It's 1914 and Annie is determined she wants to join the Girl Guides and drags her sister, Phyl, along with her. Phyl discovers she actually enjoys it but couldn't have believed it would lead to an adventure that would change her life. Her Guide captain, Miss Lynley, recognises how clever she is and recommends her as a messenger at MO5. Phyl jumps at the chance and is excited at the prospect, but there are some in the offices who believe girls shouldn't be working there, and make Phyl's life tricky. But when one of them goes missing, Phyl is convinced foul play is at the heart of it and sets out to discover the truth.
I'd heard so many good things about A Girl's Guide To Spying from bookish friends on social media and it was a book definitely on my purchase wish list. Then a girl in my class came in with it, told me it was brilliant and handed it to me to read, I took it as a sign and it became my first read of the Easter holiday.
Firstly, my class clearly know me well and I absolutely did love it! A world War adventure with strong female characters and a mystery to solve - it's as though the book were calling out to me!
I really liked Phyl as a character: she's someone who doesn't really realise how quick and clever she is; she has a strength she doesn't realise and doubts herself when she has no need to. She's a good friend and is determined to do the right thing. She and her friends are definitely characters readers will enjoy getting to know.
The book brilliantly highlights how much the role of girls was changing at this time. With boys and men fighting in France, women are beginning to step up and Phyl and her sister are keen to play their part. The suffragette movement is deftly woven into the plot as well, and the extracts at the top of each chapter also highlight what life was like for girls at the time. I know that readers will be shocked by some of what they read but it will definitely make good discussion points.
A Girl's Guide To Spying is everything I hoped it would be and more, and I gobbled it up in a day. A host of brilliant characters, a twisty plot so readers will have to guess who the culprit is; a fast-paced plot... I could go on! Jo Clarke has got it spot on when she said that it's a must read for fans of Robin Stevens! I'm already excited for book 2!
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