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Spy School #14
Spy School Goes East
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26In the fourteenth book in Stuart Gibbs’s New York Times bestselling Spy School series, superspy middle schooler Ben Ripley journeys to China to save the Hale family!
When the seasoned adult spies of the Hale family mysteriously disappear on a mission to China, Ben Ripley and his fellow spies-in-training head east to discover what happened to them—and find themselves up against a villainous plot that will take them from the skyscrapers of Shanghai to the ancient ruins of the Great Wall to the remote regions of the Gobi desert.
When the seasoned adult spies of the Hale family mysteriously disappear on a mission to China, Ben Ripley and his fellow spies-in-training head east to discover what happened to them—and find themselves up against a villainous plot that will take them from the skyscrapers of Shanghai to the ancient ruins of the Great Wall to the remote regions of the Gobi desert.
- GenresMiddle Grade
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ben can never get a break! Now, Erica's grandparents and father are being held captive, and intelligence leads the group to China's Shanghai Tower, where they are supposedly held on the 116th floor, but they still don't know why the Hales were targeted. The yacht in which they have been traveling, Fishin' Impossible, will probably be confiscated, but the kids go into town, get tourists clothing from Momoko, and get into the building with groups of tourists. Jawa, Zoe, Chip, Mike, Trixie, and Svetlana are all along for the mission, but when Ben sees Erica sneak off, he follows her up a stairwell. She's not happy, especially when they are found by SkyTech's security. Erica cries and says they were just tlooking for the bathroom, and get to meet the company's CEO. She lets them go, but security discusses (in Chinese) killing both kids, so they run and escape down the side of the building using a crane! They needs to go two hours north to Junshanling, and luckily meet up with Jessica Shang, who holds no grudge about the number of her family the Spy School group has had incarcerated. She helps them get to the Great Wall, where they run afoul of some awesome older women who are spies, and manage to outwit them to find Cyril and Alexander, but not Mary. Mary apparently had information about older unexploded bombs, and SkyTech is apparently looking for these and has plans to send them in to space to knock out communication satellites so they can sell more. Since the world is still reeling from the blackout, the kids know they need to stop SkyTech. Of course, first they have to have near death adventures in the Golden Lotus Estates and nearby abandoned amusement park, and have more than their fair share of encounters with flash bombs, tank driving, and narrow escapes. It goes without saying that they narrowly manage to do whatever they need to do, but where will Ben and his friends find themselves when the school relocates? Fifteen books in the series would be a great round number.
Strengths: The best part about these books is always the vicarious traveling! I do not ever plan to travel down the outside of the Shanghai Tower, but when I'm along on Ben's mission, I can. There are always bits of humor; the names of missions are always fun, and Ben's "translation" of some of the Chinese is hysterical. I love that Erica has such good spy skills and is so driven. New to this book is Cyrus' decline. He's been a spy for a long time, and he's not as sharp or as strong as he once was. This is sad, but realistic, and I'd love to see him teaching at the new spy school, wherever that might be!
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters. I could have done without Chip, Jawa, Trixie, Mike, and Zoe. Svetlana is always humorous, and it was interesting to bring in Jessica, but I would have liked to see a smaller crew so we could have seen more of Erica and Ben's relationship. It's seems like it's on rocky ground, but there was too much action to delve into it.
What I really think: I love this series, and they still circulate well, but I would love to see Mr. Gibbs branch out with some stand alone mystery or realistic humor titles.
Still waiting for that button from Simon and Schuster congratulating me for reading all the books!
Ben can never get a break! Now, Erica's grandparents and father are being held captive, and intelligence leads the group to China's Shanghai Tower, where they are supposedly held on the 116th floor, but they still don't know why the Hales were targeted. The yacht in which they have been traveling, Fishin' Impossible, will probably be confiscated, but the kids go into town, get tourists clothing from Momoko, and get into the building with groups of tourists. Jawa, Zoe, Chip, Mike, Trixie, and Svetlana are all along for the mission, but when Ben sees Erica sneak off, he follows her up a stairwell. She's not happy, especially when they are found by SkyTech's security. Erica cries and says they were just tlooking for the bathroom, and get to meet the company's CEO. She lets them go, but security discusses (in Chinese) killing both kids, so they run and escape down the side of the building using a crane! They needs to go two hours north to Junshanling, and luckily meet up with Jessica Shang, who holds no grudge about the number of her family the Spy School group has had incarcerated. She helps them get to the Great Wall, where they run afoul of some awesome older women who are spies, and manage to outwit them to find Cyril and Alexander, but not Mary. Mary apparently had information about older unexploded bombs, and SkyTech is apparently looking for these and has plans to send them in to space to knock out communication satellites so they can sell more. Since the world is still reeling from the blackout, the kids know they need to stop SkyTech. Of course, first they have to have near death adventures in the Golden Lotus Estates and nearby abandoned amusement park, and have more than their fair share of encounters with flash bombs, tank driving, and narrow escapes. It goes without saying that they narrowly manage to do whatever they need to do, but where will Ben and his friends find themselves when the school relocates? Fifteen books in the series would be a great round number.
Strengths: The best part about these books is always the vicarious traveling! I do not ever plan to travel down the outside of the Shanghai Tower, but when I'm along on Ben's mission, I can. There are always bits of humor; the names of missions are always fun, and Ben's "translation" of some of the Chinese is hysterical. I love that Erica has such good spy skills and is so driven. New to this book is Cyrus' decline. He's been a spy for a long time, and he's not as sharp or as strong as he once was. This is sad, but realistic, and I'd love to see him teaching at the new spy school, wherever that might be!
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters. I could have done without Chip, Jawa, Trixie, Mike, and Zoe. Svetlana is always humorous, and it was interesting to bring in Jessica, but I would have liked to see a smaller crew so we could have seen more of Erica and Ben's relationship. It's seems like it's on rocky ground, but there was too much action to delve into it.
What I really think: I love this series, and they still circulate well, but I would love to see Mr. Gibbs branch out with some stand alone mystery or realistic humor titles.
Still waiting for that button from Simon and Schuster congratulating me for reading all the books!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to #NetGalley, Stuart Gibbs, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
When the experienced Hale family spies disappear during a mission in China, young spy-in-training Ben Ripley and his friends race to find them. Their search takes them across China—from the busy streets of Shanghai to the Great Wall and even the Gobi Desert.
Along the way, Ben must solve clues, outsmart dangerous enemies, and stop a villain's plan before it's too late. Packed with action, humor, gadgets, and surprising twists, this adventure is perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced mysteries and spy stories.
I absolutely love the **Spy School** series! I first started reading it two years ago when I was transitioning to teaching an upper elementary grade and was searching for books that would hook my students. This series has absolutely delivered, and it has become one of my go-to recommendations for young readers.
"Spy School Goes East" was just as engaging and entertaining as the previous books. It's been fun watching Ben continue to grow as a spy while still staying true to the character readers have come to know. I also appreciated that Erica remains unapologetically herself—her confidence and personality are a big part of what makes the series so enjoyable.
I also liked that Stuart Gibbs didn't completely shy away from acknowledging the political tensions surrounding China. It added realism to the setting without taking away from the adventure.
At times, having the entire spy crew together made it a little difficult to keep track of everyone, but I still enjoyed the unique personalities each character brought to the story. Their interactions continue to be one of the strengths of the series.
As always, the action, humor, and adventure kept the pages turning, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'm definitely looking forward to Book 15!
When the experienced Hale family spies disappear during a mission in China, young spy-in-training Ben Ripley and his friends race to find them. Their search takes them across China—from the busy streets of Shanghai to the Great Wall and even the Gobi Desert.
Along the way, Ben must solve clues, outsmart dangerous enemies, and stop a villain's plan before it's too late. Packed with action, humor, gadgets, and surprising twists, this adventure is perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced mysteries and spy stories.
I absolutely love the **Spy School** series! I first started reading it two years ago when I was transitioning to teaching an upper elementary grade and was searching for books that would hook my students. This series has absolutely delivered, and it has become one of my go-to recommendations for young readers.
"Spy School Goes East" was just as engaging and entertaining as the previous books. It's been fun watching Ben continue to grow as a spy while still staying true to the character readers have come to know. I also appreciated that Erica remains unapologetically herself—her confidence and personality are a big part of what makes the series so enjoyable.
I also liked that Stuart Gibbs didn't completely shy away from acknowledging the political tensions surrounding China. It added realism to the setting without taking away from the adventure.
At times, having the entire spy crew together made it a little difficult to keep track of everyone, but I still enjoyed the unique personalities each character brought to the story. Their interactions continue to be one of the strengths of the series.
As always, the action, humor, and adventure kept the pages turning, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'm definitely looking forward to Book 15!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stuart Gibbs returns yet again with Spy School book #14!
Brief Plot Summary:
The Hales have been kidnapped, so it's up to Ben, Erica, and their friends to rescue them. While travelling through China to find the Hales, they discover a larger sinister plot that could threaten the entire world. It ends on a sort of cliffhanger, so there's space for the series to grow (I know, even more!!!). I won't write the cliffhanger here, but if you'd like to know please feel free to ask.
Thoughts:
- I always enjoy all the travelling that Ben does, and I think that the descriptions of the places they go are all fairly accurate.
- I feel like most of the Spy School books at this point are getting very similar. Most of the books have been similar since maybe Project X. Ben figures out the plan and then distracts the bad guy long enough for Erica to come to his rescue.
- this is just me sort of confused: what happened to Catherine Hale? Why did she completely disappear in this book?
Overall, Spy School fans should definitely read this, but I think the series has been starting to fall flat after Project X.
Brief Plot Summary:
The Hales have been kidnapped, so it's up to Ben, Erica, and their friends to rescue them. While travelling through China to find the Hales, they discover a larger sinister plot that could threaten the entire world. It ends on a sort of cliffhanger, so there's space for the series to grow (I know, even more!!!). I won't write the cliffhanger here, but if you'd like to know please feel free to ask.
Thoughts:
- I always enjoy all the travelling that Ben does, and I think that the descriptions of the places they go are all fairly accurate.
- I feel like most of the Spy School books at this point are getting very similar. Most of the books have been similar since maybe Project X. Ben figures out the plan and then distracts the bad guy long enough for Erica to come to his rescue.
- this is just me sort of confused: what happened to Catherine Hale? Why did she completely disappear in this book?
Overall, Spy School fans should definitely read this, but I think the series has been starting to fall flat after Project X.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The newest Spy School novel is a great addition to the series and is perfect for middle-grade readers. Fast-paced and educational, Spy School Goes East takes place in several famous locations in China and provides a bit of backstory on each landmark the characters see. I really enjoyed the humor and sarcasm used between Ben and his friends throughout the story, despite being well outside the target age-range.
I also really appreciate how each novel touches on different social and political issues in ways that kids can understand. This one focused on family dynamics and the continued impacts of Cold War schemes.
My only critique is how large the cast of characters is, which makes it difficult to have a lot of character depth beyond Ben introducing who each person is throughout the story. Cutting down the number of people who are present the whole mystery could help readers connect with characters more.
I also really appreciate how each novel touches on different social and political issues in ways that kids can understand. This one focused on family dynamics and the continued impacts of Cold War schemes.
My only critique is how large the cast of characters is, which makes it difficult to have a lot of character depth beyond Ben introducing who each person is throughout the story. Cutting down the number of people who are present the whole mystery could help readers connect with characters more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My family discovered this series several years ago on a trip to Washington DC international spy Museum. While we have not read all of the books of the series, this one maintains the formula we’ve come to know and love. In this book, we are searching for a family of espionage experts.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the towns , the buildings and the people. I feel like we learned details about China that I had not heard before. I definitely recommend this book to middle schoolers and people looking for a fun mystery. Particularly those interested in China. Recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My family discovered this series several years ago on a trip to Washington DC international spy Museum. While we have not read all of the books of the series, this one maintains the formula we’ve come to know and love. In this book, we are searching for a family of espionage experts.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the towns , the buildings and the people. I feel like we learned details about China that I had not heard before. I definitely recommend this book to middle schoolers and people looking for a fun mystery. Particularly those interested in China. Recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Another solid Spy School book from Stuart Gibbs! Book 14 takes place immediately after Spy School Blackout ends and the world is still recovering. Ben, Erica, and the gang have taken the yacht to China in search of Erica's father and grandfather. They follow the clues across China, racing against the bad guys and their nefarious plot, to save the Hales and the world. There is a lot of good information about China in general, mixed into another exciting adventure. Highly recommended for fans of the series, grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
By far the best so far in this series! Deserves more than 5 stars! I do feel very bad for the Great Wall of China after everything they did to it. I didn’t think Stuart Gibbs could pull out any more action scenes but some how he did, it was so full of action and adrenaline in every chapter. I read this book in less than half a day because it kept me so hooked.
Advanced copy read and reviewed by 12 year old
Advanced copy read and reviewed by 12 year old
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an interesting spy story and I really enjoyed the location and the plot. Unfortunately, over all I did not enjoy the book or the characters. This might be due to the fact that I've never read any of the other books in this series. In some instances I felt like I was dropped into a few of the character's story line with out receiving any background and this tended to be off putting. I also didn't really enjoy the dynamics of the team. I felt like a few of the characters were too strong, to a point of being obnoxious. Stuart Gibbs books are usually amazing, so I feel like I need to start this series at the beginning to give it an honest try,
I received a free E-ARC from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for my honest review.
I received a free E-ARC from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews