In the fifth book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series, Ben goes undercover in the White House to take on a SPYDER operative determined to assassinate the president.
Thirteen-year-old Ben Ripley has had a lot of field success despite only just beginning his second year at Spy School, something even graduates rarely experience. But he’d never have survived without the help from experienced agents and his friends. Now he’s been called in on a solo mission—and the fate of the United States of America is on his shoulders alone.
The Prevent a presidential assassination by infiltrating the White House and locating the enemy operative.
And when everything goes wrong, Ben must rely on his spy school friends to save his reputation…but even friends can double-cross or be swayed to the enemy’s side.
The evil organization SPYDER is back, and they are planning to assassinate the President. Because of Ben Ripley’s success fighting them in the past, he is sent under cover into the White House to try to find the sleeper agent. However, with the large number of people in the White House each day, Ben soon realizes just how mammoth the task is. Can he figure out what is going on in time to save the President?
This premise sets us off on another wonderful wild ride into the world of espionage. Oh, the fact that Ben is only twelve-years-old might be unrealistic, but it is so much fun and author Stuart Gibbs makes it work here. There are lots of twists leading up to the wonderful climax. The characters are good, although they could be a little stronger. That’s probably just the adult in me talking, however because it certainly wasn’t on my mind when I was busy turning pages. The book also packs a fair number of laughs that caught me off guard and truly made me laugh out loud. Kids of all ages will love this book.
Stuart Gibbs brings us another installment in the action-filled Spy School series for the 4th-8th grade audience. As with earlier books in this series, the characters of Erica and Ben are intelligent spies in training who manage to save the free world while also navigating the more mundane things like school, friendship and little bits of "more than friendship." And while it is absolutely impossible that junior high children could possibly thwart such nefarious plans as those of SPYDER, Gibbs writes this series with such finesse that readers are completely sucked in and reality is suspended for a time. The length of books in the Spy School series might be daunting for some, but this one, along with all the others, moves at such a fast pace that even the most reluctant reader is likely to be swept up into the action and never realize how many pages were read until the final one is turned. Teachers can feel good about recommending this book with its lack of profanity or innuendo and its great vocabulary, character development, and clear plot. Spy School Secret Service is already on a Fall book order for both my libraries. (Review of digital ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline)
In this fifth book in the Spy School series, Ben Ripley is again being called into active duty. Super agent Cyrus Hale is worried that SPYDER has infiltrated both the CIA and the Secret Service, so he calls on Ben to go undercover in the White House. There has been chatter about threats on the president's life and Cyrus wants Ben to figure out who could be the possible mole in the White House. Full of the same fun antics as the first five, as well as twists, turns, and narrow escapes, this is a must read for fans of the series. I strongly suggest reading them in order. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
As a teacher, I love how Stuart Gibbs just brings in so much research and factual information in these books. SS Secret Service is about SPYDER and a new plot in which they supposedly want to assassinate the president. Ben is activated yet again and gets to hang out at the White House with the president's jerk son to try and figure out what is going on.
Throughout the book, there is a lot of factual information about the White House, and also some about the Smithsonian museum. I would love to use this book in a unit where students learn about the White House and presidency, and maybe even about the different offices in a presidential cabinet.
Beyond the implications for teaching, SS Secret Service has a really well written plot, with a lot of moving targets, and as usual, lots of action, betrayal and ultimately, wins. I would absolutely recommend this installment of the Spy School series.
The Spy School Secret Service is a well written, intriguing book about kid spies who have to stop a plot to mess with the U.S Government. This book introduces the characters and the setting very well, because I figured out that I was reading the 5th book in the series AFTER I read the book, so if you didn't read the 4 books before, you would still have a good idea on what was going on. My favorite part was at the end, and that part also had the most action. I will not spoil what happened, but the main character and his friends stop the evil organization from doing anymore damage. This is a great book overall.
I really enjoyed the story Ben has to find the mole in the white house but everyone believes it is him after the mole slips a bomb on him. He has to have Erica help him to evade the FBI and the CIA.
Eyy this was a fun one! I literally read it and the book before it in basically one day because they're both due tomorrow at the library, but I enjoyed it well enough. I'm actually kind of looking forward to the next books now, and I wasn't really before, so that's an improvement.
This was by far one of the most complicated and eventful book in the series. SPYDER is exceptionally good at making their plans, there almost flawless, ALMOST. Ben Ripley has thwarted so many evil organizations plans, many students at spy school are furiously jealous of him being activated/gone on 5 missions. (Which most of them included Murray Hill and SPYDER) So much happened in this book. Warren actually is an agent for SPYDER!!! He was turned because Zoe, the girl he liked always was focused on Ben, so he was turned easily. SPYDER'S plans are so complex, and are supposed to achieve multiple goals. First, Warren can get revenge on Ben, and can be shown as the hero on the mission and continue to be a mole. Second, a government official was to be killed during the bomb unknowingly slid into Ben's jacket, so they could create an amazing amount of chaos and mayhem, but also be able to blackmail the whole world because they have control of America's nuclear arsenal. Third, they wanted to kill Gorsky, an arms dealer for some unknown reason. (Probably because SPYDER's done dealing with him) Ben was able to thwart SPYDER'S plan at last, though narrowly. If he didn't, HE would have been the person accused for all the crimes and for almost killing the president, along with all his friends.
There were so many funny moments, I couldn’t possibly pick one to quote. Okay, maybe one:
Ben: “Do you like me?” Erica: “…It’s complicated.” Ben: This was disappointing. I had been hoping for something more along the lines of “Yes. I love you with the white-hot passion of a thousand suns.”
In the fifth Spy School book Ben has a new unofficial assignment he has to go on solo. He’s be to go on a playdate with the President’s son and ensure the President’s life. No big deal, as long as Spyder doesn’t interfere. When things don’t go as planned, everyone assumes Ben is working for Spyder and Ben is taken into custody!!
Ben is unofficially activated to help save the President's life. Unfortunately it looks like the opposite may happen with Ben on the job. Fortunately Erica unofficially steps in to help. It takes Ben a while to figure out what SPYDER is up to but when he does only his friends believe him (and that included Erica.) It is up to the school-aged spies to save the day.
I love this series. Cyrus is a jerk. Ben finally gets the truth from Erica. It is a fun romp through the nation's capital and the White House. Lots of secrets abound.
I absolutely love these books. And they referenced Guys and Dolls, my all time favorite musical. Was refreshing and unexpected. These books are always funny and full of action. Definitely five stars!
Somehow I missed reviewing this one? It was fun I liked the character development. It was fun watching Ben flounder. excited to see where it goes next (even though right now I already know because I'm reading book 7)
This SS is about Ben being activated to thwart what is suspected to be a presidential assassination plot. In short, the whole mission goes haywire, and Ben is framed as a bomber. He must endure and find evidence to prove his innocence. I loved this book so much, there isn't a single thing I would change. Another perfect book from Stuart Gibbs.