Countdown Zero: Codename Conspiracy Series, Book 2
Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping, well-grounded sequel in fun kid-spy series.
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Why Age 8+?
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What's the Story?
Carson Fender is back … to being bored. A brief stint as a seventh-grade secret agent spiced things up, but even coming up with an interesting prank is hard to do after you've saved the world. Be careful what you wish for: Carson learns one of his mentors at the super secret Agency is in mortal danger. He wants to help, but to save Agent Nineteen (and the world, again), he must betray his friends' trust and face extraordinary peril -- not the least of which involves scaling Mount Rushmore and breaking into a top-secret government facility.
Is It Any Good?
COUNTDOWN ZERO picks up a few months after Carson (aka Agent Zero) returns to civilian life but jumps right into the action with a very funny "Prankpocalypse" mission. Author Chris Rylander uses classic spy-genre tricks (patient traitors, convoluted revenge plots, bizarre scenarios) with a strong bent toward silly -- Carson finds himself scaling Mount Rushmore, falling into a snake pit, and sneaking through a bear preserve. Beneath the goofiness, there's a real sense of danger. Carson is neither a smooth James Bond nor a blundering Maxwell Smart: He's smart, but his greatest strengths are resolve and resourcefulness. He's burdened by grown-up concerns and heartsick about lying to friends and seeing those he cares for in dangerous situations.
Some drawn-out action sequences drag a bit and may test readers' patience, but short chapters make it easily digestible for those challenged by long books.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of secret-identity stories, of superheroes, spies, and other heroes. Why are these so popular?
Carson's loyalty to his friends makes it hard for him to dive into his mission. Have you ever had to do something you worried would leave your friends feeling betrayed?
If you could lead a double life, would you rather be a secret agent or a superhero -- or maybe a supervillain?
Book Details
- Author: Chris Rylander
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Walden Pond Press
- Publication date: February 3, 2015
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 4, 2019
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