Graphic Novel #2

I am a big fan of graphic novels. When I say Stuart Gibbs bestselling series was going graphic I had to read it. I still love the story of a school that teaches kids to be spies and then sends them on missions. The graphic novel was decently done. The illustrations are fine, but there was something about the way it was colored that turned me off a bit. Please be aware I was reading a digital galley and that may be the reason why. Overall these books are a lot of fun for kids of all ages, and now they are in a format that will appeal to reluctant readers, and maybe even lead them to picking up the rest of the series in chapter book form. ( )

Characters were flat, but the mystery aspect and spy tropes kept me hooked. The tension is well-paced and Ben doesn't know who to trust either. There's a fun twist that I didn't see coming! Kids will definitely get way more mileage from this. ( )

While the novel form of this book was already exciting, this graphic form shoots the adventure up to an entirely new level.

With a great balance of text and illustrations, the story flows with all the excitement it deserves. I was afraid the author might be tempted to add too much (after reading the larger novels), but that is definitely not the case. Not a single letter was wasted on unnecessary descriptions, background information, or add-ons. Rather, the text remains short, concise and exactly what is required, and never cheapens the illustrations. It was easy to read, hard to put down, and exciting front beginning to end. So I found this adaption well done.

While a spy story is, of course, about stopping the bad guys and getting out of tough situations...or just thinking things through...that's not all this one holds. The characters come to life as much as the tale. Ben does start with his normal life before diving into the spy world, and that does let the reader connect with him first and know where he's coming from. He's a nice guy, who has his own dreams, and those aren't necessarily understood by his friends or classmates. His awkwardness continues into the spy school, but this is where his character growth starts. The characters around him don't have the same starting depth, but they gain their own personalities, quirks and even history as the story goes along...and all of that without breaking beat on the action and intrigue.

Fans of the original series will want to pick this up, but I see those who haven't read it, yet, as the more enthusiastic readers—reluctant readers, graphic novel fans, action fans, and such. It's a fun read with tons to enjoy, and I do hope that there will be more graphic novels coming up.

I received an ARC and was thrilled that this was as exciting as I'd hoped it be. ( )