The Sext Crime (Covert Youth Agency #2) by Jason Ancona
My Rating: 4.0/5.0
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publish Date: March 1, 2011
Paperback, 280 pages
ISBN: 978-1460969342
Young Adult, Suspense
Ages 12 and up
ISBN: 978-1460969342
Young Adult, Suspense
Ages 12 and up
My Review:
The Sext Crime was a thoroughly entertaining book that I think would do well with teenagers 12 and up. The warning below is perfect for the book and for the humor. There is no sex in this book, just references to a picture the girl texts to her boyfriend. The boo also has very little bad language and the only one who uses bad language is a grumpy teacher who is out to find out who the members of the Covert Youth Agency are. So this book is completely appropriate for pre-teens and teens and others (meaning adults) should enjoy this as well.
On the surface, The Sext Crime appears to be a light-hearted and easy-going fun book to read. Yes there is a problem to solve and The Covert Youth Agency is on the job. A girl who is running for school President is being blackmailed to leave the race because racy pictures were found that she sent to her boyfriend. Sexting as it is know is illegal and when pursued in the legal system system can lead to serious consequences. At the beginning this is mentioned but more effort it put into the story.
The main characters are introduced, Pi, Lightman and Tollhouse, the members of the CYA. They all have their parts and thei r specialties. I believe they were introduced more in the first book (which I have but have not had a chance to read yet). But I got a good feel for each of the characters in this book. After introductions are made and the case is accepted, the ball really starts rolling and never slows down. I enjoyed trying to figure out with the members of CYA just who was behind the blackmail.
It's a fun romp but when you finish reading it you realize that there is so much more there. It does cover sexting, there is even some addressing of bullying, but one of my favorite things, is that this book shows there are consequences for all actions even as teenagers, even the ones you think are innocent or the ones you do to protect someone. The second thing I really liked (and this is as a parent). The parents of the kids in CYA are well-represented and caring parents. They are involved in their kids lives and don't let them run completely without supervision and I find that refreshing and more realistic in teen fiction.
But when it comes down to it - The Sext Crime is a fun book full of intrigue, spying and general teenage mayhem. I loved every minute and look forward to reading the first book in the series and any more that follow. So read, enjoy, fall in love with Pi, Lightman and Tollhouse and try to figure out the bad guy.
On the surface, The Sext Crime appears to be a light-hearted and easy-going fun book to read. Yes there is a problem to solve and The Covert Youth Agency is on the job. A girl who is running for school President is being blackmailed to leave the race because racy pictures were found that she sent to her boyfriend. Sexting as it is know is illegal and when pursued in the legal system system can lead to serious consequences. At the beginning this is mentioned but more effort it put into the story.
The main characters are introduced, Pi, Lightman and Tollhouse, the members of the CYA. They all have their parts and thei r specialties. I believe they were introduced more in the first book (which I have but have not had a chance to read yet). But I got a good feel for each of the characters in this book. After introductions are made and the case is accepted, the ball really starts rolling and never slows down. I enjoyed trying to figure out with the members of CYA just who was behind the blackmail.
It's a fun romp but when you finish reading it you realize that there is so much more there. It does cover sexting, there is even some addressing of bullying, but one of my favorite things, is that this book shows there are consequences for all actions even as teenagers, even the ones you think are innocent or the ones you do to protect someone. The second thing I really liked (and this is as a parent). The parents of the kids in CYA are well-represented and caring parents. They are involved in their kids lives and don't let them run completely without supervision and I find that refreshing and more realistic in teen fiction.
But when it comes down to it - The Sext Crime is a fun book full of intrigue, spying and general teenage mayhem. I loved every minute and look forward to reading the first book in the series and any more that follow. So read, enjoy, fall in love with Pi, Lightman and Tollhouse and try to figure out the bad guy.
About the Book:
SNAP--a girl sexts racy pics of herself.She thought the fun shots would stay between her and her boyfriend.
SNAP--an anonymous hacker hijacks her photos.
If she doesn't obey, she'll be exposed.
SNAP--the Covert Youth Agency takes the girl's case.
The agents jump headfirst into Operation: Sext Crime. Their new client has less than a week to surrender to the hacker's ultimatum. Or else the naughty photos go "wide."
SEND--a squad of goons are closing in on C.Y.A. members.
Agent identities may be unmasked.
REPLY ALL--end communication.
It's not safe.
WARNING--this book contains NO explicit sexual content.
Material suitable for ages 12 and above. May contain some humor.
About the Author:
Freakishly nerdy in high school, Jason became a certifiable weakling his sophomore year when he lost an arm-wrestling match to a female cheerleader in class. Never a participant in school activities, he fantasized about being someone else--an athlete, a secret agent, or whatever character he commanded in the latest computer role-playing-game. His imaginary worlds didn't help in the dating department, but they sure were fun to explore. A graduate of UCLA's Screenwriting Program, he has written various feature film scripts and television shows. In the Fall of 2010, he quit his corporate job, leaving Los Angeles and all of his belongings behind, save his computer and his clothes. He's currently hiding in the Chicago suburbs, where he's making friends with the locals--mostly deer and squirrels.
FTC Information: I received this book through The Teen Book Scene to review for the current tour. I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws. I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.
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