Book Review: Only the Good Spy Young

Written by: Ally Carter

Published by: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: June 29, 2010

Source: Purchased.

Buy: Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | amazon

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars but if I could I'd give it dozens more

Synopsis: When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.

Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past....

You know from my previous reviews that I adore both Cammie and Zach, but oh Mundie Moms, I have been waiting for this plot line ever since Zach walked into Cammie's life in book 2 (Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy). And the way Ally raises the stakes with each book, well, let's just say my patience was tested in the best possible way. Let me get this out of my system:

Zach!

Cammie!

Dear God, Mr. Solomon!

I can guarantee one thing, Mundie Moms, Zach isn't the only one you will be swooning over. Hell-oooooo, Mr. Solomon. I adore how Zach and Mr. Solomon have been presented as almost the younger and older version of the same character type -- that swoony boy whose intentions you are never quite sure of. In Only the Good Spy Young, the intentions are no longer a mystery. Ally gives us Zach's backstory and suddenly everything becomes clear, personal and dangerous.

But Cammie and Zach are still Cammie and Zach. I can't leave you without a sample of that delicious tension which makes me crazy (from page 206):

     "Are you still mad at me?" Zach whispered as we crossed the Pennsylvania border. His leg was pressing against mine, but I didn't think about how it felt, because my mother (who is a spy) was riding shotgun in the front seat, and my roommates (who are future spies) were surrounding us in the van. And besides, it doesn't take a lot of training to know that leg-pressing can seriously divert a girl from little things, like trying not to die.

     So I didn't say a word.

     "Ooooh," Zach whispered. "The silent treatment."

     "I am not talking to you, Zach," I whispered, whirling on him, "because I know you're not going to really say anything anyway. Should I be asking you more questions you refuse to answer?"

     As I turned and faced forward again, watched the yellow lines of the highway flying by, I expected more excuses. More lies. But instead, Zach just leaned across me and whispered to Liz, "She's cute when she's silent."

Have I convinced you to pick up this series, yet? That tapping sound you hear are my nails tapping out the level of my anxiety while waiting for the next installment. I cannot wait until next year when Out of Sight, Out of Time comes out.