Books About Spies · 227 titles considered

The Best Spies Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about spies? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Spies

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

City Spies

By James Ponti · Book #1 in the City Spies series

A young hacker joins a secret spy team to stop a villain and save the world.

378 pages· 64,521 words· Est. 9 hour read

6.0/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 18,657 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Sara Martinez, a skilled hacker, faces juvenile detention until a British spy offers her a new life with a secret MI6 team. Now, part of the City Spies, Sara must navigate espionage, teamwork, and danger. As she heads to Paris, she must prevent a rival from winning a fortune and stop a looming threat. Can Sara and her diverse team of young spies outsmart the villains and save the day?

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2003

Trickster's Choice

By Tamora Pierce · Book #1 in the Daughter of the Lioness series

A spy's gamble with gods and kingdoms could change everything.

422 pages

4.3/5 Goodreads · 68,306 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Aly, daughter of a legendary knight, is captured by pirates and sold into slavery. Tasked by a trickster god to protect two noble sisters, she navigates a world of deadly intrigue in the Copper Isles. With her spy skills and the help of the enigmatic Nawat, Aly must outwit court conspiracies to survive and earn her freedom. Can she trust anyone in a land where betrayal is the norm?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2018

Mac Undercover

By Mac Barnett, Mike Lowery (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Mac B., Kid Spy series

A young boy receives a call from the Queen of England, asking for his help in retrieving a stolen spoon.

160 pages· 10,469 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,447 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Hardcover

Summary: Meet Mac B., a kid turned secret agent for the Queen of England. When the Crown Jewels vanish, Mac embarks on a global quest filled with secret identities and karate antics. Can he retrieve the treasure before it's too late? Dive into a world of humor, history, and adventure as Mac navigates the thrilling life of a young spy. Will his cleverness and courage be enough to solve the mystery? Join the chase and find out!

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Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2020

InvestiGators

By John Patrick Green · Book #1 in the InvestiGators series

A group of alligator investigators solve a mystery involving a missing chef, a stolen scientific invention, and a triceratops escape artist.

208 pages· 8,763 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 4,167 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Hardcover

Summary: Join Mango and Brash, the alligator duo of the Special Undercover Investigation Teams, as they dive into the sewers to solve two perplexing mysteries. Armed with quirky gadgets and unconventional travel methods, these agents face off against cunning villains. Can they piece together the clues and capture the crooks, or will their slippery foes escape? With humor and unexpected twists, this adventure promises a wild ride through the underbelly of crime-fighting.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2003

For Freedom

By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A young opera singer becomes a daring spy in Nazi-occupied France.

192 pages

4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,165 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Mass Market Paperback

Summary: In 1940 Cherbourg, Suzanne's life is upended by war. As German forces seize her home, she clings to her passion for singing. But when her talent leads her into the world of espionage, Suzanne becomes a secret courier for the French Resistance. With each mission, she risks everything for freedom. Can she outsmart the enemy and survive the perilous path of a spy?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 12–16 · 2008

Chains

By Laurie Halse Anderson · Book #1 in the Seeds of America series

A young girl fights for freedom amidst the Revolutionary War's chaos.

National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (2008)Cybils Award (2009)Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2009)

316 pages· 75,381 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 59,798 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In the throes of the Revolutionary War, thirteen-year-old Isabel faces a harrowing choice. Promised freedom, she and her sister Ruth are instead trapped by a cruel couple in New York. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with Patriot connections, he urges her to spy on her owners. Reluctant but desperate, Isabel's resolve is tested when tragedy strikes Ruth. Will Isabel risk everything for a chance at freedom, or remain shackled by fear? As the nation battles for independence, Isabel's personal revolution begins, where loyalty and liberty hang in the balance.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2017

Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls

By Beth McMullen · Book #1 in the Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls series

A girl must master spy skills to find her missing mother.

304 pages· 56,460 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 2,546 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Abigail's world flips when her boarding school reveals itself as a spy training ground. Her mother, a top agent, has vanished with critical secrets. Teaming up with a former rival and a charming classmate, Abigail dives into Spy Training 101. As she navigates this new world, she discovers hidden talents and uncovers clues that bring her closer to her mother's mysterious disappearance. Can Abigail outsmart those who seek her mother’s secrets and find her before it's too late?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2006

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

By Ally Carter · Book #1 in the Gallagher Girls series

A young spy faces her toughest mission yet: navigating love while keeping her true identity hidden.

304 pages· 68,097 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 194,626 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Cammie Morgan, a spy-in-training at the secretive Gallagher Academy, excels in espionage but is baffled by romance. Fluent in fourteen languages and skilled in covert operations, she meets a boy who believes she's just an ordinary girl. As she juggles her double life, Cammie must decide if she can maintain a relationship without revealing her true identity. With her heart on the line, Cammie embarks on her most perilous mission yet—falling in love. Can she balance the demands of her secret world with the complexities of teenage romance?

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2012

Liar & Spy

By Rebecca Stead

A boy's friendship is tested as he spies on a mysterious neighbor.

180 pages· 38,480 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 26,974 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Georges, a seventh-grader, navigates a new life in a Brooklyn apartment, dealing with school bullies and his parents' struggles. He befriends Safer, a quirky neighbor who enlists him to spy on the enigmatic Mr. X. As the surveillance intensifies, Georges questions the limits of loyalty and the true nature of friendship. What secrets lie behind the doors of their building, and how far will Georges go to uncover them?

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1998

The Journal of William Thomas Emerson

By Barry Denenberg · Book #1 in the My Name is America series

A boy becomes a spy amidst pre-Revolutionary War tensions.

154 pages· 22,668 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

3.6/5 Goodreads · 785 ratings

$10.95Save 4%

Hardcover

Summary: In the heart of pre-Revolutionary War Boston, a young boy finds himself entangled in the dangerous world of espionage. As political tensions rise and violence looms, he must navigate a treacherous path, risking everything to aid the rebel colonists. Will his courage and cunning be enough to survive the perilous game of spies and secrets?

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Spies Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about spies for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Series

Sale price

$1599

Josephine Baker

Ages 4–7 · 2018

A dancer defies segregation, captivates Paris, and becomes a spy.

Series

Sale price

$1695

The Scarlet Stockings Spy

Ages 6–9 · 2004

In war-torn Philadelphia, a young girl becomes a spy, risking everything for freedom.

Sale price

$399

I Spy a Dinosaur's Eye

Ages 4–8 · 2003

Solve picture riddles and uncover hidden surprises in this engaging I Spy adventure.

Sale price

$1999

A Spy Called James

Ages 7–11 · 2016

An enslaved spy fights for his freedom after aiding the American Revolution.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1799

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian

Ages 4–8 · 2018

A secret librarian battles to save books from an evil genius.

Series

Sale price

$499

Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers

Ages 5–7 · 1998

A boy and his dog uncover a coded message. Is another spy nearby?

Sale price

$1799

Secret, Secret Agent Guy

Ages 4–8 · 2021

A young spy's bedtime mission faces an unexpected twist.

Sale price

$799

Phoebe the Spy

Ages 8–12 · 1977

A young spy races to thwart a plot against George Washington before it's too late.

#1 in Series

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$2299

City of Secrets

Ages 8–12 · 2020

A shy orphan guards a city's secret, pursued by rogues in a mysterious building.

Series

Sale price

$699

Secret Agent

Ages 4–8 · 2020

A spy cat uncovers a mysterious message and goes undercover to solve a case.

Sale price

$1699

Spy Guy

Ages 4–7 · 2015

Can a clumsy spy uncover the secret to stealth?

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Scooby-Doo! Dead & Let Spy

2010

A haunting at the White House challenges a team of young detectives.

View all spies picture books

Browse by age

Spies Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about spies for developing and independent readers.

#7 in Series

Sale price

$899

Spy School British Invasion

Ages 9–12 · 2019

Young spies must outwit a global threat with a mysterious key.

#7 in Series

Sale price

$1899

Europa

Ages 8–12 · 2026

Spies race to stop a criminal's escape and prevent attacks across Europe.

Sale price

$1999

Fallout

Ages 13–17 · 2021

Two superpowers race to outdo each other in a deadly Cold War showdown.

#2 in Series

Sale price

$699

Code Name 711

Ages 8–12 · 2013

A young spy must stop a presidential assassination and uncover a legendary coat's secret.

#13 in Series

Sale price

$799

The Hunt for the Yeti Skull

Ages 6–9 · 2011

A missing plane, a Yeti skull, and a daring mountain rescue.

#6 in Series

Sale price

$599

The Pursuit of the Ivory Poachers

Ages 6–9 · 2008

A cryptic message, a poaching ring, and a race against time in Kenya.

Series

Sale price

$1399

Trickster's Queen

Ages 12–+ · 2004

A master spy must navigate a royal court and a brewing revolution to protect her charges and change a kingdom's fate.

#8 in Series

Sale price

$799

Peril at the Grand Prix: Italy

Ages 6–9 · 2009

A race against time to save a hero from deadly sabotage.

#10 in Series

Sale price

$799

The Quest for Aztec Gold: Mexico

Ages 6–9 · 2009

A secret agent races to stop treasure hunters from stealing Aztec gold.

#3 in Series

Sale price

$799

The Mystery of the Mona Lisa: France

Ages 6–9 · 2007

A stolen masterpiece, an invisible thief, and a race against time in Paris.

#14 in Series

Sale price

$599

The Mission to Find Max

Ages 6–9 · 2011

A brother's disappearance, a cursed crown, and a race against time in Egypt.

#9 in Series

Sale price

$599

The Deadly Race to Space: Russia

Ages 6–9 · 2009

A secret agent races to rescue his kidnapped father before a Mars mission fails.

View all spies chapter books

Keep exploring

Books about alligators and crocodiles Books about American Revolutionary War Books about boarding schools Books about coding and programming Books about Colonial and Revolutionary periods Books about dating and courtship Books about diaries Books about family life

Our 10 Favorite Books About Spies

Great books, picked for their age.

Spies Picture Books

Spies Chapter Books & Middle Grade

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