“THE DOUBLECROSS: (And Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy),” by Jackson Pearce, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, July 14, 2015, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
Twelve-year-old Hale’s family is in the spy business, and because they are, he is, too. That’s what it’s like to work for the Sub Rosa Society, a top-secret organization where new agents aren’t recruited; they’re born.
Hale isn’t exactly spy material. Sure, on paper he looks perfect — he can defuse explosives, create a disguise in seconds, and he can speak eleven languages — but he rotund stature sets him apart from his other classmates. No one expects him to ever actually become an agent because of it. That’s where they’re wrong.
When Hale’s parents go missing while on a secret mission, Hale decides it’s time to take matters into his own hands. Well, that and the hands of his spunky, acrobat of a little sister. The two are sure they can find a solution, but when spies surround you, knowing whom to trust can be your biggest obstacle.
“The Doublecross” is one of those books where you can sort of guess the outcome from the beginning, but don’t mind because the journey is so fun. All the characters are interesting, but Hale, and to a lesser extent his sister, Kennedy, are the stars here. Hale’s personality jumps off the page. You immediately like him and understand where he’s coming from. He thinks on his feet and his voice as a whole is honest with a little bit of snark thrown in.
Action and suspense also play a large role in “The Doublecross,” making the plot arcs flow quickly from one scene to the next. As mentioned before, elements throughout “The Doublecross” are at times predictable, but surprises thrown in here and there add a dash of the unknown and help the story remain fresh. I’m looking forward to/crossing my fingers for more in books in this storyline.
