help Chantal before Bea gets shipped off to boarding school. Will they succeed?

The plot is fast-paced, well written, and has lots of plot twists and turns. Characters are vibrant, relatable, and likable. The world built around spies is rich and draws the readers into the story. Themes of identity, family, and friendship are intermixed throughout the book and add depth to the plot. Readers who like spies, adventure, friendship fiction, and unique setting will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections

Recommended Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea lives in a hotel that is a safe harbor for spies. It’s a non-traditional life, but Bea loves life at the Pangean and yearns to be a spy like her mother. Knowing the challenges that come with the life of being a spy, Bea’s mother is very clear about not wanting Bea to follow that path. As Bea awaits the discovery of her “Knack,” a super ability that everyone has, she befriends Chantal, the daughter from a “Normal” family that has come to the hotel to escape danger. When Chantal’s family is threatened, Bea vows to help her friend, even if it means defying her mother’s wishes.

With its litany of spies with specific skills who provide Bea with an education and serve as supporting characters, the Pangean hotel provides a perfect backdrop for the unconventional world that serves as the setting in this fast-paced story. Bea is a fun character, brave and inquisitive. Her struggles to balance her parents’ wishes with her own interests will resonate with readers who are grappling with similar issues in their own lives. The story of a complicated parent/child relationship blended with the action and adventure of a spy caper make for an enjoyable opening for this middle grade series.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this with my ten year old niece and we both really liked it. As soon as it ended, my niece asked if I had the next book available. There's a lot here for both kids and adults to enjoy. I kept on cracking up at all of the asides about ridiculous situations taking place that the narrator was completely casual about. Like when she said something along the lines of "I was helping burn evidence on the roof when....". Absolutely delightful. Also, all of her shenanigans with her knack were fun, although I'll leave that unsaid to avoid spoilers. And while the humor was topnotch, it also did a nice job with some coming-of-age elements and the relationship between the girl and her mom.

My niece wants to say that she "liked the cliffhangers, the detail, the personalities of all the characters, and the storyline."

I requested this because Jesse Vilinksy narrated it. I've now listened to her YA, adult and middle-grade narrations, so there's nothing she can't do.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beatrice has lived in the Pangean Hotel for her entire life. Her father is Chef and her mother is a spy. Beatrice hopes to inherit a Knack that will make her a good spy, too, but her mother has other plans for Bea, a life at private school that leads to a Normal life, outside of spying. Bea does her best to sabotage private school in the hopes that her Plan B can be spying, especially since her newly revealed Knack is knives. Her plans are complicated by a normal friend who moves into the hotel with her family and the fact that Bea's desired mentor is a rogue spy turned bounty hunter. Now a threat has been made that will affect her friend, so Bea, her best friend Tommy, and her new friend Chantal race to the rescue. The outcome challenges Bea about what she really wants in life, but it also challenges her mother. This story started off slowly, but the pace increased and readers are left with a nice cliffhanger for another volume.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being raised in a hotel run and inhabited by a secret spy league. Bea has had just such a life. Her mother is a super secret spy for hire working for world peace and her father is the head chef at the hotel. Bea has been raised learning self defense, foreign languages, and all of the other things a spy in training needs. The only thing wrong, is that Bea's mother doesn't want her to follow in her footsteps. She wants Bea to experience "normal" life in a boarding school far away. Reluctantly, Bea sets out into the world, but encounters an adventure all her own. The story is engaging and fun all the way to the very end. I would recommend it to upper elementary ages on up. It has a bit of violence, but is pretty tame.

I received this as an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one, but I can understand that not all readers will. The author was creative, making this hotel a sanctuary for secret spies, their families, and others who need help. This society protects people and does good. Everyone has a knack that awakens, but the main character's is dormant. Some can talk to animals. Some can clean well, and others may have a more dangerous inclination to deal with weapons. There are some tense action scenes, and the main character needs to know if she is going to be like her mom or go to a private school and have a regular life. Also, as a family, they help another kid who has a cool knack, dealing with a terrible situation.
I will probably continue to read this series, but there are some dangerous lines in the plot when it comes to dealing with weapons.

[Hannah D Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of a Junior Spy by Rosaria Munda is a fabulous, humorous, adventurous middle grade story.

My 8 year old daughter (an advanced reader) and I listened to the audiobook of this story. It was very entertaining, and full of fun tidbits and surprise. I absolutely loved the writing, and the character’s inner thoughts. My daughter couldn’t wait until the next time we could listen together, and now we are both anticipating the next story (please tell us there’s a second!!!!).

The narrator for the audiobook did an outstanding job. It was such a fun listen!

My daughter is also excited to read the paperback now that we’ve finished the audiobook. She is diving in right away, having purchased it two weeks ago in anticipation for wanting to reread it once we finished.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listeners copy. We absolutely loved it!

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Thank you netgalley for the e-arc! Over all, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, the worldbuilding of the spy hotel was pretty awesome, and I loved Bea and her reckless attraction to danger. That said, the book left a lot wanting in terms of plot. There were sort of two plotlines (the imminent danger of boarding school and figuring out who attacked her friend) but neither of them were really resting in Bea's hands. I can only really think of two instances in the book where Bea actually took action and changed the plot herself. Everything else was happening around her or happening to her. The idea of this book was so cool, but I was kind of bummed that Bea was so often relegated into a passive role.
That said, I would totally live in the Pangean hotel.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. The writing style and the flow of the story will appeal to middle schoolers, but there are some references and figurative language that will be lost on them. The timeline for the story moves fast, challenging the reader to keep up. This left me wanting more in terms of character and story development throughout. Moments where we should have been allowed to linger, were quickly set aside to keep the story moving. It was too much, too fast. I really did enjoy the book though and am looking forward to the sequel.
Okay for classroom shelves. I would reserve my recommendation for my students who have some prior reads with some violence, just because of one climactic scene towards the end.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How cool would it be to grow up in a hotel full of super spies? Bea is here to tell you that it is SO COOL. Like the coolest. Except sometimes it's also pretty scary like when [redacted] tries to [redacted] and then you have to [redacted]. Sorry, Bea wants to be a spy when she grows up and she insists that a lot of things have to be kept confidential.

What I can say is that this book was a lot of fun. It's about friendship, growing up, and some cool knacks (special powers) that come in handing. Bea thinks getting saddled with a reading knack would be the worst, but as an avid reader I can't agree.

Thank you to Macmillan Young Listeners for the review copy of the audiobook. Jesse Vilinsky's narration did a great job of bringing Bea's story to life!

[EKoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son enjoyed this audio. He says the story was fun and he liked the main character. This has all the makings of a great children's book. I'd have to say it leans a little YA.

Bea, the main character, is no stranger to being a spy. Her mother hood and has been one for quite some time. Bea yearns to follow in her mother's footsteps but her mother wants Bea to be educated and live amongst the normal people. Of course Bea does not agree.

Super fun! Great characters, fast paced and makes a fun start to a series. Jesse Vilinsky did an excellent job with this audio! My son wants to read book 2! Thank you @neggalleh and @macmillianaudio for a copy of this titles. All Mr reviews are unbiased.

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea dreams of becoming a spy like her mom, but living in the Pangean Hotel (a sanctuary for spies) means her real-world knowledge of her mom's career is pretty idealized. Bea's mom wants her to leave "the life" and be a normal teen at a boarding school. To make matters worse, Bea hasn't yet discovered her "knack," her particular gift that will direct her future career plans. This was a fun start to a mystery/spy adventure series, every bit as fun as Spy School, though maybe geared slightly younger (no crushes here.) I will happily recommend this one to my 5th and 6th graders and can't wait for Book 2.

Many thanks to Libro.fm for the Educator ALC.

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Another lower-middle grade novel that I enjoyed. I hope that the series explains what "Knacks" are more (basically talents) and how people get them -- they do feel sort of magical. Anyways, spy hotel shenanigans = this novel. I also like how it's a plea for their kid to be normal (the spy parents and the FMC) but ultimately it ends with them recognizing that their kid isn't normal and that's okay. There's some funny moments, but this is overall a quick, enjoyable read.