Operation isbjerg

Agents of the Wild #2

by Jennifer Bell, Nanna Gyldenkærne (Translation), Mikkel Hansen (Reading)

Tag med på endnu en mission med 8-årige Agnes og de vilde dyreagenter!

Da OBISTA (Organisationen til Beskyttelse af Imponerende Sjældne og Truede Arter) modtager nødopkald fra deres marinestation på Antarktis, må Agnes og hendes elefantspidsmus-læremester Attie igen afsted på mission. Hvad er det for mystiske rystelser, der truer redningscenteret? Hvorfor opfører de lokale Adelie-pingviner sig så bizart? Og hvad laver celebrity-naturprogram-tv-værten Cynthia Steelsharp midt ude på issletterne?!

Jennifer Bell, forfatteren til den populære serie De ualmindelige, er tilbage med endnu en skør og fantasifuld serie til alle børn, der elsker dyr. Bagerst i bøgerne findes gode ideer til, hvad man selv kan gøre for dyrene og miljøet.

Genres: Animals, Childrens

Audible Audio

Published November 6, 2020

About the author

Londoner Jennifer Bell began working in children’s books as a specialist bookseller at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, one of the world’s most famous bookstores. After having the privilege of listening to children talk about their favorite books for many years, she started writing a book of her own on her lunch breaks.

For other authors with the same name, see Jennifer^^Bell.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as it was an exciting, fun, thrilling adventure. The main character, Agnes, was smart, brave and clever. Her partner, Artie, was funny and they made a great pair. I learned a lot about sea creatures and caring for the environment and it inspired me to start a club at school with my friends to learn about and protect species. The book was so good and had me guessing and asking questions the whole way. I can't wait to read another adventure from the "Agents In the Wild!"

[Mary Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant read for young wildlife enthusiasts, this fast-paced and fun chapter book will leave readers intrigued and laughing. Details of unusual animals, weird and wild landscapes and seascapes and inventive gadgets fire the imagination and add a taste of real-life drama to this Bond-esque adventure. Our heroes are quick, clever and quirky; the baddies truly villainous and the cast of wildlife characters mesmerising. The two-tone illustrations throughout are attractive, humourous and are a welcome visual treat for young eyes. In the back, pages of facts about endangered species and things that even the youngest among us can do to help make this book a full package. The second in the Agents of the Wild series (please read Operation Honeyhunt, as well), this book is fascinating, funny and oozing with heart.

[Laura Feldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. Definitely an adventurous story with a purpose. Whilst being rather factual, the writers imagination still manage to permeate this book. I look forward to finding more books from this series.

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite animal protection agent is back and this time she is heading to Antarctica.

Agnes Gamble loves protecting the world’s flora and fauna just like her parents had done previously. So when SPEARS receive a distress call from their underwater outpost in Antarctica they know just the two agents that are needed to go and aid and investigate. Agnes and Attie (Attenborough) the shrew are the perfect agents to send to icy Antarctica on a mission to investigate some very strange goings-on. Equipped with trinoculars, an otter sled and telescopic giraffe stilts the duo hop aboard the omnifrog and set off to a land of snow, icebergs and a lot of penguins. But everything is not as it seems at Outpost Twenty-Two and Agnes and Attie are going to have to uncover all manner of mysteries if they are to save the wildlife and the outpost. The duo soon find themselves deep in an intense, icy investigation as they seek to discover what is causing massive tremors, why the penguins are acting so strangely and if TV personality Cynthia Steelsharp really who everyone thinks she is…

Operation Icebeak is a delightful and thrilling adventure story with plenty of danger and peril. The story is filled with humour, heart and includes messages on conservation. I enjoyed so much about this book. There are awesome gadgets and technology based on the science of the natural world, hidden identities, wonderful ocean creatures and even a shrew-napping (this is what happens when a shrew gets kidnapped). There are so many wonderful messages about conservation and animal protection that are included and relevant. Readers are subtly educated throughout the story as information and facts are cleverly woven into the narrative. You get to learn all about some of the creatures that live in Antarctica, environmental problems - global warming and pollution - and some of the dangers of such an unforgiving environment. Agnes is such a great lead character. She is a strong-minded and adventurous girl who is a great role-model and a character that young readers will love.

Alice Lickens provides the superb artwork in shades of blue - love that it is in keeping with the whole icy and cool environment - that adds plenty of enjoyment to the story and features on almost every double page. At the end of the book there are mission case files, notes from SPEARS Chief Commander Phil about why the fragile Antarctic ecosystem is under threat and needs protecting, information on specific endangered species and tips for what kids can do to help protect the environment.

A fast-paced and fun adventure story that young wildlife enthusiasts will really enjoy and it is perfect for readers that are new to reading chapter books. And the great news is that Agnes and the SPEARS team will be off on a new mission later this year in Agents of the Wild: Operation Sandwhiskers, which I imagine is set in slightly warmer climes. I for one, cannot wait.

Recommended for 6+.

[Bella]

This has the same problems I had with the first book - the human agents are children, the animal agents are anthromorphised adults, but the children treat them like pets. It is weird.

I also strongly dislike the part at the back telling kids to know their carbon footprint and tell their parents to buy sustainable seafood. Adults created the problem we're in, it shouldn't be eight-year-olds who have to get us out of it.

Also, the baddy is once again a dimensional caricatures, the back of the book talks about the complex, nuanced issued of climate change, but the story suggests their caused by individual bad guys choosing to deliberately pollute the earth.

The first book, I read to my kids, this book my six-year-old is reading to me. She's usually a highly competent reader, but is struggling with a lot of words - the language is not commensurate with the story or text: e.g. representatives, investigations, contaminated, luxuriously, communications, bioluminescence.

The climactic scene didn't really make sense.

On the plus side - the big redeeming features are learning about real animals--animals whose existence I only know about because of this book include the sparklemuffin peacock spider and the pink fairy armadillo--and a strong female lead with an interest in science.

In summary: I dislike the contradictions, the two main characters have a weird relationship, and the language is surprisingly complex. However, if there's a third book in the series I'll inevitably end up owning it because my kids like animals, adventures, and one-dimensional baddies.

[Bethy Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child in my class brought this in for me to read alongside our Antarctica topic this term. It's a brilliant book for the transition between picture books and slim chapter books. Many of my Year 2s are at this stage at the moment, and trying to find up to date recommendations (other than Roald Dahl, Mr Majeika, Horrid Henry etc) to keep them interested is a struggle. They have really enjoyed listening to the story. The characters are interesting, the illustrations are engaging and the storyline is topical.