Ryan Quinn and the Rebel’s Escape

In this action-packed thriller, eighth-grader Ryan Quinn discovers his family’s greatest secret after his father vanishes on a business trip and his mother is kidnapped by foreign agents. It turns out that his parents are part of a secret organization called the Emergency Rescue Committee, and all those years of traveling around the world were a cover for their missions. In order to save his parents, Ryan must journey to the secluded Asian country of Andakar, locate a blogger who has been exposing sensitive information, and find out what happened to his father. Luckily, he has help: Tasha, an experienced ERC operative; best friend Danny, a hacker; and Kasey, a girl Ryan owes a dance to, if he survives the mission. Screenwriter McGee makes a strong debut with this engaging blend of adventure, humor, and espionage. His characters leap from one dramatic scenario to the next, defying death and common sense without pushing too far into implausibility. It’s a fun, adrenaline-fueled story that lays the groundwork for a franchise with potential. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joy Tutela, David Black Literary. (Oct.)