Spy Penguins

August 13, 2018
Jackson and his best friend, Quigley, two penguins in the town of Rookeryville, want nothing more than to join the FBI (“Frosty Bureau of Investigation”); they hope that their detective skills, coupled with Quigley’s knack for inventing gadgets, are the ticket they need to impress. But Quigley’s latest creation, a “super-speedy, ice-blasting spy getaway vehicle” lands Jackson in the middle of an FBI stakeout, angering rather than interesting the head of the investigation. When Jackson finds his FBI agent uncle’s radio, the pair learn of an investigation at the aquarium, where exotic sea creatures are disappearing. Thus begins their madcap adventure as they race to evade Jackson’s mom, solve the crime, and show the FBI just how valuable they could be. Penguin details (“Quigley puffed up his feathers”) and humor (“There was one tiny, krill-sized problem with this plan”) by Hay (the Undead Pets series) build the world alongside cartoon illustrations by Jagucki. A quick pace, an engaging mystery, and attempted inventions—a pair of invisibility suits made of sardines that uses “the same scientific principles” as the fish—will keep readers hooked on this series opener. Ages 7–10.