Get Smart-ish

The League of Unexceptional Children #2

by Gitty Daneshvari

A hilarious and action-packed sequel to The League of Unexceptional Children!

Jonathan Murray: Twelve years old. Wears khaki pants to tell the world he plans on driving the speed limit when he grows up. Saved the world once; it was probably a fluke.

Shelley Brown: Twelve years old. Narrates her imaginary exploits as if she is the subject of a documentary film. Saved the world once; it was probably a fluke.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has called upon Jonathan and Shelley to catch a criminal who has stolen a virus that makes people less smart. When the stakes are this high, can the kids be the utterly average spies the world needs them to be and save the day? Embrace your unexceptional side in this hysterically funny sequel!

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Audiobook, Childrens

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2016

About the author

Gitty Daneshvari was born in Los Angeles to an Iranian father and an American mother. As a child she talked incessantly, feeling the need to comment on everything around her. While at first charmed by her verbose nature, her family soon tired of the constant commenting. This is how she found writing — it was better than talking since she didn't even need anyone else to do it with.

She currently lives in New York City and yes she still talks too much.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, and ultimately I liked this one better than the first in the series. I was less annoyed with Shelley and was happily surprised to find that there were actual action sequences here! The kids actually solved a mystery! It's certain that this will draw readers in better than the first. Kudos for stepping it up with the sequel--I'm actually curious to find out what happens in the third after that cliffhanger...

[Andy Botello · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like its cathing and would recommend if u like chapter books its 240 pages 🫥

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Little, Brown for an advanced reader copy of this title. Though I have not yet read the first book, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of unexceptional children being used as spies because they wouldn't be noticed as easily.

It was cute and fast moving, but did seem to lack some of the extra depth I find in even the silliest of middle grade. Still, I think this will be fun for students in elementary and early middle school. One of my favorite bits was Shelley's messing up of idioms, and I hope students find it just as silly.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "The League Of Unexceptional Children Get Smart-Ish", I really enjoyed the predictability not affecting the joy of reading the book. I'm not normally a fan of non-magical, non-animal, or human-based books. However, though this meets all of these requirements, I fully enjoyed it. I think that it has a slight bit of predictability, but it's still interesting and leaves you hooked. If you're not already, with this book, you definitely will become the person saying "one more page" and then reading the other complete half of the book. Haha. Which reminds me, this book is hilarious! A packed punch of jokes and funny notes add this seriously thrilling book some interesting hits. I would definitely recommend this book to any people trying to like another version of a book (ie. me trying to like something other than magical cats). Fictional, Comedic, Tweenager/Older Kid (the jokes and vocabulary may be better to understand if you start at age 12 and go up from there. It just depends on academic skill) Mystery.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure, we've seen stories of super savvy, super smooth spies and secret agents, but maybe the perfective operative is actually *not* that type at all but actually someone very...average. Someone who can truly slip under the radar because they never registered to begin with.

This is the concept for Gitty Daneshvari's series. I've come to realize that whole Daneshvari's books may not exactly be for me, I can definitely see how they'd have an audience and I found this a lot more successful--and funnier--than School of Fear. Like School of Fear we have a lot of hijinks and bits coming at you fast and furious with these two "unexceptional" operatives, but unlike School of Fear the plot is more cohesive and the two main characters have a weirdly heartwarming sibling-like dynamic that I enjoyed.

For kids who love the pure giddy goofiness of Captain Underpants and Dog Man or Max and the Midnights, this is somewhere adjacent (minus the potty humor that can creep in the Pilkey books).

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good.

But I feel like the writing was too rushed.

When the characters were talking, it felt light and funny, but when there was no dialogue, it felt very mysterious. It felt like it was written by two different authors.

I did love Shelley's character.

[Bookish Devil · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have the patience to bear the constant bickering of Shelly throughout the story, you'll find this one to be fun.

[Ana Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó pero prefiero el primer libro

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Mariana Altamirano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entretenido, buen libro para niños

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelltastic and Johno at it again!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this with my 9 year old daughter. She really gets a kick out of the quirky characters and has just the right amount of suspense. Had to explain at great length the difference between hardback and paperback publishing schedules so she understood that there wouldn't be a preview for a third book. She is very excited for what comes next!

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shelley and Jonathan head to London to help the BAE with an urgent matter regarding LIQ-30 and a terrible Minority-report type of situation. And the ending...well, I can't tell you what happens but I can say that me and my nine-year-old son are looking forward to the next novel.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't think this has ever happened before but I actually found the second book to this series better and funnier than the first! If your kiddo liked the first one, they are going to love this second one.

Found in L4M YT Volume 71. (Also found in Volume 25(B)).

[Kris Patrick]

Have an ARC from Book Expo. The banter between Jonathan and Shelley is cute. The illustrations are adorable.

But I'm a realistic fiction reader, and I'm ok with that.

[Ylfa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As charmingly funny as the first one.

[Favour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as funny as the first book, but still hilarious

[Karina Sifuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

No podía parar de reír en todo el libro, Shelley es uno de los personajes más graciosos que e leído😅
3.5

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything by Gitty Daneshvari!