Review
Reviewed by Caitlin McCallion from Verbal Arts Centre
- The Unknown Spy
- (Quercus)
Spy Kid
An original story for teens, from an author feted for his adult novels, says Caitlin McCallion.
This is book two in the Ring of Five trilogy, from a writer Northern Irish adults will be familiar with as the author of Resurrection Man. Rest assured, McNamee’s Young Adult fiction is nowhere near as close to the bone. To some extent this book represents the typical spy story but McNamee has been revolutionary in his approach presenting this. The story tells the tale of Wilsons Spy Academy and how they have called back their most successful training spy, Danny Caulfield. Danny is the protagonist within the book and with this role comes the urgent mission in which he has been sent to find the treaty stone that protects the Upper World before the Ring of Five, leaders of the cherbs, destroy it and as a result generate war. Danny and his friend must set off to the Kingdom of Morne to save the stone. But the Cherb’s have beaten them to it and so they battle to see who will earn the stone. Lily, a cherb, reveals to Danny that they are related, she urges him to join them and this triggers emotional confusion for Danny. He is locked in between the two worlds, something that many teen readers can relate to.
