The Secret of Stoneship Woods (Spygear #1) by Rick Barba Date of Publication: 2006 ISBN: 978-1416908876 Number of Pages: 160

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: Average Intermediate: Low/Average
GENRES: Mystery/Realism
THEMES : Appearance versus Reality – Family – Good versus Evil

SUMMARY:
Jake and Lucas Bixby are just your ordinary suburban kids: they love sports, hanging with their friends Cyril and Lexi, playing videogames, and generally staying out of trouble. Unfortunately, trouble always seems to find them…and when they discover an abandoned warehouse full of spy gadgets, they realize life is about to get a lot more exciting.

What – or who – is behind the mysterious warehouse? Why would someone leave millions of dollars in equipment just lying around – or is it part of a larger plot? Can the newly formed “Team Spy Gear” solve the mystery and save the day…or will trouble finally take care of them…permanently?

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- likes fun, fast-paced stories filled with action and wise-cracks
- enjoys spy stories and gadgets
- enjoys stories in a series
- likes mysteries
- is into technology and the Internet especially

WHAT ELSE?
This is the first of a series of Spy Gear novels by Rick Barba, whose other credits include writing videogame strategy guides. They all feature the same group of kids, each with his or her own expertise and strengths.

RELATED LINK:
There is also a website at http://www.spygear.net/ with a page where members can blog about the books at http://www.spygear.net/phpBB2/ .