Books About Spies · 333 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

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–13 · 2007

The Mysterious Benedict Society

By Trenton Lee Stewart, Carson Ellis (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the The Mysterious Benedict Society series

Four kids face a secret mission at a ruleless institute. What will they uncover?

The E.B. White Read Aloud Award (2008)

485 pages· 117,838 words· Est. 13 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 179,046 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Four gifted children, chosen through mind-bending tests, embark on a secret mission at the enigmatic Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. With no rules to guide them, they must navigate hidden tunnels and unravel mysteries that challenge their wits and courage. Can they uncover the truth lurking beneath the surface, or will the institute's secrets remain hidden? Join them on a thrilling adventure where intelligence and creativity are their only allies.

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 · 18,729 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 · 68,300 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

$2089

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2021

Firekeeper's Daughter

By Angeline Boulley

A Native teen uncovers deadly secrets while investigating a new drug in her community.

American Indian Youth Literature Honor (2022)Michael L. Printz Award (2022)

494 pages· 130,001 words· Est. 12 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 211,057 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Daunis Fontaine, caught between her hometown and Ojibwe roots, faces a life-altering choice after witnessing a murder. Drawn into an FBI probe of a dangerous drug, she must navigate hidden truths and old wounds. As deception and danger escalate, Daunis must decide how far she'll go to protect her community and embrace her identity as an Anishinaabe kwe. Will she uncover the truth before it destroys everything she holds dear?

Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015

An Ember in the Ashes

By Sabaa Tahir · Book #1 in the An Ember in the Ashes series

A slave and a soldier defy an empire, risking everything for freedom.

480 pages· 124,141 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 360,855 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In a brutal empire where defiance means death, Laia, a slave, must spy for rebels to save her brother. At the military academy, she meets Elias, a soldier yearning for freedom. Together, they face impossible choices that could alter the empire's fate. Will their intertwined destinies ignite hope or lead to destruction?

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 · 2,449 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 · 4,196 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 · 2,166 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 · 59,804 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 · 2,549 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?

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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

$1899

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter

Ages 7–12 · 2021

A cryptologist unravels codes to dismantle spy rings and save lives.

Sale price

$1999

A Spy Called James

Ages 7–11 · 2016

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

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Sale price

$1799

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian

Ages 4–8 · 2018

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

Sale price

$995

Nurse, Soldier, Spy

Ages 6–9 · 2011

A woman disguises as a man to fight and spy in the Civil War.

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.

Series

Sale price

$1799

Olivia the Spy

Ages 3–7 · 2017

A pig's eavesdropping reveals a birthday surprise that could change everything.

Series

Sale price

$1999

Secret Agent Splat!

Ages 4–8 · 2012

A cat becomes a secret agent to solve the mystery of missing duck beaks.

#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.

View all spies picture books

Browse by age

Spies Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about spies for developing and independent readers.

Sale price

$799

Toliver's Secret

Ages 7–11 · 1976

A young girl must navigate a treacherous journey to deliver a secret message to a tavern owner in a small town.

#1 in Series

Sale price

$899

Harriet the Spy

Ages 8–12 · 1964

A young spy's secret notebook falls into the wrong hands, threatening her friendships.

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

#1 in Series

Sale price

$1299

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

Ages 12–18 · 2006

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

Sale price

$1599

Liar & Spy

Ages 9–12 · 2012

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

#1 in Series

Sale price

$1095

The Journal of William Thomas Emerson

Ages 9–12 · 1998

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

#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.

Series

Sale price

$699

Escape

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Two kids flee across Europe after a failed plot to kill Hitler.

Series

Sale price

$2599

Release Me

Ages 14–+ · 2026

A vengeful assassin and a wary ally face a crumbling dystopia's dark secrets.

#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

$1399

I Must Betray You

Ages 12–+ · 2022

A young writer must choose between betrayal and rebellion in a crumbling communist regime.

Sale price

$1899

War Games

Ages 8–12 · 2025

An Olympic gymnast uncovers a dark secret in 1936 Berlin, risking everything to thwart a sinister plot.

Sale price

$1999

Fallout

Ages 13–17 · 2021

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

View all spies chapter books

Keep exploring

Books about undercover operations Books about slavery Books about alligators and crocodiles Books about American Revolutionary War Books about boarding schools Books about coding and programming Books about drugs, alcohol, and substance abuse Books about hackers

Our 10 Favorite Books About Spies

Great books, picked for their age.

Spies Picture Books

Spies Chapter Books & Middle Grade

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