Bridget Wilder: Spy-in-Training

Gr 4–6—Bridget feels invisible most of the time. Her family forgets her 13th birthday, her one friend always dominates their conversations, and her classmates only acknowledge her when she is the butt of their jokes. This depressingly unremarkable life takes an unexpected turn, however, when Bridget discovers a bag of strange objects waiting on her doorstep. Can it possibly be true that Bridget's biological father, whom she's never met, is a spy, and that he wants his daughter to follow in his footsteps? This fast-paced novel packs a lot into its pages, including realistic school drama, family tensions, cool spy gadgets, and a serious plot twist. Some characterization and plot development are lacking, but the story is entertaining overall. The dearth of strong female protagonists in middle grade spy stories gives this book an added leg up.