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Code Orange Cancun
Fourteen-year-olds Serena and J.T. are headed to Cancun, Mexico. They're not traveling together. Not even on the same plane. In fact, they haven't met. Yet. J.T. can't wait to get started on his long overdue vacation with his dad. It's going to be an awesome week of fun, sun and surf. If his luck holds, he might even meet a nice girl. Serena won't have time for fun. For her, this is no vacation. She's a technologically enhanced spy, and she's hot on the trail of the monster responsible for her parents' death. Her heart is set on revenge.When the die is cast, forces are set in motion that will change their lives and the world they believe in.
196 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2013
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
S.D. Brown
25 books24 followersS.D. Brown taught elementary, middle grade, high school, and junior college for over twenty years—on three continents and in seven schools. She continues to present workshops and is the owner-curator of the largest, privately owned gem and mineral museum in California. When she’s not working with rocks, she’s working on manuscripts, traveling, gardening, painting, and doing the dishes.
See more as sdbrownbooks.
This author also writes as Spike Brownt
See more as sdbrownbooks.
This author also writes as Spike Brownt
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2019
Good book, it's enjoyable and keeps you entertained throughout. I like it
January 11, 2019
This book's main characters are two fourteen-year-old teenagers who's path cross in Cancun Mexico. However, all is not as it seems as one of the teens has a score to settle. But perhaps not all is as it seems there either.
The plot moves along at a good pace with individual chapters for each of the two teens narratives. The scene and world building was well done, along with character development.
I did guess how it was all going to end, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of the book, and I would probably read another book in the series if one were released.
The plot moves along at a good pace with individual chapters for each of the two teens narratives. The scene and world building was well done, along with character development.
I did guess how it was all going to end, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of the book, and I would probably read another book in the series if one were released.
January 9, 2019
Enjoyable YA Novel!
I enjoyed reading this spy thriller for kids! I started off with a lot of questions, like why the female protagonist was so eager to go after the person she’d been told he killed her parents, and that she did so with little remorse. But as the story goes along, the questions get answered. I really liked the twist at the end. I didn’t expect it. All around, the story was a satisfying read. Readers young and old who enjoy spy novels will enjoy this book!
I enjoyed reading this spy thriller for kids! I started off with a lot of questions, like why the female protagonist was so eager to go after the person she’d been told he killed her parents, and that she did so with little remorse. But as the story goes along, the questions get answered. I really liked the twist at the end. I didn’t expect it. All around, the story was a satisfying read. Readers young and old who enjoy spy novels will enjoy this book!
June 18, 2019
Teen Spies Are Go!
Serena is a teenage spy. Having been left unable to walk after the car accident that killed her parents when she was four, her Uncle Monte raised her and his company provided the technology to allow her to walk again. Now she has a chance to get revenge on James Chapman, the man who caused the car crash. To do so she has to befriend his son J.T. who is vacationing in Mexico.
What I really enjoyed:
Having read and enjoyed a superb middle-grade book from the same author, I knew this one would be jumping with pace and action - and I was not disappointed.
This book is aimed at early teen readers and is a story with a lot of the aforementioned fast-paced action and adorable moments of awkward teenage - adorable to adults that is, teens themselves would identify and wince along with the characters.
The high-tech world-building in a contemporary setting, is well thought out and mostly believable, although one key plot device did have my suspension of disbelief doing a bit of a bungee-jump.
The characters are engaging and the problems they face well-written to be of the kind teenagers could conceivably deal with rather than impossible ones.
The twist in the tale is very well done and throws the whole story into a different perspective leaving the way open for further adventures for the ‘Covert Kids’
What I struggled with:
Two things - one stylistic and one very fundamental.
Two first-person characters. This is a stylistic no-no for me though other people might not mind it at all. In my opinion, first-person voice, unless brilliantly handled, reads the same and the character loses any sense of individuality.
Stereotyping. This is a fundamental issue for me. In a book aimed at impressionable younger readers, I would expect to find stereotypes - especially negative ones - challenged and not reinforced. The negative presentation of Mexico (as a place of casual police corruption and education only for the rich) and the one Mexican character (made fun of for his misuse of very well known American slang) and some comments about and by the British main character, reflect a sort of 1960s stereotypical view of the UK and Mexico and their inhabitants. A view that is certainly not true today, if it ever was. That said, as someone who is British and with friends in Mexico, I am going to notice this where others might not.
Overall thoughts:
A great story with action and pace and cool characters. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this for the age group intended as it stands, because of the negative stereotyping which is mentioned above. If that were remedied and then this would be a completely rip-roaring teen tale!
Serena is a teenage spy. Having been left unable to walk after the car accident that killed her parents when she was four, her Uncle Monte raised her and his company provided the technology to allow her to walk again. Now she has a chance to get revenge on James Chapman, the man who caused the car crash. To do so she has to befriend his son J.T. who is vacationing in Mexico.
What I really enjoyed:
Having read and enjoyed a superb middle-grade book from the same author, I knew this one would be jumping with pace and action - and I was not disappointed.
This book is aimed at early teen readers and is a story with a lot of the aforementioned fast-paced action and adorable moments of awkward teenage - adorable to adults that is, teens themselves would identify and wince along with the characters.
The high-tech world-building in a contemporary setting, is well thought out and mostly believable, although one key plot device did have my suspension of disbelief doing a bit of a bungee-jump.
The characters are engaging and the problems they face well-written to be of the kind teenagers could conceivably deal with rather than impossible ones.
The twist in the tale is very well done and throws the whole story into a different perspective leaving the way open for further adventures for the ‘Covert Kids’
What I struggled with:
Two things - one stylistic and one very fundamental.
Two first-person characters. This is a stylistic no-no for me though other people might not mind it at all. In my opinion, first-person voice, unless brilliantly handled, reads the same and the character loses any sense of individuality.
Stereotyping. This is a fundamental issue for me. In a book aimed at impressionable younger readers, I would expect to find stereotypes - especially negative ones - challenged and not reinforced. The negative presentation of Mexico (as a place of casual police corruption and education only for the rich) and the one Mexican character (made fun of for his misuse of very well known American slang) and some comments about and by the British main character, reflect a sort of 1960s stereotypical view of the UK and Mexico and their inhabitants. A view that is certainly not true today, if it ever was. That said, as someone who is British and with friends in Mexico, I am going to notice this where others might not.
Overall thoughts:
A great story with action and pace and cool characters. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this for the age group intended as it stands, because of the negative stereotyping which is mentioned above. If that were remedied and then this would be a completely rip-roaring teen tale!
January 10, 2019
I used to teach middle school, and this is a book I would’ve happily purchased for my classroom library. It’s a good take on the YA formula—a competent young female lead, a bit of love interest, an exotic setting, and the young people have adventures have adventures independently of adults , etc. While all that follows the formula, the plot is not formulaic. On the contrary, the twists and turns were novel and kept me interested all the way through! In addition, the book is well-edited and proofed, with smooth writing and believable dialog. A fun book for a young reader.
February 15, 2021
Uhhhh the book shown is not covert kids cancun. There is no teen or JTd
The book played is escape to someplace in Hawaii with story about george and jonathan and leprosy. There Was NO MEXICO or spy story. Just a story about a boy living with his grandparents and his best friend with leprosy in 1946 . !! Not even close to the "about this book" info. How does this happen when other readers have reviewed it and their review matches the book i thought i was getting. Stupid kindle books. I want the book i thought i was getting.
The book played is escape to someplace in Hawaii with story about george and jonathan and leprosy. There Was NO MEXICO or spy story. Just a story about a boy living with his grandparents and his best friend with leprosy in 1946 . !! Not even close to the "about this book" info. How does this happen when other readers have reviewed it and their review matches the book i thought i was getting. Stupid kindle books. I want the book i thought i was getting.
November 7, 2014
This is the very first book that I have read from S. D. Brown. I could not put it down until I knew the real scoop on these kids. It twisted and turned so often, it was like a tennis match. It had EVERYTHING a spy thriller should have for young adults. Not once was there any hint of "kids book". I was far too busy enjoying the storyline to even be emotionally interrupted by anything. Two different teens, one knowing she is a spy and the other just trying to avoid strangers who were following him. Both go to Cancun for different reasons. Throughout the week at a posh resort, they learn that they have much in more common with each other than they thought before they met. *I was provided with a free copy of this book so that I could give an honest review of this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews