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R.A.P.T.O.R. #2
Mission Manta Ray
Finn and his friends defend a deep-sea octopus from an unknown danger in this hilarious and action-packed second book in the R.A.P.T.O.R. middle grade series perfect for fans of Alex Rider and Jurassic Park.
Finn and Milo get assigned a R.A.P.T.O.R. mission in the Pacific Ocean, along with a new girl, Tasi, and Arty the Microraptor. They’ve been sent to investigate a giant, deep-sea octopus that’s coming unusually close to the surface. But when their ship is torpedoed by a submarine that’s shaped like a manta ray, it’s clear something nefarious is happening in the ocean that someone doesn’t want R.A.P.T.O.R. to discover.
Plunged into danger, the junior agents will have to survive on their own as they once again come face to face with an enemy that has bottomless ambition.
Finn and Milo get assigned a R.A.P.T.O.R. mission in the Pacific Ocean, along with a new girl, Tasi, and Arty the Microraptor. They’ve been sent to investigate a giant, deep-sea octopus that’s coming unusually close to the surface. But when their ship is torpedoed by a submarine that’s shaped like a manta ray, it’s clear something nefarious is happening in the ocean that someone doesn’t want R.A.P.T.O.R. to discover.
Plunged into danger, the junior agents will have to survive on their own as they once again come face to face with an enemy that has bottomless ambition.
288 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 5, 2026
So when this book is blurbed as being Diary Of A Wimpy Kid meets Alex Rider, they really mean Greg Heffley at his most annoying thrown into a series of near-future spy missions. I'm only hoping that, as in Jeff Kinney's books, the protagonist starts being a lot less awful starting in Book 3 and moving onward.
That protagonist is Finn, a kid who's become a junior agent of the globe-trotting R.A.P.T.O.R. program after finding and hatching a microraptor's egg while on a field trip with his best friend Milo in Book 1 of this series. Finn and Arty the microraptor have become inseparable since he successfully saved her from being abducted and experimented on by Sapient Ex, an evil organization determined to extract maximum profit from the planet, no matter how unsustainable. Now all three of them work with the good guys of R.A.P.T.O.R. in protecting the world.
As Mission Manta Ray begins, Finn, Milo and Arty are headed to the Nausicaa, a research vessel which has recently reported the unusual appearance of a giant octopus swimming up from the ocean depths. There they meet the hyper-competent Tasi, another junior agent whom Finn is almost immediately suspicious of. When disaster strikes and they're stranded on a desert island, can they figure out a way to work together to get back to safety, all while foiling the plans of old enemies come back to haunt them?
The situations are somewhat outlandish, but I wouldn't have had so much trouble reading this book if it weren't for the absolutely bizarre way Finn treats Tasi. Milo thinks it's just Finn's low self-esteem talking, but as a hyper-competent woman who's had to deal with a lifetime of bitchy and incompetent men whining that I'm not being nice enough to them when I'm literally trying to help them, I just wanted to smack the little brat (or leave him to die.) Tasi is a much better person than I am but can we please have actual consequences for men being insecure assholes? Unlike the much more forgiving Tasi, I would have come out of that experience with a "see you never" at the way Finn repeatedly endangered them because of his ego.
I'm not sure if I would be less critical of this middle grade novel if I hadn't recently had the most exasperating experience of my orchestral life. A fellow cellist I'd just given two hours of free instruction to had the audacity to say to me, "You're really nice one on one, but I think you should be nicer to me in rehearsal."
I was like, "Oh? How do you mean?"
"Well, you're always quick to shush me when you think I'm making too much noise in rehearsal," he said.
With blank incredulity, I stared at him and replied, "You're not supposed to have your bow on the strings when Maestro is talking" because he has the irritating habit of playing while our conductor is trying to direct other sections of our chamber orchestra.
Readers, tell me why this grown ass retired man then had the bare faced cheek to tell me, "It's not that disruptive."
And look, I get that this is a privileged white guy (who doesn't understand why his eldest daughter gets frustrated in conversations with him, lol) who has probably never had anyone beat the shit out of him or otherwise faced any real consequences for being an entitled little twerp. I pointed out that he's not the only person I shush, at which he said that I, as an authority figure, should be nicer because I "know what's in his heart." I had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying, "Bitch, I don't work for you."
Gratifyingly, a diverse array of friends has assured me that he was way out of line. But after that particularly egregious exchange, it was difficult for me to see Finn be just as bratty and not get a serious correction. Tasi is literally told to be nicer to him because he has trouble with authority, while she is desperately working to keep them all safe and alive. He, on the other hand, gets to bark out orders in stressful situations because he has zero self-awareness. It pisses me off that women are expected to be "nice" in order to be listened to or appreciated, whereas men get a free pass to behave however they want (and don't even get me started on the even greater ramifications of this type of misogyny.)
I'm hoping that the Finns of the world get better, even as I have zero hope for some of their elders. I'm a maybe on reading more of this series: Wimpy Kid Greg did get better with time but he's also a normal kid learning valuable lessons over the course of an ordinary life, not some jerk whose ego could get himself and everyone around him killed. The former can be cringe but fun, whereas the latter just strains the bounds of credulity past the point of any reading enjoyment for me.
Mission Manta Ray (R.A.P.T.O.R. #2) by Philip Kavvadias was published August 25 2026 by Aladdin and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
That protagonist is Finn, a kid who's become a junior agent of the globe-trotting R.A.P.T.O.R. program after finding and hatching a microraptor's egg while on a field trip with his best friend Milo in Book 1 of this series. Finn and Arty the microraptor have become inseparable since he successfully saved her from being abducted and experimented on by Sapient Ex, an evil organization determined to extract maximum profit from the planet, no matter how unsustainable. Now all three of them work with the good guys of R.A.P.T.O.R. in protecting the world.
As Mission Manta Ray begins, Finn, Milo and Arty are headed to the Nausicaa, a research vessel which has recently reported the unusual appearance of a giant octopus swimming up from the ocean depths. There they meet the hyper-competent Tasi, another junior agent whom Finn is almost immediately suspicious of. When disaster strikes and they're stranded on a desert island, can they figure out a way to work together to get back to safety, all while foiling the plans of old enemies come back to haunt them?
The situations are somewhat outlandish, but I wouldn't have had so much trouble reading this book if it weren't for the absolutely bizarre way Finn treats Tasi. Milo thinks it's just Finn's low self-esteem talking, but as a hyper-competent woman who's had to deal with a lifetime of bitchy and incompetent men whining that I'm not being nice enough to them when I'm literally trying to help them, I just wanted to smack the little brat (or leave him to die.) Tasi is a much better person than I am but can we please have actual consequences for men being insecure assholes? Unlike the much more forgiving Tasi, I would have come out of that experience with a "see you never" at the way Finn repeatedly endangered them because of his ego.
I'm not sure if I would be less critical of this middle grade novel if I hadn't recently had the most exasperating experience of my orchestral life. A fellow cellist I'd just given two hours of free instruction to had the audacity to say to me, "You're really nice one on one, but I think you should be nicer to me in rehearsal."
I was like, "Oh? How do you mean?"
"Well, you're always quick to shush me when you think I'm making too much noise in rehearsal," he said.
With blank incredulity, I stared at him and replied, "You're not supposed to have your bow on the strings when Maestro is talking" because he has the irritating habit of playing while our conductor is trying to direct other sections of our chamber orchestra.
Readers, tell me why this grown ass retired man then had the bare faced cheek to tell me, "It's not that disruptive."
And look, I get that this is a privileged white guy (who doesn't understand why his eldest daughter gets frustrated in conversations with him, lol) who has probably never had anyone beat the shit out of him or otherwise faced any real consequences for being an entitled little twerp. I pointed out that he's not the only person I shush, at which he said that I, as an authority figure, should be nicer because I "know what's in his heart." I had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying, "Bitch, I don't work for you."
Gratifyingly, a diverse array of friends has assured me that he was way out of line. But after that particularly egregious exchange, it was difficult for me to see Finn be just as bratty and not get a serious correction. Tasi is literally told to be nicer to him because he has trouble with authority, while she is desperately working to keep them all safe and alive. He, on the other hand, gets to bark out orders in stressful situations because he has zero self-awareness. It pisses me off that women are expected to be "nice" in order to be listened to or appreciated, whereas men get a free pass to behave however they want (and don't even get me started on the even greater ramifications of this type of misogyny.)
I'm hoping that the Finns of the world get better, even as I have zero hope for some of their elders. I'm a maybe on reading more of this series: Wimpy Kid Greg did get better with time but he's also a normal kid learning valuable lessons over the course of an ordinary life, not some jerk whose ego could get himself and everyone around him killed. The former can be cringe but fun, whereas the latter just strains the bounds of credulity past the point of any reading enjoyment for me.
Mission Manta Ray (R.A.P.T.O.R. #2) by Philip Kavvadias was published August 25 2026 by Aladdin and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
May 5, 2025
In Finn & Milo's second adventure, they find themselves skydiving onto a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (along with Arti the microraptor) for a special mission to investigate strange happenings in the Mariana Trench in their capacity as RAPTOR junior agents. But almost as soon as they arrive, the ship is torpedoed by a submarine in the shape of a giant manta ray and they find themselves adrift alone on a life raft. When they finally reach a volcanic island they are reunited with another junior agent, Tasi, and a familiar enemy. Can they escape the bad guys and find out what is going on at the bottom of the ocean?
Finn is such a charmingly reluctant hero and even though his priority is always getting something to eat, he is fiercely protective of Arti and occasionally comes up with a brilliant plan that actually works. His narration is laugh-out-loud hilarious and I giggled throughout the book. Once again, Milo ('The Professor') is a fountain of knowledge and vocabulary, and Tasi is a competent, efficient but socially inept addition to the team.
I gave a copy of the book to my nine-year-old niece at Easter and she opened it up straight away and finished it the same day. (She confessed that she turned the lights back on at bedtime to finish it, after she was supposed to be asleep.) And her favourite bit was 'all the rhetorical questions'. (Finn's malapropisms eg. 'a red oracle question'.)
'Mission: Manta Ray' is another non-stop, madcap adventure featuring intrepid children, thrilling action, wildly imaginative technology, and witty banter. An absolute delight, and perfect for children aged 7-12.
Finn is such a charmingly reluctant hero and even though his priority is always getting something to eat, he is fiercely protective of Arti and occasionally comes up with a brilliant plan that actually works. His narration is laugh-out-loud hilarious and I giggled throughout the book. Once again, Milo ('The Professor') is a fountain of knowledge and vocabulary, and Tasi is a competent, efficient but socially inept addition to the team.
I gave a copy of the book to my nine-year-old niece at Easter and she opened it up straight away and finished it the same day. (She confessed that she turned the lights back on at bedtime to finish it, after she was supposed to be asleep.) And her favourite bit was 'all the rhetorical questions'. (Finn's malapropisms eg. 'a red oracle question'.)
'Mission: Manta Ray' is another non-stop, madcap adventure featuring intrepid children, thrilling action, wildly imaginative technology, and witty banter. An absolute delight, and perfect for children aged 7-12.
December 10, 2025
Book 2 – Mission: Manta Ray
Written by Philip Kavvadias, illustrated by Euan Cook, published by Chicken House
Philip delivers another sharp, funny adventure in Mission: Manta Ray, the follow-up to Mission: Microraptor. The story immediately begins in the Pacific Ocean, where Finn, microraptor Arty, and Milo meet new recruit Tasi. In keeping with first book, the narrative keeps a brisk pace with humour.
Finn, as always, is the adorable centre of the team, with his quips and obsession with food, while Milo continues to show his encyclopaedic knowledge. Milo’s insecurities surface when he sees other agents began their careers much younger, and he quietly admires Tasi’s composure and capability. Tasi, as the new junior agent, injects fresh energy into the group, balancing Finn’s chaos and Milo’s knowledge. Her presence unsettles Finn, who is suspicious of her motives and reluctant to trust, which adds tension to the group dynamics, keeping the comedy sharp without undercutting the danger of Red and Julia coming for them.
The book is about confidence and friendship, with a nod to environmental awareness. Its short chapters and snappy dialogue make it highly accessible, especially for reluctant readers. A clever blend of suspense and silliness, perfect for middle-grade readers aged 9–12 who want thrills without losing the fun.
Written by Philip Kavvadias, illustrated by Euan Cook, published by Chicken House
Philip delivers another sharp, funny adventure in Mission: Manta Ray, the follow-up to Mission: Microraptor. The story immediately begins in the Pacific Ocean, where Finn, microraptor Arty, and Milo meet new recruit Tasi. In keeping with first book, the narrative keeps a brisk pace with humour.
Finn, as always, is the adorable centre of the team, with his quips and obsession with food, while Milo continues to show his encyclopaedic knowledge. Milo’s insecurities surface when he sees other agents began their careers much younger, and he quietly admires Tasi’s composure and capability. Tasi, as the new junior agent, injects fresh energy into the group, balancing Finn’s chaos and Milo’s knowledge. Her presence unsettles Finn, who is suspicious of her motives and reluctant to trust, which adds tension to the group dynamics, keeping the comedy sharp without undercutting the danger of Red and Julia coming for them.
The book is about confidence and friendship, with a nod to environmental awareness. Its short chapters and snappy dialogue make it highly accessible, especially for reluctant readers. A clever blend of suspense and silliness, perfect for middle-grade readers aged 9–12 who want thrills without losing the fun.
February 19, 2025
A great follow-up adventure to Mission Microraptor, Manta Ray sees Finn and Milo joined on a mission to survive after being washed up on a pacific island where they discover a hidden base. The return of an old enemy leads to extreme danger. Can the threesome get on for long enough to defeat the baddies? Lots of action and humour.
November 5, 2026
A fun middle grade survival adventure! It was exciting and fast-paced. The concept was great and the story was entertaining to read.
Middle grade readers would love fast-paced adventure would love this! It has secret agents, adventure, survival, animal sidekick, friendships, and evil bad guys!
Middle grade readers would love fast-paced adventure would love this! It has secret agents, adventure, survival, animal sidekick, friendships, and evil bad guys!
January 16, 2025
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
MISSION MANTA RAY is another fun adventure full of survival and dastardly villains.
This is very much another go-go-go caper to survive everything the sea is throwing at these kids and also trying to take down the villains. In this book, it's not so much the unknown nature of them that makes the villains such a threat but just how advanced their tech it. It gives them a boost in scariness (which is useful given they were defeated last book.)
I liked that the setting for this book was so different to MISSION MICRORAPTOR. We are not in a temperate climate, with the sorts of forests and hills British readers will be more familiar (though, to be fair, we don't exactly have any mountains either.) This time, we're dropped into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, exploring the surface and depths, as well as a tropical island. It was nice to be in such a different place.
The book is very voicy, getting the narrative style of a preteen spot on. Finn is a cheeky, overconfident, not-paying-attention-to-what-they-really-should child - aka, a popular kid and one of the more annoying ones if you're in any sort of teacher/adjacent role! Finn, naturally, thinks he's in the right all the time, and I appreciated that this book very much involved him being forced (by his friends) to confront the assumptions he was making and the insecurities these stemmed from.
There are a few hints in this book that there is another threat to contend with in the next instalment, a traitor inside RAPTOR... (And I have my theories!)
MISSION MANTA RAY is another fun adventure full of survival and dastardly villains.
This is very much another go-go-go caper to survive everything the sea is throwing at these kids and also trying to take down the villains. In this book, it's not so much the unknown nature of them that makes the villains such a threat but just how advanced their tech it. It gives them a boost in scariness (which is useful given they were defeated last book.)
I liked that the setting for this book was so different to MISSION MICRORAPTOR. We are not in a temperate climate, with the sorts of forests and hills British readers will be more familiar (though, to be fair, we don't exactly have any mountains either.) This time, we're dropped into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, exploring the surface and depths, as well as a tropical island. It was nice to be in such a different place.
The book is very voicy, getting the narrative style of a preteen spot on. Finn is a cheeky, overconfident, not-paying-attention-to-what-they-really-should child - aka, a popular kid and one of the more annoying ones if you're in any sort of teacher/adjacent role! Finn, naturally, thinks he's in the right all the time, and I appreciated that this book very much involved him being forced (by his friends) to confront the assumptions he was making and the insecurities these stemmed from.
There are a few hints in this book that there is another threat to contend with in the next instalment, a traitor inside RAPTOR... (And I have my theories!)
February 16, 2025
Good fun!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews