Secret Agent Jack Stalwart, Book 1

Gr 2—4—Global Protection Force secret agent Jack Stalwart is only nine years old, but that doesn't stop him from travelling the world and thwarting evil. In his first adventure (Weinstein Books, 2007) in the series by Elizabeth Singer Hunt, Jack's mission is to investigate the theft of an Allosaurus bone, but he must contend with a new set of problems when he realizes that the pilferer has cloned the dinosaur. Now Jack must stop the raging Allosaurus before it destroys New York City. This story contains some implausible situations that detract from its enjoyment. Even the most forgiving listeners will raise their eyebrows at how the adults in the story kowtow to a young boy. Also, Jack's endless supply of convenient gadgets renders him a sort of lazy hero; he never has to think his way out of danger, because he already has a device to diffuse the situation. These flaws might be forgivable if the narration ratcheted up the story to Jurassic Park-like intensity, but the performance is actually quite bland. Long pauses between sentences make the tale plod along, even as the Allosaurus chases Jack through the city. Also, Jack's British accent comes across only half the time, and comical rather than ferocious dinosaur noises contribute to the overall mediocrity of the presentation. Instead, steer listeners to The 39 Clues series.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, Evans Branch, Rochester, NY