The Specialists: Model Spy
Shannon Greenland
due from Penguin May, 2007
Reviewed by Diane Goettel
Kelly James, a sixteen-year-old who lost her parents in a plane crash
when she was a little girl, has been bouncing between foster homes and
orphanages for most of her life. But Kelly is different than any other
kid she has ever met, inside orphanages and out. She is more than just
a little smart; Kelly is a genius. And she just loves computers and
keying code. In fact, some times she gets so into her work that hours
pass without her even knowing it.
Kelly graduated from high school at the tender age of thirteen. Now, at
sixteen, she is poised to graduate from college. However, something is
about to make a drastic change in her plans. And that something is
named David, a campus hunk who, upon discovering Kelly's talents, asks
her to do something very dangerous for him. Upon his request, Kelly
stays up all night hacking into the computer systems of the United
States Government.
The next morning, a black car with tinted windows picks her up on her
way to class. But it turns out that Kelly is not in trouble at all. In
fact, she has been recruited to a special team of kids just like her.
They are all orphans and they all possess incredible talents. In fact,
David was in on it the whole time, and soon she is being trained for
field combat by the boy she has a crush on!
As it turns out, computers aren't Kelly's only special quality. She is
also drop-dead gorgeous. Soon, she finds herself going undercover as a
model to help save the nation and one very important man, David's
father.
The Specialists: Model Spy is a great, fast-paced read for teenage and
mature tween girls. Furthermore, the book is about becoming empowered
by one's positive attributes and overcoming life's obstacles. Kelly
considers herself to be a geek, not a beauty queen. After all, she is a
total klutz. She'd much rather be keying code while enjoying her
favorite lollipop flavor than trying to make it down a runway without
tripping over a piece of dust. In fact, Kelly learns about the kind of
negative attention that incredibly beauty can bring. Not only is The
Specialists a riveting story, but it also delivers important messages
for young women.
The second book in the series The Specialists: Down to the Wire is due
this fall. Sharon Greenland also writes adult suspense novels.