Check It Out: These teenage spies will steal your heart
Surprisingly, the Newport Beach Public Library’s young-adult collection has three different series about female, orphaned teen spies that take place in historic England.
When I read “A Spy in the House” by Y.S. Lee, I was delighted and intrigued. In 1850s London, a young orphan named Mary Quinn is convicted of robbery and about to be hanged. She is rescued by members of Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls, where she is trained to become part of an all-female investigative unit called the Agency. Mary’s first undercover assignment is to become a paid companion to a spoiled young woman in order to spy on the father, who is suspected of international financial crimes.
Gritty Victorian England is the backdrop to this fun, action-packed, suspenseful mystery. And, of course, an engaging young man, James Eaton, distracts Mary from her mission. All three books in the series follow Mary’s adventures, with James showing up to keep her on her toes. The series finale will be published this March: “Rivals in the City.” I can’t wait!
Imagine my pleasure when I came across another young-adult series set in 18th century England about an orphan who must become a spy, “Palace of Spies” by Sarah Zettel. Sixteen-year-old Peggy Fitzroy is expelled from her uncle’s house and care. She lands on the streets, where a mysterious man offers her room and board in exchange for impersonating Lady Francesca, a lady-in-waiting for the court of King George I.
Peggy looks similar to Francesca, and she learns how to act like a lady, but interacting with her friends and love interest proves extremely challenging, especially since Peggy may be falling in love with aspiring young artist Matthew. Eventually, Peggy discovers that Francesca was murdered and that she is now in serious danger.
Edge-of your-seat tension builds as Peggy’s double life unravels with deadly consequences. Peggy’s adventures continue in the second book of the series, “Dangerous Deceptions: A Palace of Spies Novel.”
In “Maid of Secrets” by Jennifer McGowen, 17-year-old Meg Fellowes enjoys being an actor/thief in 1559 England and vows never to marry. She values her freedom too much. She is a member of a theater troupe that travels England performing and distracting audiences so members of the troupe can pick their pockets.
Meg picks the pocket of the wrong man, someone who forces her to become a spy or have her friends exposed as criminals. She has an uncanny ability to remember and mimic what she hears, no matter what language is spoken. This ability is crucial to the investigation of political intrigue and threats made by visiting Spanish courtiers to the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
A handsome Spaniard challenges Meg at every turn, keeping the suspense high: Is he friend or foe? If you enjoy the style and setting of this novel as much as I did, you will love the second book in the “Maids of Honor” series: “Maid of Deception,” which follows Meg’s fellow lady-in-waiting/spy Beatrice.
All three series are filled with humor, suspense, romance, mystery, adventure, historical details and royal intrigues. Plus, the lively writing style of each author keeps the pace brisk.
CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.