Cecily Sawyer: How To Be A Spy
Cecily Sawyer is a spy in training, poring over Little Girl’s Guides to all things espionage and observing the intriguing guests and staff at her parent’s hotel. But when her mother and father mysteriously disappear, will she become the spy she’s always wanted to be? And what’s with all the mice?
Cecily is an appealing hero, both brave and smart, and having her first spy mission be so personal adds to the momentum of the story. Another strength of the narrative is the characters that Cecily encounters. Being helped by her own trained mouse, Mrs. Maple Syrup, and phone calls with her envious friend Felix, adds to the quirkiness and humour of the story. There are several unusual individuals along the way, and the reader is left questioning who is trustworthy and who has something to hide. The illustrations are engaging and funny too, with even the mice drawn in a distinctive style that I had not seen before.
This is a book that is sure to appeal to fans of mysteries and puzzle-solving, I doubt that this will be a standalone book, it feels like the author has plenty of ideas to turn it into a full series!
