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JJ Bennett: Junior Spy #1
Problems in Prague
"My name is Jeremiah Ethan Bennett, Jr., also known as JJ. I'm twelve years old and a spy for the CIA, only they don't exactly know it."
JJ Bennett has never dodged bullets from Russian spies. He's never broken into a thousand-year-old crypt. He's never dangled by a piece of rope two hundred feet in the air.
But all that is about to change.
JJ Bennett has never dodged bullets from Russian spies. He's never broken into a thousand-year-old crypt. He's never dangled by a piece of rope two hundred feet in the air.
But all that is about to change.
- GenresMiddle Grade
185 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2013
3 people are currently reading
1212 people want to read
About the author
Alba Arango
25 books105 followersAlba Arango writes books that are “imaginative and a lot of fun to sleuth around with.” (Readers’ Favorite) Follow her on Bookbub to receive notices about her new releases and sales, and join her monthly newsletter at AlbaArango.com to receive a once-a-month entertaining newsletter full of event info, monthly highlights, crazy laws, and all-around mischief. And...BONUS!! You get a FREE short story, Sherlock of Timberton, just for signing up!
Alba is a retired high school teacher turned full-time author. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she loves coffee and chocolate…especially together (white chocolate mocha is the best!).
Alba is a retired high school teacher turned full-time author. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she loves coffee and chocolate…especially together (white chocolate mocha is the best!).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 22, 2018
Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett Junior Spy by Alba Arango is a middle grade book that reminds me of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books I loved as a kid; Of course, with more modern lingo and cell phones, etc. It is an exciting adventure story about kids as spies and secrets that must be protected at all cost.
Jeremiah Bennett, aka JJ, is currently living in Prague where his father works as a computer tech for the CIA. With the Bennett’s are JJ’s tutor Ms. Hernandez and her daughter Maggie who is the same age as JJ.
During a sightseeing tour at a castle, JJ and Maggie, run into a young Russian girl, Ivana, who JJ had an encounter with, at the airport, the day before. He wants to ask her some questions but she runs away before he has a chance. JJ and Maggie decide to chase after her. Ivana leads them into the Black Tower and they slip inside unseen. A short time later they caught a glimpse of Ivana leaving a room but she manages to slip away but not before telling them she is a member of the P-KGP.
They decide to investigate the room she exited from. Inside a book they find a cryptic note to a Josef left by a person called Kangsly. Later they find out that Josef is Joseph Stalin and Kangsly was an American defector in the early 1950s. They are now determined to figure out what this P-KGP is and what the note means. What they discover is a secret that must be kept from the Russians and so the adventure begins.
What I loved about this book is the likable characters of JJ and Maggie and the fast paced plot. There was not a lot of descriptive prose, which is a good thing; because in this case I feel excessive prose would turn off the target audience. I could never see an 8 or 12 year old reading a book for its prose! They want action and characters they can relate to.
Speaking entirely as a parent here, I appreciate that the author was sensitive to the audience she was writing for. The book did not contain any language or scenes that where inappropriate for a young audience, not even any hidden innuendos. In addition, there were no violent scenes that might be upsetting to younger readers.
The only negative comment I have is with the plot. JJ just seemed to be too quick to figure things out. I always thought this of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books too. I must admit, I think me age colors my thinking a little on this one.
Overall I found this book has a good story that was written with a young audience in mind. Therefore, I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers.
I have rated the book four stars and I feel this is the correct rating. However, upon reflecting I wonder how much my age is influencing my rating. I am passing the book on to my grandson, currently 10, who is also a big reader and I hope to update this review sometime in the future with his rating. In the spirit of fairness, I believe the target audience should have their opinion heard and have more weight because ultimately they are the consumer.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com
Jeremiah Bennett, aka JJ, is currently living in Prague where his father works as a computer tech for the CIA. With the Bennett’s are JJ’s tutor Ms. Hernandez and her daughter Maggie who is the same age as JJ.
During a sightseeing tour at a castle, JJ and Maggie, run into a young Russian girl, Ivana, who JJ had an encounter with, at the airport, the day before. He wants to ask her some questions but she runs away before he has a chance. JJ and Maggie decide to chase after her. Ivana leads them into the Black Tower and they slip inside unseen. A short time later they caught a glimpse of Ivana leaving a room but she manages to slip away but not before telling them she is a member of the P-KGP.
They decide to investigate the room she exited from. Inside a book they find a cryptic note to a Josef left by a person called Kangsly. Later they find out that Josef is Joseph Stalin and Kangsly was an American defector in the early 1950s. They are now determined to figure out what this P-KGP is and what the note means. What they discover is a secret that must be kept from the Russians and so the adventure begins.
What I loved about this book is the likable characters of JJ and Maggie and the fast paced plot. There was not a lot of descriptive prose, which is a good thing; because in this case I feel excessive prose would turn off the target audience. I could never see an 8 or 12 year old reading a book for its prose! They want action and characters they can relate to.
Speaking entirely as a parent here, I appreciate that the author was sensitive to the audience she was writing for. The book did not contain any language or scenes that where inappropriate for a young audience, not even any hidden innuendos. In addition, there were no violent scenes that might be upsetting to younger readers.
The only negative comment I have is with the plot. JJ just seemed to be too quick to figure things out. I always thought this of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books too. I must admit, I think me age colors my thinking a little on this one.
Overall I found this book has a good story that was written with a young audience in mind. Therefore, I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers.
I have rated the book four stars and I feel this is the correct rating. However, upon reflecting I wonder how much my age is influencing my rating. I am passing the book on to my grandson, currently 10, who is also a big reader and I hope to update this review sometime in the future with his rating. In the spirit of fairness, I believe the target audience should have their opinion heard and have more weight because ultimately they are the consumer.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com
June 26, 2018
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett: Junior Spy is an action and adventure novel for children and preteens written by Alba Arango. JJ was thrilled to be with his dad on assignment. His dad claimed he was a computer tech for the CIA, but JJ liked to think that he was really a spy. JJ was in Prague with his dad, his new tutor, Ms. Hernandez, and her twelve-year-old daughter, Maggie. While they had only met a few days ago, Maggie and JJ had quickly become friends and partners in crime. They were touring Prague Castle when JJ noticed Ivana, the young Russian girl he had met the day before in the Ruzyne-Prague Airport. She had mistaken him for someone else and spoken in Russian to him until she realized her error. Now seeing her outside the Black Tower, which Maggie said was once used as a prison, was a lure too attractive for him and Maggie to resist. They decided to follow her and were stopped by a locked steel door, but then two men opened it and went in as the two friends watched from a concealed vantage point. Maggie quickly inserted her ruler in the doorway to keep it from locking. What was inside the tower, and why was it so important?
Alba Arango’s action and adventure novel for children and preteens, Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett: Junior Spy, is a fast-paced and exciting thriller novel that follows JJ and Maggie as they try to resolve a decades-old mystery that could have horrifying repercussions if it landed in the wrong hands. I loved seeing how well Maggie and JJ work as a team and delighted in experiencing Prague through their eyes, especially seeing St. Vitus Church, the Astronomical Clock and learning about the gastronomically awesome street food, Smazeny Syr -- and yes, I’ve Googled recipes to make it for myself. Arango’s plot is tidy, and a treat to follow, and her characters are inventive, imaginative and a lot of fun to sleuth along with. Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett: Junior Spy is most highly recommended.
Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett: Junior Spy is an action and adventure novel for children and preteens written by Alba Arango. JJ was thrilled to be with his dad on assignment. His dad claimed he was a computer tech for the CIA, but JJ liked to think that he was really a spy. JJ was in Prague with his dad, his new tutor, Ms. Hernandez, and her twelve-year-old daughter, Maggie. While they had only met a few days ago, Maggie and JJ had quickly become friends and partners in crime. They were touring Prague Castle when JJ noticed Ivana, the young Russian girl he had met the day before in the Ruzyne-Prague Airport. She had mistaken him for someone else and spoken in Russian to him until she realized her error. Now seeing her outside the Black Tower, which Maggie said was once used as a prison, was a lure too attractive for him and Maggie to resist. They decided to follow her and were stopped by a locked steel door, but then two men opened it and went in as the two friends watched from a concealed vantage point. Maggie quickly inserted her ruler in the doorway to keep it from locking. What was inside the tower, and why was it so important?
Alba Arango’s action and adventure novel for children and preteens, Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett: Junior Spy, is a fast-paced and exciting thriller novel that follows JJ and Maggie as they try to resolve a decades-old mystery that could have horrifying repercussions if it landed in the wrong hands. I loved seeing how well Maggie and JJ work as a team and delighted in experiencing Prague through their eyes, especially seeing St. Vitus Church, the Astronomical Clock and learning about the gastronomically awesome street food, Smazeny Syr -- and yes, I’ve Googled recipes to make it for myself. Arango’s plot is tidy, and a treat to follow, and her characters are inventive, imaginative and a lot of fun to sleuth along with. Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett: Junior Spy is most highly recommended.
November 5, 2019
JJ Bennett is a Junior Spy. Mmm, I wonder how you get a job like that?
This is an international mystery adventure. Story instantly kicks off with JJ and his friend following a Russian spy to the Prague Castle. Although the two friends start off with a witty repartee between them, the story didn't settle on a plot foundation. The reader is practically thrown into a spy game already, not really knowing what it's all about or why we're even here.
So many questions came to mind as I was reading this. Why were the kids in Prague? How did they get involved in this case? What was the case? But, most importantly, how did JJ come to be a Junior Spy? For being first in the series, it was absolutely pertinent to provide at least somewhat of a background.
Story was too complex and reading through it without the proper basics just further strained the experience. I'm sure some readers would enjoy this "James Bond" style adventure, but it didn't suit me.
This is an international mystery adventure. Story instantly kicks off with JJ and his friend following a Russian spy to the Prague Castle. Although the two friends start off with a witty repartee between them, the story didn't settle on a plot foundation. The reader is practically thrown into a spy game already, not really knowing what it's all about or why we're even here.
So many questions came to mind as I was reading this. Why were the kids in Prague? How did they get involved in this case? What was the case? But, most importantly, how did JJ come to be a Junior Spy? For being first in the series, it was absolutely pertinent to provide at least somewhat of a background.
Story was too complex and reading through it without the proper basics just further strained the experience. I'm sure some readers would enjoy this "James Bond" style adventure, but it didn't suit me.
July 8, 2019
Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Great, engaging, slightly informative book about Prague and middle-school age kids accidentally find themselves in the midst of a CIA investigation. I would say this middle grade book is best suited for kids just getting back into reading or for the younger side of middle grade readers.
My only problem with this book is that it was too short. It was very plot based, but I would have liked to see more about the places they visited in Prague and the food they ate. I would have also liked to hear more about their home school lessons about Prague that they had (the main character zoned out when the lessons started to think about the investigation).
All in all, this book was satisfying and enjoyable.
Great, engaging, slightly informative book about Prague and middle-school age kids accidentally find themselves in the midst of a CIA investigation. I would say this middle grade book is best suited for kids just getting back into reading or for the younger side of middle grade readers.
My only problem with this book is that it was too short. It was very plot based, but I would have liked to see more about the places they visited in Prague and the food they ate. I would have also liked to hear more about their home school lessons about Prague that they had (the main character zoned out when the lessons started to think about the investigation).
All in all, this book was satisfying and enjoyable.
November 19, 2018
I was expecting it to be a little cheesy and unreal. But thankfully it wasn’t. It was just the right amount of spyness to make the situation seem real enough. Strongly dislike stories that aren’t logical or follow common sense, especially when it a contemporary based story. So glad that this story didn’t disappoint. So well done to the Author
They weren’t running around with guns or doing super ninja things. They found a clue and followed it through. It showed a history of Prague, places and people. Going a little into details about these places, just added that extra nice touch to the story.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Author. Does not affect my review)
They weren’t running around with guns or doing super ninja things. They found a clue and followed it through. It showed a history of Prague, places and people. Going a little into details about these places, just added that extra nice touch to the story.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Author. Does not affect my review)
November 9, 2019
Non-stop action teen suspense/spy crime novel. I loved the accessible, age appropriate language, the humor and well thought out situations. I also appreciated the real-life references to landmarks and historical events, with a little teen romance peppered in. It's a book you can't put down! Definitely recommend for young readers.
September 4, 2018
I won an autographed copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews