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Kensy & Max #2
Disappearing Act
Kensy and Max are now agents-in-training at Pharos, a covert international spy network. Christmas break sees the twins back at Alexandria for training and a celebration like no other, but where are their parents and why can't they come home?
Thankfully, a school trip to Rome provides a welcome distraction. Amid the history and culture of Italy's capital, they discover a runaway boy and whisperings of Mafia involvement. It looks like Kensy and Max's harmless excursion may just turn into their very first mission.
Thankfully, a school trip to Rome provides a welcome distraction. Amid the history and culture of Italy's capital, they discover a runaway boy and whisperings of Mafia involvement. It looks like Kensy and Max's harmless excursion may just turn into their very first mission.
Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2018
27 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Harvey
133 books308 followersJacqueline Harvey has combined a successful career in education with her love of a good story. She is the author of many novels for younger readers and a picture book, THE SOUND OF THE SEA, which was awarded Honour Book in the 2006 Australian Children’s Book Council Awards.
Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.
Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.
Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.
Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.
Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)
Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013
Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013
Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.
Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012
Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year
Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013
Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards
Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012
Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.
Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010
Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.
Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020
Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.
Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.
Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.
Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.
Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)
Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013
Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013
Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.
Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012
Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year
Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013
Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards
Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012
Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.
Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010
Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.
Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 18, 2018
A fun, action packed read with just the right amount of realism and great characters.
Jacqueline Harvey's Alice Miranda series is nice, I never thought that Alice Miranda being practically perfect made her far less beliavable.
The characters in this story are far more realistic and believable considering its a spy story about kids.
Another pleasant surprise from the author and I am looking forward to more entries in this series.
Jacqueline Harvey's Alice Miranda series is nice, I never thought that Alice Miranda being practically perfect made her far less beliavable.
The characters in this story are far more realistic and believable considering its a spy story about kids.
Another pleasant surprise from the author and I am looking forward to more entries in this series.
Read
July 31, 2025my FAVORITE book in the series!!! 📚❤
September 26, 2022
I thought this one was better than the first. It seemed easier to follow, the visit to Rome was well done, and the spy kids with their gadgets was really fun. This reminded me of the type of mystery books I enjoyed growing up.
August 26, 2018
I received an advanced reading copy of this book.
Another exciting addition to the Kensy and Max series. After finding out who they were in the end of the last book, we catch up with Kensy and Max well and truly involved in their studying to become spies. They are finding their place within their new family and the new world that they have been thrust in to.
This story is about friendship and family and how sometimes it can be hard to see the difference between the two. Family does not always equal friend just as friends can be stronger and more loyal than family. For everyone in this book it is working out who is who and knowing that trust should only be given when it is earned, as betrayal can be just around the corner.
Kensy and Max both have a sense about them that has them seeing things other people don't. It is their caring nature that seems them getting in to a scrape or two but also being able to save the day and show people that they are just natural in their abilities.
As with Breaking News, both boys and girls are going to be drawn to this series as this brother and sister team grow from strength to strength. Their love for one another and their desire to be reunited with their parents will keep us coming back for me, and keep them learning as much as they can from their new school environment and the people around them.
Mysteries abound and this one takes us from the English countryside to the very centre of Rome where the siblings learn more about Italian politics than they wanted to. It is here that they are exposed to what people will do to others in their quest for power and money. The siblings good hearts and open minds are behind the adventure that follows.
Here's hoping that book 3 brings them one step closer to finding their parents and discovering more about their mysterious Uncle Rupert.
Great read for kids 8+, especially those who are drawn to mysteries and books about spies.
Another exciting addition to the Kensy and Max series. After finding out who they were in the end of the last book, we catch up with Kensy and Max well and truly involved in their studying to become spies. They are finding their place within their new family and the new world that they have been thrust in to.
This story is about friendship and family and how sometimes it can be hard to see the difference between the two. Family does not always equal friend just as friends can be stronger and more loyal than family. For everyone in this book it is working out who is who and knowing that trust should only be given when it is earned, as betrayal can be just around the corner.
Kensy and Max both have a sense about them that has them seeing things other people don't. It is their caring nature that seems them getting in to a scrape or two but also being able to save the day and show people that they are just natural in their abilities.
As with Breaking News, both boys and girls are going to be drawn to this series as this brother and sister team grow from strength to strength. Their love for one another and their desire to be reunited with their parents will keep us coming back for me, and keep them learning as much as they can from their new school environment and the people around them.
Mysteries abound and this one takes us from the English countryside to the very centre of Rome where the siblings learn more about Italian politics than they wanted to. It is here that they are exposed to what people will do to others in their quest for power and money. The siblings good hearts and open minds are behind the adventure that follows.
Here's hoping that book 3 brings them one step closer to finding their parents and discovering more about their mysterious Uncle Rupert.
Great read for kids 8+, especially those who are drawn to mysteries and books about spies.
October 19, 2018
I was eagerly looking forward to this sequel and the author did not disappoint me in this new adventure called "Disappearing Act."
Although we know that such events never happen in real life, with the great cast of characters and their personal quirks amid plenty of action makes this story very plausible.
Once again, we have the chance to practice codebreaking skills. Last time it was with the Caesar Cipher, this time it is the Pigpen Cipher. Loads of fun!
The story is divided into two parts: The first is training at Alexandria, the estate in England, the second is their time in Rome where Kensy and Max go on a school trip.
The twins are still trying to find their parents and unravel more mysteries along the way. They also find that there are still attempts by someone against their lives.
However, while in Rome, they uncover a fairly sinister plot and it's time for the twins together with their school friends and agents-in-training to save the day! An outstanding read!
Although we know that such events never happen in real life, with the great cast of characters and their personal quirks amid plenty of action makes this story very plausible.
Once again, we have the chance to practice codebreaking skills. Last time it was with the Caesar Cipher, this time it is the Pigpen Cipher. Loads of fun!
The story is divided into two parts: The first is training at Alexandria, the estate in England, the second is their time in Rome where Kensy and Max go on a school trip.
The twins are still trying to find their parents and unravel more mysteries along the way. They also find that there are still attempts by someone against their lives.
However, while in Rome, they uncover a fairly sinister plot and it's time for the twins together with their school friends and agents-in-training to save the day! An outstanding read!
January 27, 2019
Book 2 in the series sees the action heating up.
A better pace that keeps the audience interested, character development that allows us to connect and an interesting storyline, mean that this book delivers what the first one should have.
I was looking to read this as a class book to my Year 2 class (7 year olds) but feel that the mention and use of guns and smoking would make this better suited to an older audience.
Loved the cast of characters, Italian terms glossary and maps at the front of the book to allow for easy reference by the reader. It should also allow a reader to step into this book without having read the first one.
Bring on the third book as I will be adding this one to my class library!
A better pace that keeps the audience interested, character development that allows us to connect and an interesting storyline, mean that this book delivers what the first one should have.
I was looking to read this as a class book to my Year 2 class (7 year olds) but feel that the mention and use of guns and smoking would make this better suited to an older audience.
Loved the cast of characters, Italian terms glossary and maps at the front of the book to allow for easy reference by the reader. It should also allow a reader to step into this book without having read the first one.
Bring on the third book as I will be adding this one to my class library!
April 8, 2022
3.5 stars
I found this instalment of the Kensy and Max series to be much better than the first, Breaking News. The twins are now agents-in-training and are on a school trip to Rome when they find themselves solving a kidnapping.
There was far more action and excitement in this novel and I loved the Italian setting - it brought back memories of my time over there. The inclusion of maps and glossary was a good idea and would be beneficial to younger readers while the chance to crack a new code makes for a fun read that will keep them intrigued.
I found this instalment of the Kensy and Max series to be much better than the first, Breaking News. The twins are now agents-in-training and are on a school trip to Rome when they find themselves solving a kidnapping.
There was far more action and excitement in this novel and I loved the Italian setting - it brought back memories of my time over there. The inclusion of maps and glossary was a good idea and would be beneficial to younger readers while the chance to crack a new code makes for a fun read that will keep them intrigued.
January 29, 2023
Kensy and Max are going on an excursion to Rome but they find out someone is trying to kill them! They also meet their uncle find a note from their parents, who are agents of Pharos, a spy agency. But they have to keep it a secret. So going to Rome is very lucky for not just Kensy and Max but also their parents and uncle. It was really interesting.
October 7, 2020
Didn’t enjoy this as much as the first....probably because the setting has changed. The same annoying characters still annoyed me. It just felt a bit over done and silly.
I’m not the target audience.... so Ms Harvey shouldn’t be annoyed.
I’m not the target audience.... so Ms Harvey shouldn’t be annoyed.
February 1, 2022
Cute children's adventure/mystery! Love that the storyline crosses to the next book. Fun and exciting for my 8 year old. Sometimes the English gets tricky to read without understanding all of the nuances.
May 5, 2019
Love the Kensy and Max series. Cant wait to read number 3.
November 19, 2021
This is AMAZING! I really liked it! I kinda liked book one slightly better but this was still AWSOMEEEEE! Cant wait to read book 3
November 26, 2021
very boring but fun to figure out what is going on before the characters do.
December 27, 2021
This was pretty boring and the plot is alot like one of the Alice Miranda books
January 24, 2022
Love the innocence and page turning excitement. It’s an easy read and I just always want to know what happens next
December 30, 2022
Pretty good. Lots of twists and turns and a fun mystery
October 29, 2024
My 8 year old son liked the action in this one. Parts of the story felt long, but it all wove together in the end.
January 12, 2025
It was very good! I love how it uses Italian language to add to the setting. It was their first mission- can't wait to read them all
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2025
It's a classic childhood series for me anyway. Iconic, and one of my favorite character pairings and its so good to see the whole team working together.
March 26, 2024
I loved reading this book because it reminded me about Alex Rider
March 16, 2023
I’ve read this twice with my kids! I loved it both times! Even knowing what was going to happen, I wanted to keep reading. The characters are so likable and the story moves quickly!
March 22, 2021
This series has my son hooked on mysteries. It's age appropriate and we can discuss the book together which is fun.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews