Codename Zero: The Code Name Conspiracy, Book 1
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent but gleeful secret-agent thriller with heart.
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What's the Story?
Carson Fender is so bored with his boring life in his boring North Dakota town that he goes to great lengths to spice things up -- like setting a herd of fainting goats loose on the middle-school grounds while he and his pals Super Glue everything they can inside the school. But when a desperate stranger hands Carson a package with mysterious instructions, his life suddenly gets a lot more interesting. He's soon swept up in a mission with the Agency, a top-secret spy program that has been operating in his town for years -- even in his school. Carson could save the world...if he can stay alive.
Is It Any Good?
CODENAME ZERO is a promising start to Chris Rylander's Codename Conspiracy series. It's a solid thriller with layers of intrigue and plenty to keep readers guessing. Carson at first seems like just another smart-alecky teen protagonist, but his good-heartedness keeps the book grounded. His best friends -- including a tireless conspiracy theorist and his pragmatic but mischievous sister -- are fun sidekicks.
Carson is drawn to "weird" because "weird" is usually interesting, and he genuinely enjoys befriending Olek, the odd new kid in town. A chance encounter helps him see that there's more to Olek than meets the eye, and it doesn't take much effort to realize Olek is a hidden treasure. Rylander delivers a great message about finding friendship with a light touch -- and glee. The story revels in the absurd, from explosive Fruit Roll-Ups and fainting goats to memory-wiping pharmaceuticals and a vast spy network. The villains are both menacing and absurdly over-the-top. The violence -- particularly a torture scene involving pliers made with human teeth -- may be unsettling to some readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the key elements of the secret-agent genre: gadgets, a villain and his henchmen, and a naïve civilian who's drawn into intrigue. Why are these such enduring conventions?
Carson conceals the truth from his family and friends. Is his deceit justifiable, or could he have made a different choice?
Do you think children could be put to work as spies?
Book Details
- Author: Chris Rylander
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Walden Pond Press
- Publication date: February 4, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 4, 2019
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