Model Spy

I loved this book. I've read all 4. Clean, fun, innocent and a good read for ages 14 and up. I say 14 and up because of the young romance. I don't know that kids younger than 14 would enjoy it. Loved the exchange between the characters. My favorite was between Gigi and her "agent" in the hotel. Proof that there are entertaining books out there without falling back on crude humor and filthy language. Can't wait for book #5!

Kelly James is a computer genius; that's why she's about to graduate college at the young age of sixteen. So when her (incredibly hot) friend David asks her to uncover some top secret information belonging to the government, she agrees and manages to hack her way through half the levels of the government's main computer system - only to get caught. But instead of being sent to jail, Kelly is offered a chance to join a special-operations division of the US government called the Specialists. Even though it does mean changing her identity from Kelly James to Kelly Spree, or GiGi, she has no friends or family to go to so she has nothing to lose. And then she finds out that David also works for the Specialists. As if all these new changes to Kelly's life aren't enough to get accustomed to, this klutzy geek is now being sent on her first mission - as an undercover model. It's going to take a lot of brainpower from this girl if she's going to make it out alive. I really love reading pretty much all spy novels for teens, and it's always a plus when the girls are the spies, because it makes the story all the more interesting. I've really only read one other series in which the main characters are female spies, the Gallagher Girl series by Ally Carter, and I have to say that this first novel in The Specialists series was much more impressive. First of all, girl genius Kelly/GiGi is a lovable character because she's funny, smart, and sort of insecure; many of her thoughts, except those pertaining to computer technology or other specifics, are easy to understand. The story was so much more enjoyable because Kelly seemed so real. Also, I loved the non-stop action, cool spy gadgets (not that I understood what most of them were for), international flair, and the touch of romance. It's really easy to get caught up in all the action of this story, but there was also enough characterization to keep me happy. Model Spy was such a unique story and definitely one that I immensely enjoyed. Readers looking for a step up from Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl series will definitely be interested in The Specialist series from Shannon Greenland. Or, if you're looking for an action-packed novel, then you'll also like this book. I look forward to reading the rest of this series as well.

Kelly, a foster teen with nowhere to call home, gets herself into a little bit of trouble hacking into a government computer system as a favor for her hottie R.A. Now she's under arrest. Kelly's given a choice of being sent to a juvenile detention center or a government Special Operations Unit. Soon, her identity is gone and she's now Kelly Spree, working for the government as the resident computer genius with other teen agents. But the biggest surprise is that it was all just a set-up, and that hottie R.A., David, well, he was sent to recruit her. Now she's about to go on her first mission posing as a model and it's David who will be her backup. Kelly's finally found a place to call home and will do anything to stay there. So she does her job. She plays the part of the spoiled model convincingly while downplaying her crush on David. If you liked I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls) by Ally Carter, don't miss out on this great spy novel full of intrigue, drama, and one very big crush. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

When Kelly James meets hottie David, she has no idea how he will change her life. Caught up in the fact that he likes her, Kelly hacks into a government computer system and soon finds herself in custody. But things aren't always what they seem and Kelly is given a second chance--the chance of a lifetime. The kicker is, she's not sure she can handle it, or survive it. With a cast of characters who are beyond likable, Shannon Greenland offers a series for young readers who enjoy in your face adventure. The plot is satisfying, the character development is solid, and the story is intriguing. An awesome debut for Ms. Greenland in the young adult market and readers of all ages will agree that MODEL SPY totally rocks!

Sixteen-year-old Kelly James can't say that she's ever been your typical teenage girl. For one, she tested out of eighth grade at the age of nine, managed to graduate from high school when she was just thirteen, and is now planning her college graduation in just two years time. Two, she's lived out of a suitcase since she was six-years-old, when her parents were killed in a plane crash, leaving her a ward of the United States until she was old enough to care for herself. Three, at 5'10, she's got the looks of a Victoria's Secret model. And four, she's just landed herself in police custody after hacking into the government's main computer system for her RA, David, at East Iowa University - something that, for some bizarre reason, is strongly frowned upon. Kelly has now been given two choices: spend the next few years behind bars in a juvenile detention facility, where she'll be forced to spend her days chatting with soon-to-be hardened criminals; or take the scrumptious Mr. Thomas Liba "TL" up on his offer to be a part of a group known as the Specialists. Having nothing to lose, and refusing to give her penchant for lollipops up to sit in a jail cell, Kelly grabs her bag, and relocates to San Belden, California, where she finds herself a resident at San Belden Ranch for Boys and Girls, and is quickly given a new identity - Kelly Spree, aka GiGi. As if all that weren't enough for one day, Kelly is introduced to a group of social misfits whom she'll be working alongside. Teenagers, like her, who all have a gift - from martial arts to linguistics - that will aid the government in undercover operations. Kelly is unsure of the new life she's been tossed into. The hours are long, the training is tiring, and her roommates are slightly off-the-wall. Contemplating returning to her old life, Kelly's thoughts are turned around completely when she realizes that David is also a part of the Specialists, and worked alongside TL to trick her into joining the team. Before Kelly has time to be furious at the trickery, however, she's whisked off to Ushbania, on a mission where she's forced to pose as an up-and-coming model in an attempt to find David's long lost father, and recover millions of dollars in stolen money. Kelly would give anything to distance herself from the Specialists - namely David - but doing so won't be as easy as she thought, especially with David as her undercover partner. While so many of the recent additions to the YA genre follow a specific formula - rich girl turns poor; poor girl turns rich; popular girl loses her cool; nerd becomes popular - Shannon Greenland has made a dent in the YA scene by veering from the norm and penning a novel rich in computer code, brainy characters, international intrigue, and a pinch of romance. Kelly is a character with a genius IQ, whose penchant for lollipops - in any flavor - and ability to get lost in the world of computer coding make her memorable. Her frequent moments of jumbling her sentences when she's