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Howie Bowles, Secret Agent
How do you make new friends?
It's hard for Howie Bowles when his family moves to a new town -- what if the kids at school don't like him? "Just be yourself" is his mother's advice, but wouldn't it be easier to be somebody else? Howie doesn't plan on making his classmates believe that he's actually a secret agent named Agent Bean Burger, but somehow that's what happens. Soon everyone is interested in him because he's a secret agent, and it's sort of like having friends, except that the other kids still don't know anything about Howie. And then a case comes along that he has to someone's been spitting out their gum in the drinking fountains at school. In short chapters with snappy dialogue and winning pictures, this is a fast-paced story of a likable, worrisome boy -- a boy who finally does solve the case (it's the principal!), so Agent Bean Burger can take a vacation and Howie Bowles can be himself.
It's hard for Howie Bowles when his family moves to a new town -- what if the kids at school don't like him? "Just be yourself" is his mother's advice, but wouldn't it be easier to be somebody else? Howie doesn't plan on making his classmates believe that he's actually a secret agent named Agent Bean Burger, but somehow that's what happens. Soon everyone is interested in him because he's a secret agent, and it's sort of like having friends, except that the other kids still don't know anything about Howie. And then a case comes along that he has to someone's been spitting out their gum in the drinking fountains at school. In short chapters with snappy dialogue and winning pictures, this is a fast-paced story of a likable, worrisome boy -- a boy who finally does solve the case (it's the principal!), so Agent Bean Burger can take a vacation and Howie Bowles can be himself.
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First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 4, 2017
Darryon Johnson
Mr. Holden
May 4, 2017
Howie Bowles
(Secret Agent)
Fiction
Have you ever wanted to be a secret agent? No well think again It's a lot of fun. Just ask Howie Bowles. He’s really not a real Secret Agent. He pretended to be one. He’s really a third grader. Who had recently moved to New York CIty and wanted to impress his friends at his new school. Trying to make a good first impression on his friends he kept on pretending to be a secret agent. Never try to be someone you’re not.
Howie had awoken in the middle of the night looking outside his window at the New York skyline. Thinking about how good it felt to have his own room. He used to share a room with his little brother named Dylan, a terrible thing that was to Howie, because he used to make little weird noises in his sleep, he suked his thumb, and worse of all he peed the bed. Now that he got his own room he loves it. Suddenly Howie hears a familiar voice “Rise and shine” it was his mother. He forgot that he was in a new place and he had to go to a new school. He got ready for school he chose to wear his favorite shirt with a ketchup stain on it. (Many of you would think eww,) nope not to Howie that shirt means a lot to him that Ketchup stain was made by Ken Griffey Jr. when he was signing autographs at a baseball game
.
When Howie got to school everyone immediately looked at him. Howie felt as if he was a bug under a microscope. Howie’s seat was in the third row, it was very obvious because on the seat there was a sign that said “Welcome Howie To Room Seven”! The sign was made by his new teacher Mrs. Beagle. When Howie sat down a girl turned around and introduced herself “Hi I’m Maggie” Howie looked at her and instantly got butterflies, Howie thought that she was the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, and she had dimples. Howie couldn’t think of anything to say. So he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Did you Know the Empire State Building has 6,500 windows!?” “OH” Maggie replied as if she didn’t care.
During recess Howie waited for someone to come up to him no-one did. As he watched his classmates playing ball he noticed Maggie with her friends (as followed) Mary Reilly, a boy with JUSTIN written on his sweatshirt with another guy with a baseball cap on his head. Howie noticed that Mary had the ball every time. “Ball Hog” Howie said under his breath, and almost in an instant Mary said “What did you say?” Howie lied so she wouldn’t know that he was talking about her. May instantly said “You’re weird” and happily skipped away.
When he got home his mother asked him “how was his day” Howie replied as he took a fork from the drawer “it was okay” he continued there’s this girl SHE STINK” He didn’t meant she stunk as in odor wise. “Stink?” his mother asked Howie said “she has a big mouth” “Oh OKay”his mother replied back so she’s a know-it all.” Later that night Howie couldn’t sleep at all. All he could think of is the kids not liking him. Finally he doze of, this is the part where the author uses her ability to create beautiful imagery in the reader’s head. Howie started to dream that he was a secret agent. He dreamt that he had this huge trench coat nice pair of slacks shoes that actually fit. A beautiful car and everything you’d think a secret agent would have.
The next day Howie got up with a smile on his face, “Good morning Ho” Howie interrupted “Don’t call me howie, call me “”Secret Agent Burger” When he got to school every couldn’t believe their eyes where they're looking at Howie or someone else. Howie did not know that Maggie liked him it was never said in the book but by how the author wrote Maggie’s emotions and the faces she made at him. The author does a very good job embedding the characters body language into the readers minds. As the story comes to an end Howie gains the friends he wanted but loses the friend he never thought he had , but it was during a fire drill. The teacher took roal but she bypassed Howie’s name on purpose she said I am looking for Howie Bowles the real one Howie said here I am and she said no you're Secret Agent Burger.
Howie had to learn the hard way never try to be someone you’re not you lose people that care about you when you acted the way you are suppose to and gain the one that care about you when you act a certain way. Never try it because unless you want to learn the hard way like Howie go right ahead and pretend to be a Secret Agent.
Mr. Holden
May 4, 2017
Howie Bowles
(Secret Agent)
Fiction
Have you ever wanted to be a secret agent? No well think again It's a lot of fun. Just ask Howie Bowles. He’s really not a real Secret Agent. He pretended to be one. He’s really a third grader. Who had recently moved to New York CIty and wanted to impress his friends at his new school. Trying to make a good first impression on his friends he kept on pretending to be a secret agent. Never try to be someone you’re not.
Howie had awoken in the middle of the night looking outside his window at the New York skyline. Thinking about how good it felt to have his own room. He used to share a room with his little brother named Dylan, a terrible thing that was to Howie, because he used to make little weird noises in his sleep, he suked his thumb, and worse of all he peed the bed. Now that he got his own room he loves it. Suddenly Howie hears a familiar voice “Rise and shine” it was his mother. He forgot that he was in a new place and he had to go to a new school. He got ready for school he chose to wear his favorite shirt with a ketchup stain on it. (Many of you would think eww,) nope not to Howie that shirt means a lot to him that Ketchup stain was made by Ken Griffey Jr. when he was signing autographs at a baseball game
.
When Howie got to school everyone immediately looked at him. Howie felt as if he was a bug under a microscope. Howie’s seat was in the third row, it was very obvious because on the seat there was a sign that said “Welcome Howie To Room Seven”! The sign was made by his new teacher Mrs. Beagle. When Howie sat down a girl turned around and introduced herself “Hi I’m Maggie” Howie looked at her and instantly got butterflies, Howie thought that she was the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, and she had dimples. Howie couldn’t think of anything to say. So he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Did you Know the Empire State Building has 6,500 windows!?” “OH” Maggie replied as if she didn’t care.
During recess Howie waited for someone to come up to him no-one did. As he watched his classmates playing ball he noticed Maggie with her friends (as followed) Mary Reilly, a boy with JUSTIN written on his sweatshirt with another guy with a baseball cap on his head. Howie noticed that Mary had the ball every time. “Ball Hog” Howie said under his breath, and almost in an instant Mary said “What did you say?” Howie lied so she wouldn’t know that he was talking about her. May instantly said “You’re weird” and happily skipped away.
When he got home his mother asked him “how was his day” Howie replied as he took a fork from the drawer “it was okay” he continued there’s this girl SHE STINK” He didn’t meant she stunk as in odor wise. “Stink?” his mother asked Howie said “she has a big mouth” “Oh OKay”his mother replied back so she’s a know-it all.” Later that night Howie couldn’t sleep at all. All he could think of is the kids not liking him. Finally he doze of, this is the part where the author uses her ability to create beautiful imagery in the reader’s head. Howie started to dream that he was a secret agent. He dreamt that he had this huge trench coat nice pair of slacks shoes that actually fit. A beautiful car and everything you’d think a secret agent would have.
The next day Howie got up with a smile on his face, “Good morning Ho” Howie interrupted “Don’t call me howie, call me “”Secret Agent Burger” When he got to school every couldn’t believe their eyes where they're looking at Howie or someone else. Howie did not know that Maggie liked him it was never said in the book but by how the author wrote Maggie’s emotions and the faces she made at him. The author does a very good job embedding the characters body language into the readers minds. As the story comes to an end Howie gains the friends he wanted but loses the friend he never thought he had , but it was during a fire drill. The teacher took roal but she bypassed Howie’s name on purpose she said I am looking for Howie Bowles the real one Howie said here I am and she said no you're Secret Agent Burger.
Howie had to learn the hard way never try to be someone you’re not you lose people that care about you when you acted the way you are suppose to and gain the one that care about you when you act a certain way. Never try it because unless you want to learn the hard way like Howie go right ahead and pretend to be a Secret Agent.
April 13, 2021
I really liked this story! We moved a lot when I was a child and I could identify with Howie trying to fit in.
May 20, 2022
Funny story inside the mind of a third-grader.
January 14, 2023
Nothing especially good or bad, just not worth the time.
May 7, 2012
It's hard for Howie Bowles when his family moves to a new town -- what if the kids at school don't like him? "Just be yourself" is his mother's advice, but wouldn't it be easier to be somebody else? Howie doesn't plan on making his classmates believe that he's actually a secret agent named Agent Bean Burger, but somehow that's what happens.
April 1, 2011
This is a very interesting book that a lot of kids would be engaged in. Many of them could relate to moving to a new school and having to make new friends. The main thing that this book could teach kids is that they should always be themselves. This would be a great book for 3-5th grade!
February 23, 2009
After moving 2 a new house & attending a new school, Howie Bowles decides if he can't fit in, then he might as well stand out among his fellow classmates.
March 12, 2016
C. children's fiction, early elementary
Read
June 1, 2016Howie has moved to a new town and is having difficulty making friends at his new school. He creates and alter ego, but finds even that solution isn't perfect.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews