Review: Also Known As by Robin Benway

Also Known As by Robin Benway
318 Pages
Release Date: February 26th, 2013
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Genre: Spy Thrillers/Contemporary
Level: YA
Rating: 4 STARS

Goodreads Summary:
Which is more dangerous: being an international spy... or surviving high school?

Maggie Silver has never minded her unusual life. Cracking safes for the world's premier spy organization and traveling the world with her insanely cool parents definitely beat high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. (If it's three digits, why bother locking it at all?)

But when Maggie and her parents are sent to New York City for her first solo assignment, her world is transformed. Suddenly, she's attending a private school with hundreds of "mean girl" wannabes, trying to avoid the temptation to hack the school's elementary security system, and working to befriend the aggravatingly cute son of a potential national security threat... all while trying not to blow her cover.

From the hilarious and poignant author of Audrey, Wait! comes a fast-paced caper that proves that even the world's greatest spies don't have a mission plan for love.

Also Known As by Robin Benway was an enjoyable, cute, and just awesome book! I found this book adorably cute and hilarious. I haven't read a spy thriller in a while and I'm so glad I found this book. A perfect mix of romance, action, and high school, Robin Benway created a fun and not so serious story. A spy going to high school is something I will admit as cliche and overdone in the bookish world but the different plot in this story made it unique as did the characters. The mystery was definitely a plus and a total surprise by the end of the book.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was Maggie. She's cute and funny in her own way and I love seeing her try to fit in and be "normal". It was pretty cool seeing how Maggie would break locks/safe vaults. Being a safecracker definitely made her life more interesting. A bit snarky, she befriends loner Roux, who might I add is a sarcastic and the perfect addition to the novel. Maggie's parents are also characters that have roles in the book which I like since in a lot of YA books most parents are ignored. Angelo is the coolest character ever. His mysteriousness and how much he eludes spy-ishness definitely adds to his character. I love that Maggie has an adult figure that she can rely on other than her parents.

As for Jesse...he's a lot like Maggie in my opinion just with normal family issues. Maggie's and Jesse's relationship definitely grows from the beginning to the end. I won't necessarily say that Jesse is super special and stands out among other YA male characters, just a lot more chill and normal. Trust was a main issue acknowledged and how much relationships with friends, parents, or boyfriends rely on it.

A bit cliche but still a delightful read, Also Known As, is the perfect read during a chill day. Definitely recommended to contemporary and spy thriller lovers! I mean how can you not get interested into a spy world, high school drama, and a cute boy all in the mix of it all? Happy Readings!