Combines Alex Riders espionage skills with a huge dose of the sarcasm of Artemis Fowl. School Library Journal Can an undercover nerd become a superstar agent In the first book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series Ben Ripley sure hopes soand his life may depend on it Ben Ripley may only be in middle school but hes already pegged his dream job CIA or bust. Unfortunately for him his personality doesnt exactly scream secret agent. In fact Ben is so awkward he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on sciencebut hes entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior CIA academy. Could the CIA really want him show more