Spy School the Graphic Novel

Description: Twelve-year-old Ben Ripley leaves his public middle school to attend the CIA's highly secretive Espionage Academy, which everyone is told is an elite science school.

Brief description: Anjan Sarkar's preferred illustration style is "wonky and slightly misshapen," which he realized around the time that he started drawing with his children (who are masters of the wonky line). His work is influenced by illustrators like David McKee, Jill McDonald, and Maurice Sendak, whose books he read as a little person. Anjan is also unhealthily obsessed with a few contemporary illustrators such as Benjamin Chaud, Sara Ogilvie, and Neal Layton. Since becoming a full-time illustrator, he's created illustrations for children's books, animation, and advertising. Anjan works from a little studio in his house in Sheffield, England, where he lives with his wife and two kids.

Review Quotes: Gr 4-7-In this graphic novel adaptation of the popular prose books, Ben Ripley is recruited into the CIA's Academy of Espionage due to his enthusiastic gaming abilities and his exceptional math skills. As Ben tries to adapt to life at his new top-secret school, he unwittingly becomes the target of a deadly assassin. Someone is mistakenly after Ben because of false data placed in his file, but how were they able to access classified information on the school mainframe? Several members of the school administration and Ben's new classmates offer him protection, but it's difficult to trust a group of spies who are mastering the art of deception. Gibbs's first book in the series seamlessly translates into a comic format, which allows the action to take center stage. Readers will be enthralled by the rapid sequencing as Sarkar stylishly presents the narrative, deftly balancing text and visuals. Although this new version is full of visual energy, it's not without the twists and turns of the original text. Gibbs's unique brand of humor comes through, as there are ample laughs throughout the book. Ben is white; several of his classmates are people of color. VERDICT With a fast-paced plot and striking illustrations, the graphic novel version of this story will be a definite hit among established fans as well as newcomers to the series.-Claire Moore--School Library Journal "1/1/22"