Review by Booklist Review
Welcome to the Pangean Hotel, a sanctuary for spies and their families. As the daughter of a high-ranking spy (her mother) and the hotel chef (her father), Beatrice has grown up at the Pangean and is eager to get her Knack (special talent) and begin her spy training in earnest. However, Beatrice's mother wants her to go to "normal" (non-spy) boarding school before committing to a clandestine life in the Pangean League. It's a bleak but seemingly unavoidable prospect until a "Normal" family seeks sanctuary at the hotel under mysterious and dangerous circumstances. Beatrice and her best friend, Tommy, befriend the new girl, Chantal, and the trio decides to take action when a ransom note arrives at the Pangean. Rogue agents, assassins, lessons in spycraft, hidden weapons, and fast cars add excitement and intrigue to the plot's quick pace. Beatrice's relationship with her mother is relatable and a pleasure to watch develop, particularly for its idiosyncrasies. An entertaining and imaginative story that indicates more adventures are to come.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Beatrice has never left the Pangean Hotel, and she wouldn't have it any other way. A sanctuary for spies, the Pangean serves as a safehouse, hospital, armory, and more to undercover folks in The Life, and is also a nice place to stay for "normals." Bea's greatest desire has always been to join The Life with her Momma, a spy fighting for world peace. Regrettably, all that Bea's parents seem to want is for her to go to a private boarding school in New England and become normal. Each person in this universe has a special skill called a "knack," but Bea's has yet to manifest, leaving her future uncertain--unlike her best friend Tommy, whose knack for cleaning ensures him a position at the Pangean for life. When a normal girl moves into the Pangean, and Bea's knack makes a surprise debut, she begins to fight for the future she wants. Inhabited by a colorful cast of rogues and spies, this book is an exciting adventure packed with heists, riddles, and clever wordplay. Humorous, conversational style and personal asides from Bea make this a joy to read. VERDICT A wonderful middle grade debut, perfect for fans of Ally Carter.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A top spy's daughter gets involved in a mission against her mother's wishes in order to save her friend. Beatrice Bates has never set foot outside the Pangean Hotel. It's part of an international network of sanctuaries for the Pangean League, a secret organization working toward world peace. Bea's mom, one of the world's best spies, is rarely home. Even though she ends up stitching up her mom's wounds, Bea longs to follow in her footsteps and use the skills she's learned at the Pangean--like self-defense, languages, and wiretapping--to help people. But Bea's mom wants her to live like a "Normal" person and plans to send her off to boarding school. Bea makes a new friend, Chantal, whose family are Normal guests who are hiding at the Pangean as they try to escape from a threat. Bea wants to help Chantal, but living out her spy dreams could mean disappointing her mother. This adventurous series opener has a clear, quick plot that fluidly drives the story forward within its well-drawn world. The Slavic-coded Arctic League, which has "a totally different definition of world peace," is on a ruthless quest for "world domination." Bea's mom, Anya Batrova, who's a rare "ex-Arctic assassin," now only works for "good countries," but the narrative doesn't explicitly differentiate between oppressive governments and their people. Bea presents white, and Chantal reads Black. A fast-paced romp that leans into ethnic stereotypes. (hotel rules, map, guide to hotel services)(Adventure. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
