Sneaks

by Catherine Egan

Men in Black meets middle school! A school project takes an alien turn when three kids uncover a secret society whose aim is to keep sneaks--mischievous interdimensional sprites--from slipping into our universe!When Ben Harp sees his teacher's watch crawling across the hallway, he thinks he must be dreaming.  But no, he’s just seen his first Sneak—an interdimensional mischief-maker that can borrow the form of any ordinary object.   He figured this school year would be bad—his best friend moved away, the class bully is circling, and he’s stuck doing a group project with two similarly friendless girls, Charlotte and Akemi. Still, he wasn’t expecting aliens!  And he certainly wasn’t expecting that the woman he and Charlotte and Akemi are assigned to interview for their “living local history” project would be a Sneak expert. Or that she’d foist an old book on them to keep safe . . . and then disappear.  Now Ben, Charlotte, and Akemi are trying to understand a book that seems to contain a coded map while being pursued by violent clothes hangers, fire-spitting squirrels, and more. The Sneaks want that book! And they want something else, to pull a vastly more dangerous creature into the world with them.  Can three misfit kids decode the book in time to stop an alien takeover? And if they do, will they get extra credit on their group project?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2022

About the author

My superpowers: forward momentum, list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My weaknesses: overthinking, excessive list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My allies: My made-for-walking-in black boots, Mick, the English Language
My enemies: decaf, low blood sugar, the passage of time
My mission: the coexistence of ambivalence and joy.

Reviews

[ThatBookGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have loved this book if it had landed in my lap as a child. A huge adventure with creative aliens and lots of mystery. Well worth a read.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The first sentence describes a wristwatch crawling across the floor, so reader interest is piqued right away. Ben, the main character, soon discovers the watch is a creature from another world, but he doesn’t fully understand what this means. The plot takes a significant turn when Ben, Akemi, and Charlotte retrieve a letter and The Book of Keys for an elderly lady that reveal troubling, shocking concerns. The story is opened up to multidimensions, wormholes, and looming chaos, and Ben and his friends are thrown into the middle of it.
Sneaks are able to appear as unassuming objects, like a wristwatch, and on rare occasions, they can take the form of humans. This results in an element of uncertainty, as the kids never know when the Sneaks are around. There’s always something slightly off about Sneaks, but it sometimes takes effort to notice. When Sneaks attack, they can be stunned using water, and a special suitcase can send them back to their dimension. The Gateway Society is tasked with monitoring and controlling Sneaks, but they don’t appear overly concerned with the uptick in sightings. Why not? Is there more going on than what is seen?
The book shares several different issues with friendship. Ben’s little brother Leo befriends a new boy who is being teased, but his “friends” say he needs to stop. He can’t be around his old friends unless he dumps the new kid. Ben’s best friend from kindergarten has been mean to him for years, but he discovers she has a reason. It’s a long time to hold a grudge, but can what she says be true? Then, Ben’s best friend Ashok has moved to Paris, so their relationship is limited to texting. However, Ben’s not sure why he fails to tell Ashok about becoming friends with Akemi. Friendship can be complicated.
What didn’t work as well:
It would be nice to have one stable family in the story. Ben’s parents are self-absorbed and barely notice him and his little brother. Akemi’s mother died last year, so his father decided to move where they won’t be reminded of their grief. Charlotte has always been an outcast at school, but no one truly knows what’s happening at home. Her family life is not happy. The most “normal” family is in Paris where Ashok moved over the summer. The three main characters have underlying family issues, but the problems mostly help to add additional tension to the Sneak conflict.
The Final Verdict:
Saving the world from chaos and destruction! The story is fairly familiar, so it’s easy to follow and anticipate possible future events. Lovers of shape-shifting creatures and multidimensional fantasies will enjoy the book, and I recommend you give it a shot.

[C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: This was written by a friend, but that doesn't negate how good it is. It's going to be hard to wait for the second book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle grade novel with a tantalizing hook on its first pages is a 3.5 for me, and I will certainly recommend it to readers looking for something a bit different. I had no idea what the book would be about based on the title and the cover, but I was sure there would be something awry inside. That turned out to be the case. Sixth-grader Ben Harp is missing his best friend Ashok, whose family has moved to France for a year, and feeling as though he doesn't belong anywhere. The fact that his parents are more interested in each other and their own pursuits than Ben or his little brother Leo stings. When he's assigned to a group project with two girls, new girl Akemi, and misfit Charlotte, he's definitely not thrilled. But as it turns out, there's more to both of them than he expected, and their visit to Agatha Bent, the subject of their project, introduces them to the idea of metaverses and sneaks, these pesky, vicious sprites who somehow inhabit objects in this world but with slight changes. It's up to the three youngsters to stop a rapacious being from gaining access to their world and destroying it. The idea of these sneaks feeding on fear seems apt, and my book-loving soul delighted in having a heroic librarian in Ms. Pryce, who is also involved in keeping the sneaks at bay. The descriptions of the encounters with the sneaks and others are downright frightening and might tempt readers to keep a pitcher of water or a water soaker by their sides at all times. The plot is interesting enough on its own merits, but several other subplots about bullying, fitting in, and what it means to be a friend are also woven in along with strong character development. I'd be pleased to read a follow-up of this book should the author decide to write one.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks again to NetGalley for a digital A.R.C. of this book. This is a book that will make you wish you were 12 years old again. For middle school students, this will be a great read. Readers will be able to see characters experiencing many of the same social worries, like making friends or being a new student, all the while saving the world as well. Very entertaining and appropriate for kids that age. When this is released for sale, I will for sure be picking up a copy and adding it to my classroom library.

[Jerby Verderosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well-written and creative, a lot of excellent character development and world-building. I appreciated how subplots about friendship were threaded pretty seamlessly into a supernatural/sci-fi plot. My only slight suggestion is that I would have liked to see a little more monster-fighting earlier on in the book.

Concepts like Sneaks, Gateway Society, and supernatural Locksmiths/Cartographers are so interesting that I felt this had the potential to be a larger work — like a series. The book felt in no way rushed, but it does contain lingering threads that would be satisfying to see evolved further in another book:

For example -

- Is this really the end of Damon as a Locksmith? Will he really adjust to mortal life so easily? I mean, I know he has a girlfriend now, but the concept of death is still pretty terrifying, if you ask me. And what will this new Locksmith be like? There’s a suggestion that s/he’s none too pleasant.

- What’s Spatula doing out there? What will the Gateway Society do about him? I actually really loved the inclusion of this character and would like to see more.

- What sort of changes will be made to the Gateway Society after this cataclysmic event? Will the incompetent and pompous men who were in charge really accept their drop in authority? Will they create more issues?

- What was actually going on in Charlotte’s home? Why is the world so bleak to her? I know her uncle is “strict” - but what does this really mean? She considered ending the world, and actually walked into a void in space at one point. Things must be pretty bad.

Overall, I really liked how this story created multifaceted characters, tackled family issues, and kept the theme of friendship at the forefront.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Harp has started seeing things. Like a watch, crawling across the classroom. And his teacher, trying to stop it. It must be his imagination, right? Wrong. Beings like these can disguise themselves as all sorts of every day objects, and it's now up to people like Ben to stop them--usually by splashing water on them and incapacitating them. Together, with his project partners Akemi and Charlotte and his best friend Ashok (who just moved to Paris), he must begin navigating his world with a new pair of eyes.

These Sneaks all work for a bigger being, one who hopes to take over the world. But as it would turn out, their world might not be worth saving.

Couple in some side plots, like Ben's younger brother learning to stand up for others, or his parents ignoring him, or the fact that friendship is just plain complicated, and you've got yourself a story worth the romp. This was so much fun to read, and I'm definitely a big fan of possums...if you know, you know.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben, a middle schooler whose best friend is away for the year, is suddenly thrust into a group project with Charlotte (perpetual bully target) and Akemi (new girl who made the queen bee angry by usurping her position on the basketball team). The unlikely trio begins their research by interviewing an elderly town citizen and are suddenly thrust into a bizarre conflict against beings that animate otherwise inanimate objects AND having to save the world (alongside their librarian). Wild. Fast-paced. Layered. I really enjoyed it.

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story. The plot was interesting and original. A little mix of sci-if and fantasy. But why did all the characters suck SO MUCH!? Uncaring and absentee parents, a class full of bullies, the MC was oblivious to literally every problem that didn't effect him, elder abuse, authoritarian teachers, adults who belittle their experience, and why the ever loving heck did the narration itself have to continually insult a girl going through some serious issues?

[Marta-Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, fast-paced read full of interdimensional alien sprites. As our book club tweens said, "it can get a little slow and you learn everything really quick, but the end is exciting." Great choice for fans of fantasy and school stories. In addition to the monster fighting, the story has a lot of heart and explores the intricacies of middle school friendships and what it means to be there for others.

[Sari Fordham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this one for all the middle school kids in your life. Egan takes the time to world build and to develop characters who are complex and vivid. Some of my favorite moments are when the characters are interacting with various animals. The story-line is original, but what really brings the book together are the friendships.

(Of note: My daughter's favorite character was Spatula, an opossum.)

[KATHRYNE STEVENS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fast-paced novel. I enjoyed the characters and the growth that they went through, especially the main character realizing their perception of events could be different from others. It does a good job of describing the complicated nature of middle school relationships. The plot is very basic, but overall it was a fun and quick mystery.

[Maureen Ulrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, and I’m a long ways from middle grade. Egan skillfully weaves threads of the supernatural/science fiction into the everyday experiences and tribulations of Ben, Akemi, and Charlotte. I laughed out loud at their descriptions of the adults in their lives, in particular their teachers. I enjoyed Sneaks from beginning to end.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Men in Black meets middle school is really such a great way to describe this book! Lots of adventure with some surprising twists and turns, aliens, and plenty of mystery!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly fun read!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun! I can definitely see my 5th graders enjoying it!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really wonderful middle grade spooky/sci fi novel. About friendship and the way that can change over the years as you grow up.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was after fun and a book my students will really enjoy. It was creative and engaging. I read it in one day.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun tale and adventure with a different spin to it. Absolutely enjoyed this story.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really my style, but I know my students are loving it. Another great Silver Birch nominated story!

[PickyPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great gateway book into the world of sci-fi for kids! There's a lot going on in this story and it was a bit hard to follow at times, but such a fun read!

[Sharon]

DNF

[SashReads 🗾🎑🏞🌅🌄🌠🎇🎆🌇🌆🏙🌃🌌🌉🌁 · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Deanna]

So good. I have recommended this to my students already.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

forest of reading silver birch fiction 2023
Very Imaginative :)

[Sadiha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A project turned into something that needs them to save the world.

[Vivian Ayabaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg i can’t remember to much about this book but all i can remember is just sometimes feeling a bit confused about what was happening or like the setting that it was describing didn’t make sense but i read this in grade six and loved ittt, the lead up to the plot twists were good and it was really well detailed.