by Stuart Gibbs
Part of Spy School, book 11
First published 2023
Ben Ripley's training mission in Alaska turns into a nightmare when his mentor Cyrus Hale vanishes. A Russian agent with ties to Cyrus's past has taken him hostage. Ben teams up with Erica and their fellow spy students to track the kidnappers through the frozen wilderness. The rescue attempt reveals buried secrets from decades of American and Russian espionage. Ben faces a young KGB operative whose combat skills match Erica's deadly abilities. Wild bears roam the territory, adding another layer of danger to an already perilous mission. As Ben pushes deeper into enemy territory, he discovers that saving Cyrus means confronting truths about international spy networks that could change everything he knows about his world.
Genres: adventure, mystery, action, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, rescue-mission
Setting: Alaska, Russia
Period: Contemporary
304 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers