Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Walker Childrens (2013), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 320 pages
Description
Romance. Suspense. Thriller. Young Adult Fiction. HTML:From New York Times bestselling, National Book Award winning author Robin Benway comes the first book in a hilarious and romantic duology about a normal girl . . . who just so happens to be a spy. Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Maggie, a safecracking whiz, is raised in a family of spies who work for a group called the Collective. She's moved around the world from job to job. When the family gets assigned a case in Manhattan that requires Maggie to infiltrate a private school and befriend a guy to get to a secret file and
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article said guy's dad may be publishing, it is the first time that Maggie has taken a lead on a case. Her parents are worried. Maggie makes a friend for the first time and Jesse, the guy she's supposed to befriend, becomes much more than a job to her. Roux, as Maggie's friend, is a hoot of a character. Maggie begins to question if the family business is really for her and tries to work the case even when she is over her head, putting herself and her friends in danger. A super-fun romp into the world of high school spies. It would be a good read for those who like the Ally Carter Gallagher Girls series. Show Less
LibraryThing member AmieBeamer
Mrs. Beamer's review:
This is the type of book I hope my daughter grows up liking to read. It's light but clever...funny while still touching on some serious topics...and leaves you feeling GOOD. While I was prepared for much more "meat" around the spy storyline, I wasn't disappointed that it was
For me, the females stole the show in this book. Maggie is perfect as a spy-turned-high school student trying to find her way...while Roux is the PERFECT compliment to her. By far my favorite relationship in the book :) And Maggie's mom makes more appearances than most parents do in YA novels I've read...loved it!
If you are looking for a book that makes you laugh out loud and leaves you wanting more...this is the book for you! I highly recommend it to all teens and look forward to buying it for my high school library. I know it will fly off the shelf!
Mrs. Beamer’s wrap-up rating: 0-5 (0=none, 5=lots) click here for more info
Language: 0
Violence: 0
Sexual Content: 1
Drugs/Alcohol: 1
Potential Controversial Topics: none
Recommend for High School Libraries: YES
Comfortable With My Child Reading: YES
This is the type of book I hope my daughter grows up liking to read. It's light but clever...funny while still touching on some serious topics...and leaves you feeling GOOD. While I was prepared for much more "meat" around the spy storyline, I wasn't disappointed that it was
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lacking. I found the focus on the teen characters enjoyable...and applaud Ms. Benway for creating such lovable, flawed individuals for us to love :)For me, the females stole the show in this book. Maggie is perfect as a spy-turned-high school student trying to find her way...while Roux is the PERFECT compliment to her. By far my favorite relationship in the book :) And Maggie's mom makes more appearances than most parents do in YA novels I've read...loved it!
If you are looking for a book that makes you laugh out loud and leaves you wanting more...this is the book for you! I highly recommend it to all teens and look forward to buying it for my high school library. I know it will fly off the shelf!
Mrs. Beamer’s wrap-up rating: 0-5 (0=none, 5=lots) click here for more info
Language: 0
Violence: 0
Sexual Content: 1
Drugs/Alcohol: 1
Potential Controversial Topics: none
Recommend for High School Libraries: YES
Comfortable With My Child Reading: YES
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LibraryThing member ahandfulofconfetti
As a giant fan of Robin Benway's first book, Audrey, Wait!, I was extremely eager to get my hands on a copy of Also Known As. I was hoping I'd find a wonderful main character, lots of humor and laugh-out-loud moments, and perhaps a new cute boy to swoon over. I'm happy to report that Also Known As
What I loved about this book was that it was ridiculously cute without making your teeth hurt from the sweetness. Maggie is a fabulous character; she so wants to impress her parents and do her job correctly, but she goes about it in a slightly over-the-top manner that made her parents eye-roll and me laugh hysterically. "Dramatic" has never been so apt a word. Throw in her new best friend, Roux, who is perhaps even more theatrical, and the cute object of her mission, Jesse, who has his own sharp tongue and wit, and this book was just littered with amazing oneliners and snappy comebacks. The writing has a crispness to it that's hard to really describe, but it keeps you eagerly turning pages and fully engrossed in the plot.
The setup for this reminds me a bit of the Gallagher Girls books, in that Maggie is a safecracker and junior spy. While she's not enrolled in a spy school - her school is decidedly more All-American high school - her background shines throughout, complete with her array of spy tips that she drops throughout her monologues. Her interactions with Roux and Jesse were so much fun to read, and while the romance aspect perhaps progressed a bit too quickly (although I simply adored all the time they were alone together, and their first "date" with the ice cream was just too cute), I felt like it was very true to the whole teenage crush/first love mindset. After all, Maggie is only sixteen, so some dramatic flair is expected.
I very much enjoyed watching all the spy stuff come together into one action-packed sequence at the end. I also adored Angelo, and wish I could have seen even more of him, because he was amazing. He is the perfect mentor for Maggie, and I just loved how he listened to her and offered his advice only when she really needed it. I have heard mumblings that this may turn into a series, and I for one definitely won't complain if that's true!
Also Known As is not a serious book, and it's not meant to be. Go into it for the sheer enjoyment factor, and enjoy the ride. Just be prepared to smile!
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delivered all that and more; I pretty much had a giant smile on my face the entire time I was reading.What I loved about this book was that it was ridiculously cute without making your teeth hurt from the sweetness. Maggie is a fabulous character; she so wants to impress her parents and do her job correctly, but she goes about it in a slightly over-the-top manner that made her parents eye-roll and me laugh hysterically. "Dramatic" has never been so apt a word. Throw in her new best friend, Roux, who is perhaps even more theatrical, and the cute object of her mission, Jesse, who has his own sharp tongue and wit, and this book was just littered with amazing oneliners and snappy comebacks. The writing has a crispness to it that's hard to really describe, but it keeps you eagerly turning pages and fully engrossed in the plot.
The setup for this reminds me a bit of the Gallagher Girls books, in that Maggie is a safecracker and junior spy. While she's not enrolled in a spy school - her school is decidedly more All-American high school - her background shines throughout, complete with her array of spy tips that she drops throughout her monologues. Her interactions with Roux and Jesse were so much fun to read, and while the romance aspect perhaps progressed a bit too quickly (although I simply adored all the time they were alone together, and their first "date" with the ice cream was just too cute), I felt like it was very true to the whole teenage crush/first love mindset. After all, Maggie is only sixteen, so some dramatic flair is expected.
I very much enjoyed watching all the spy stuff come together into one action-packed sequence at the end. I also adored Angelo, and wish I could have seen even more of him, because he was amazing. He is the perfect mentor for Maggie, and I just loved how he listened to her and offered his advice only when she really needed it. I have heard mumblings that this may turn into a series, and I for one definitely won't complain if that's true!
Also Known As is not a serious book, and it's not meant to be. Go into it for the sheer enjoyment factor, and enjoy the ride. Just be prepared to smile!
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LibraryThing member TheMadHatters
Maggie is a teenage spy. Pretty enjoyable but not as good as the Gallagher Gilrs series by Ally Carter
LibraryThing member princess-starr
I’ve made it no secret that I absolutely adore Robin Benway’s Audrey, Wait! and that my reaction to The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June was…not so much love. And I admit, I was hesitant—I had seen a lot of comparisons to Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series which I didn’t
The reason I don’t like a lot of YA spy stories is that every single one I’ve read is too gadget-reliant. Yes, let’s parody the Q scenes from classic Bond; let’s have accessories that can conveniently knock out the love interest and look cute (raise your hand if your brain headed to Totally Spies!); we need to have MacGuffins so that the heroine can escape and still look fabulous. Not only do none of these things appear in Also Known As, Maggie and her family openly mock glamorized spy work and lampshade it to hell. (For example, near the climax, Maggie’s friends ask if there’s some sort of gadget they can just hack all the files. Maggie responds, “My job would be so much easier if that existed.”) I loved the fact that, aside from the shadowy spy organization her family works for, there are no ridiculous gadgets or tech that is so top secret that it can’t exist because logically it shouldn’t. There is actually spy work and stake-outs and getting close to the marks. The only thing glamorous about Maggie’s life is her jet-setting (and okay, her wardrobe and school, but still) and she even points out how boring her role in assignments are. I loved that the realistic angle was worked in so well.
Maggie could have very, very easily been a cliché, with her whole diatribe on “I just want to be normal!” However, Benway does a great job of showing us that there’s a reason why Maggie isn’t normal and also how frustrating that is for her. Most of Maggie’s duties on assignments up until the beginning of the book are “Oh, go have fun in Iceland until we need you to crack this safe.” It’s not just she’s been trained to work as a spy in the Collective because of her parents, either; she has a knack for picking locks. And when Maggie’s confronted with the fact that her special talent doesn’t really have a lot of applications in the real world, she does pull out the argument of “Okay, maybe I don’t want to be a spy. Have you ever thought of that?” Yes, I’ve seen it so. Many. Times. But most of the time when the “Normal” argument pops up, I don’t get much of that context behind it, and that’s what I like here. Now, there are some parts when she does fall into the cliché, but again, having the background of Maggie’s character and her safe-cracking helps a lot.
The thing I didn’t like though with the “I just want to be normal” argument was her relationship with her parents. I did like the relationship when you got to see Maggie working on the assignment or when they were just settling into their new loft. But my problem came when Maggie went to her first party at Jesse’s house. There is a tendency in YA books wherein the parents have some sort of ‘cool’ lifestyle, when their mousy plain daughter decides to live it up, the parents will initiate lockdown. I do see where that’s coming from…but I would also think once Maggie pointed out “Hey, I’m doing my assignment, I’m supposed to get close to Jesse,” her parents would be a bit more understanding. I kinda don’t like the fact that the reasoning for this is that Maggie was kidnapped when she was younger; it never feels like her parents are overprotective until it becomes plot convenient. Also, Maggie has Angelo constantly following her. I liked Angelo, he’s fun. Even if he’s just the mentor figure for a lot of the book. (I love the ending when he tries to teach Roux chess.)
Roux could have easily been the bitchy friend who I debate if I’m supposed to like because…? And while she does have her moments, I also liked the fact that we see Roux being vulnerable and her acknowledging that she makes terrible decisions. I really can’t wait to see more of Roux in the sequel; she takes a while to warm up to, but she’s fun. I also did like Jesse, again for the same reasons—I liked how quickly he opens up to Maggie. And even when she reveals that she’s been using to crack into his father’s files, Jesse’s rightfully pissed but he’s willing to help because Maggie and her family are in danger. Jesse and Roux aren’t completely fleshed out, and normally I’d rag on Benway for “Why would you hold character development until the sequel!” But they’re strong characters here, and I really liked their respective relationships with Maggie. Hell, I love that Maggie dispenses with the dancing around that she’s a spy and flat-out admits it to Roux and Jesse. (“Do the passport thing, it’s surprisingly effective.” CAN I POINT OUT THAT I LOVE BENWAY’S STYLE HERE? Her writing style and dialogue were the best things about Audrey, Wait!; I love that this is just as quotable.)
As for the other-all major mystery, it’s probably the weakest part of the book. The set-up and Maggie getting close to Jesse are drawn out, and the majority of the book is spent on that. (I really like that Maggie messes up when she first cracks the Olivers’ safe—it’s an understandable mistake, too.) But the revelation of who’s behind the news scoop of the Collective and Maggie’s kidnapping is rushed and thrown together too quickly. I have a feeling the bad guy is going to reappear in the sequel, but I just didn’t feel it towards the climax. Maggie feeling her way into her first assignment is really well done, especially since it focuses on the fact that she has to make friends when her lifestyle hasn’t really prepared her for that.
As I said in the beginning, Also Known As isn’t an amazing YA book, but it’s so much fun to read. I did enjoy reading it, I loved the characters and the endless quotables (“Wait, did you just use a simile?””Actually, that was an analogy.”), and the realism of the spy work is what really sold it for me. It’s fun and fluffy without talking down to the reader, and I really liked it.
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really get into. (I read the first book; it was okay.) But I decided, “Well, if I don’t like it, I don’t like it. But I’ll give it a shot.” And while it’s not zomg mind-blowing, it’s still a lot of fun to read.The reason I don’t like a lot of YA spy stories is that every single one I’ve read is too gadget-reliant. Yes, let’s parody the Q scenes from classic Bond; let’s have accessories that can conveniently knock out the love interest and look cute (raise your hand if your brain headed to Totally Spies!); we need to have MacGuffins so that the heroine can escape and still look fabulous. Not only do none of these things appear in Also Known As, Maggie and her family openly mock glamorized spy work and lampshade it to hell. (For example, near the climax, Maggie’s friends ask if there’s some sort of gadget they can just hack all the files. Maggie responds, “My job would be so much easier if that existed.”) I loved the fact that, aside from the shadowy spy organization her family works for, there are no ridiculous gadgets or tech that is so top secret that it can’t exist because logically it shouldn’t. There is actually spy work and stake-outs and getting close to the marks. The only thing glamorous about Maggie’s life is her jet-setting (and okay, her wardrobe and school, but still) and she even points out how boring her role in assignments are. I loved that the realistic angle was worked in so well.
Maggie could have very, very easily been a cliché, with her whole diatribe on “I just want to be normal!” However, Benway does a great job of showing us that there’s a reason why Maggie isn’t normal and also how frustrating that is for her. Most of Maggie’s duties on assignments up until the beginning of the book are “Oh, go have fun in Iceland until we need you to crack this safe.” It’s not just she’s been trained to work as a spy in the Collective because of her parents, either; she has a knack for picking locks. And when Maggie’s confronted with the fact that her special talent doesn’t really have a lot of applications in the real world, she does pull out the argument of “Okay, maybe I don’t want to be a spy. Have you ever thought of that?” Yes, I’ve seen it so. Many. Times. But most of the time when the “Normal” argument pops up, I don’t get much of that context behind it, and that’s what I like here. Now, there are some parts when she does fall into the cliché, but again, having the background of Maggie’s character and her safe-cracking helps a lot.
The thing I didn’t like though with the “I just want to be normal” argument was her relationship with her parents. I did like the relationship when you got to see Maggie working on the assignment or when they were just settling into their new loft. But my problem came when Maggie went to her first party at Jesse’s house. There is a tendency in YA books wherein the parents have some sort of ‘cool’ lifestyle, when their mousy plain daughter decides to live it up, the parents will initiate lockdown. I do see where that’s coming from…but I would also think once Maggie pointed out “Hey, I’m doing my assignment, I’m supposed to get close to Jesse,” her parents would be a bit more understanding. I kinda don’t like the fact that the reasoning for this is that Maggie was kidnapped when she was younger; it never feels like her parents are overprotective until it becomes plot convenient. Also, Maggie has Angelo constantly following her. I liked Angelo, he’s fun. Even if he’s just the mentor figure for a lot of the book. (I love the ending when he tries to teach Roux chess.)
Roux could have easily been the bitchy friend who I debate if I’m supposed to like because…? And while she does have her moments, I also liked the fact that we see Roux being vulnerable and her acknowledging that she makes terrible decisions. I really can’t wait to see more of Roux in the sequel; she takes a while to warm up to, but she’s fun. I also did like Jesse, again for the same reasons—I liked how quickly he opens up to Maggie. And even when she reveals that she’s been using to crack into his father’s files, Jesse’s rightfully pissed but he’s willing to help because Maggie and her family are in danger. Jesse and Roux aren’t completely fleshed out, and normally I’d rag on Benway for “Why would you hold character development until the sequel!” But they’re strong characters here, and I really liked their respective relationships with Maggie. Hell, I love that Maggie dispenses with the dancing around that she’s a spy and flat-out admits it to Roux and Jesse. (“Do the passport thing, it’s surprisingly effective.” CAN I POINT OUT THAT I LOVE BENWAY’S STYLE HERE? Her writing style and dialogue were the best things about Audrey, Wait!; I love that this is just as quotable.)
As for the other-all major mystery, it’s probably the weakest part of the book. The set-up and Maggie getting close to Jesse are drawn out, and the majority of the book is spent on that. (I really like that Maggie messes up when she first cracks the Olivers’ safe—it’s an understandable mistake, too.) But the revelation of who’s behind the news scoop of the Collective and Maggie’s kidnapping is rushed and thrown together too quickly. I have a feeling the bad guy is going to reappear in the sequel, but I just didn’t feel it towards the climax. Maggie feeling her way into her first assignment is really well done, especially since it focuses on the fact that she has to make friends when her lifestyle hasn’t really prepared her for that.
As I said in the beginning, Also Known As isn’t an amazing YA book, but it’s so much fun to read. I did enjoy reading it, I loved the characters and the endless quotables (“Wait, did you just use a simile?””Actually, that was an analogy.”), and the realism of the spy work is what really sold it for me. It’s fun and fluffy without talking down to the reader, and I really liked it.
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LibraryThing member TheMadHatters
This book was okay. It was along the lines of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series, but not as funny or action packed.
LibraryThing member ethel55
Maggie (short for Margaret, thereby having lots of options for aliases) has grown up in a world of spies. Finally, a job in New York City will feature her skills as a teen, getting friendly with the son of a man who may spell the end of their secret group, the Collective. Going to high school, of
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course, turns out to be harder than she thinks. The boy in question is hot, the first friend she makes is a former mean girl, dethroned by gossip and bad decision making. Fans of the Gallagher Girl series will get a kick out of Maggie's life and the escapades that ensue as the real bad guy emerges. Show Less
LibraryThing member SarahBlackstock
As funny & awesome as expected from the author of Audrey, Wait! Yay!
LibraryThing member thehidingspot
I have so much respect for every one of Robin Benway's novels. Each one has a totally unique premise and main character, but they're all somehow easy to relate to and more fun than the last.
The protagonist in Also Known As, Maggie, reminds me of a younger version of Stella, Charlize Theron's
It's Maggie's job to gain Jesse's trust in order to find out information about his father and gain access to the safe in their home. As one might imagine, things don't go exactly as planned. Maggie quickly learns there's a lot more to Jesse than she first assumed... and he's more than a little interested in her as well.
While I loved Maggie, her friends, Angelo and Roux, often came close to upstaging her. Both were such interesting characters that I found myself wishing Benway would tell more about them. Angelo is a friend of Maggie's family who also works for the same organization, but as a forger. He gives exceptionally good advice and has wonderful fashion sense. Roux is a strong individual who fully admits to creating her downfall from the popular crowd, but she never loses sight of who she is. I would love to see a future book about Roux, which some involvement from Angelo of course, since the two characters really seemed to be bonding by the end of Also Known As.
While Also Known As isn't a terribly complicated thriller and mystery, as it focuses much more on the characters and their relationships than the actual mystery (I can't actually remember exactly what Maggie is hoping to find when she picks the safe in the Oliver house), it still kept me guessing. I was never completely sure who Maggie could or should trust.
For me, Benway's newest offering is in the same vein as Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls and Heist Society books, but perhaps for a slightly older audience. I have a soft spot for Carter's books and, while Also Known As has definitely similarities, both authors successfully bring something unique to the premise. I highly recommend Also Known As and am sincerely hoping for a sequel!
The protagonist in Also Known As, Maggie, reminds me of a younger version of Stella, Charlize Theron's
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character, from the movie The Italian Job, which is one of my absolute favorites. Maggie is a teenaged safecracker who travels the world with her parents and she's the best at what she does. What Maggie isn't so good at is being a "normal" 16-year old girl, which is a key element of her newest mission: Jesse Oliver. It's Maggie's job to gain Jesse's trust in order to find out information about his father and gain access to the safe in their home. As one might imagine, things don't go exactly as planned. Maggie quickly learns there's a lot more to Jesse than she first assumed... and he's more than a little interested in her as well.
While I loved Maggie, her friends, Angelo and Roux, often came close to upstaging her. Both were such interesting characters that I found myself wishing Benway would tell more about them. Angelo is a friend of Maggie's family who also works for the same organization, but as a forger. He gives exceptionally good advice and has wonderful fashion sense. Roux is a strong individual who fully admits to creating her downfall from the popular crowd, but she never loses sight of who she is. I would love to see a future book about Roux, which some involvement from Angelo of course, since the two characters really seemed to be bonding by the end of Also Known As.
While Also Known As isn't a terribly complicated thriller and mystery, as it focuses much more on the characters and their relationships than the actual mystery (I can't actually remember exactly what Maggie is hoping to find when she picks the safe in the Oliver house), it still kept me guessing. I was never completely sure who Maggie could or should trust.
For me, Benway's newest offering is in the same vein as Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls and Heist Society books, but perhaps for a slightly older audience. I have a soft spot for Carter's books and, while Also Known As has definitely similarities, both authors successfully bring something unique to the premise. I highly recommend Also Known As and am sincerely hoping for a sequel!
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LibraryThing member ErikaWasTaken
Pros:
* Teenage spies
* New York City
* New school drama
Cons:
* Plot seems secondary
* Ending comes with very own bow
I liked this book, I just didn't love this book. There wasn't anything bad about it, and I wouldn't say I disliked the way the ending wrapped up neatly and ridiculously quick; I just
Plot always feels almost tertiary in Benway's novels. She excels at creating fun, unique characters that walk the balance most of us did as teenagers -- some days you feel really awesome, and some days you trip while walking down the stairs at lunch. But plot never feels important, it is just there to guide characters through both simple and complex relationships.
* Teenage spies
* New York City
* New school drama
Cons:
* Plot seems secondary
* Ending comes with very own bow
I liked this book, I just didn't love this book. There wasn't anything bad about it, and I wouldn't say I disliked the way the ending wrapped up neatly and ridiculously quick; I just
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didn't love it.Plot always feels almost tertiary in Benway's novels. She excels at creating fun, unique characters that walk the balance most of us did as teenagers -- some days you feel really awesome, and some days you trip while walking down the stairs at lunch. But plot never feels important, it is just there to guide characters through both simple and complex relationships.
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LibraryThing member taleofnight
This was such a fun and cute book! I listened to the audiobook of this, and couldn't stop listening to it. This is definitely the kind of book I look for when choosing an audiobook. It's fun and not too complicated, but still keeps me invested in the story. Maggie has a great personality, and I
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loved the relationship between Maggie and her parents and Maggie and Roux. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
As the active-duty daughter of international spies, sixteen-year-old safecracker Maggie Silver never attended high school so when she and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, Maggie is introduced to cliques, school lunches, and maybe even a boyfriend.
LibraryThing member Emily_Anne
Robin Benway certainly does not disappoint in this laugh-out-loud adventure! I believe I loved Audrey, Wait! a tiny smidgen more, but then again I didn't expect AKA to outshine one of my favorite contemporaries.
This book is slightly similar to the Gallagher Girls series, although not really. Okay,
The characters are really sweet. And super funny. Not just Maggie (Who was amazing) but also her friends and family. I loved how each character had such a memoable personality.
This book was ridiculous. I mean this in a good way. Maggie is just plain quirky! I am so happy she wasn't another predictable, overused YA character. Also, some of the past spy expeditions Maggie mentions are pretty funny/ridiculous.
The synopsis mentions a lot about "Private School". I think this is bringing the focus off what most of the book is about. I mean I LOVED Maggie's experiences there. But, mostly, AKA is about making friends, afore mentioned ridiculous conversations, and learning what it means to be a spy!
Such a funny read!
4/5 bookcases
This book is slightly similar to the Gallagher Girls series, although not really. Okay,
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maybe I'll back myself up and make more sense. The "spies" and tone are very similiar. Except the plot is totally different and a little more sophisticated. I think I may have liked it more than Gallagher Girls... and that is saying something. (Little Note: If you haven't read Gallagher Girls, you should!)The characters are really sweet. And super funny. Not just Maggie (Who was amazing) but also her friends and family. I loved how each character had such a memoable personality.
This book was ridiculous. I mean this in a good way. Maggie is just plain quirky! I am so happy she wasn't another predictable, overused YA character. Also, some of the past spy expeditions Maggie mentions are pretty funny/ridiculous.
The synopsis mentions a lot about "Private School". I think this is bringing the focus off what most of the book is about. I mean I LOVED Maggie's experiences there. But, mostly, AKA is about making friends, afore mentioned ridiculous conversations, and learning what it means to be a spy!
Such a funny read!
4/5 bookcases
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LibraryThing member Bduke
What a fun book this was! I haven't read the Gallagher Girls series, but I'm guessing that they are similar. Also Known As is laugh-out-loud funny, the dialogue is fast and witty, the plot is really exciting (there is a chase scene which is heart-pounding), the supporting characters are awesome, it
Areas of concern: There is a lot of cussing with many uses of the *s* word and the *a*-*h* words. The *f* word is started but never finished. The best friend character has a "swear jar" deal with her doorman and has to pay 5 dollars for every swear word. He is making a killing off of her.
The best friend has totally absent parents and there is talk of her having slept with her old best friend's boyfriend. She takes her mom's prescription pills, she gets completely drunk at a party, and seems to have a history of pills and alcohol.
The teenagers skip school at the drop of a pin.
There is kissing, not anything too graphic.
This all sounds really bad, but I will say that the main character doesn't drink, refuses pills, and respects her parent's authority (while being snarky about it). You are left with the feeling that the best friend's behavior will change drastically as she becomes more involved in Maggie's family.
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is set in Manhattan, and the romance is adorable. I loved that the main character had great parents who were very much a part of the story and who expected certain behavior out of their daughter. The main character is snarky and oh so funny, but she loves and respects her parents and tries very hard to live up to their expectations. The best friend has all the classic bad-girl habits, but she improves. I would whole-heartedly recommend this book is it wasn't for the concerns below. Areas of concern: There is a lot of cussing with many uses of the *s* word and the *a*-*h* words. The *f* word is started but never finished. The best friend character has a "swear jar" deal with her doorman and has to pay 5 dollars for every swear word. He is making a killing off of her.
The best friend has totally absent parents and there is talk of her having slept with her old best friend's boyfriend. She takes her mom's prescription pills, she gets completely drunk at a party, and seems to have a history of pills and alcohol.
The teenagers skip school at the drop of a pin.
There is kissing, not anything too graphic.
This all sounds really bad, but I will say that the main character doesn't drink, refuses pills, and respects her parent's authority (while being snarky about it). You are left with the feeling that the best friend's behavior will change drastically as she becomes more involved in Maggie's family.
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LibraryThing member WickedWoWestwood
Maggie Silver, the daughter of spies who cracked her first lock at age 3, is given her first solo assignment in New York City. Having just enrolled in a private school, Maggie's assignment is to hook with Jesse Oliver, whose magazine publisher father had information that could be damaging to the
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Collective. Maggie's assignment is more difficult than she realizes as she finds herself falling in love with Jesse. Found this fast-paced as well as humorous, with memorable characters such as Maggie's new friend Roux and her mentor Angelo. Show Less
LibraryThing member amym53
Such a cute light hearted book! Maggie has to go under cover at a private school in Manhattan to prevent befriend Jessie Oliver in order to prevent his father from printing a damaging story about the collective. It starts out as just a job and knowing the people at the school can't be her real
" This just means so much to me! I'd like to thank all the little people that I crushed on my way to the top."
" I'll give you twenty bucks if you shoot her with a tranquilizer dart." " I'll do it for ten, he said. " Holiday Sale"
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friends but by the end she has a best friend and boyfriend. I loved the ending!" This just means so much to me! I'd like to thank all the little people that I crushed on my way to the top."
" I'll give you twenty bucks if you shoot her with a tranquilizer dart." " I'll do it for ten, he said. " Holiday Sale"
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LibraryThing member Hellen0
It was a fun book and I enjoyed it, but it was far from the best teenage spy novels that I've read. It was perfect for those days when you don't want to think too much though. The plot is pretty straightforward. Maggie is a girl whose assignement is to get close to a young boy, in order to gain
The best character was Roux, the third member of the teenage trio. She is a girl who likes parties too much and who lives more or less alone, because her parents travel a lot. She's funny and, even though she may not look like it, resourceful when it's necessary.
It took me ages to finish this book because I barely had time to read, not because it was bad. It's the kind of book that you can read in an afternoon. Not a bad book if you want something a bit mysterious, but don't want to think too much.
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access to his father's documents. Of course, she falls in love with said boy. As soon as a few things are revealed, it is also rather obvious what is really going on. This is the main flaw of Also Known As. What I suppose was meant to be a big plot twist was not surprising at all.The best character was Roux, the third member of the teenage trio. She is a girl who likes parties too much and who lives more or less alone, because her parents travel a lot. She's funny and, even though she may not look like it, resourceful when it's necessary.
It took me ages to finish this book because I barely had time to read, not because it was bad. It's the kind of book that you can read in an afternoon. Not a bad book if you want something a bit mysterious, but don't want to think too much.
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LibraryThing member Mrslabraden
Also Known As is a fast-paced fun story about a family of spies. Maggie and her parents have been spies for as long as she can remember. Her special talent as a safe cracker and lock picking prodigy make her invaluable to her parents, but their next assignment takes them to New York where Maggie
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must go undercover as a high school student in order to stop the printing of a newspaper article that is about to be written unveiling the organization that Maggie and her parents work for called "The Collective." When Maggie falls for her "target," Jesse, and makes more than a pretend friendship with a sassy loner named Roux, things get more complicated than Maggie ever imagined. This story has lots of action and scenes that are both funny and poignant. Overall a nice light and enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member blmyers
I got this for my daughter, but decided to read it first. I'm so glad I did! I really enjoyed it. It was hard to put down, the characters were believable, the dialog between the teenagers as well as the thoughts expressed by the lead 'spy' were hilarious, insightful, and enlightening. I hope the
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author continues the series. I'd like read more. Show Less
LibraryThing member lilrongal
It was one of those books I was sad to finish.
LibraryThing member Kristymk18
After reading a few heavier books, I needed a lighter, fun read, and Benway provided just that. Also Known As is a refreshingly cute story about a teenage spy, Maggie, who has to balance the world of espionage with high school. Both sides offer entertainment, whether it be trying to stop pertinent
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information from leaking or falling for a boy for the first time. Maggie's quirky quips and inner dialogue make this the perfect lazy day read. Show Less
LibraryThing member annhepburn
Love Robin Benway's books. This is an extremely fun, frothy spy thriller with excellent supporting characters. It's all sorted by the end, but I think there are the doings here for a great series a la Gallagher Girls.
LibraryThing member readingdate
Also Known As features Benway’s trademark humor and this time centers on a family of spies. I found it highly enjoyable, witty and fresh, and AKA even made me LOL at times. ;)
I expected AKA to be a kind of funny Heist Society type novel, with lots of gadgets and dangerous missions. Where this
There’s a great cast of characters in AKA. Maggie has a mentor and coffee buddy in the forger Angelo, and Maggie’s parents walk the line between over-protective mom and dad, and stern bosses. Maggie is clever and sarcastic and is used to talking to adults all day. Her new friends are independent and loner types (but the filthy rich kind) like her. But together they click as a band of misfits.
I loved the smart and snappy dialogue in AKA. The novel flows in a conversational and easy way and is a quick and fun read. Benway’s wit shines through the pages, and the story is full of action, friendship, and heart. The New York setting is also used to advantage with several scenes taking place in familiar landmarks. I found it humorous that Maggie has to be a “spy” for her Halloween costume and doesn’t know how to dress the part.
In addition to Maggie torn between the spy world and wanting a normal life, there’s also a mystery to solve and the clock’s ticking. The stakes are high for her family and for the first time Maggie has friends that she doesn’t want to let down.
I think anyone that enjoys humorous YA contemporary books will love Also Known As. The spy twist is fresh and a blast to read. And even though there is a sequel in the works, this book has a satisfying conclusion on its own. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Full review can be find at The Reading Date
I expected AKA to be a kind of funny Heist Society type novel, with lots of gadgets and dangerous missions. Where this
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book is a little different is that the main character gets to experience a normal life for the first time. She’s always lived the life of an international spy, never putting down roots anywhere. Now she’s getting her first taste of high school and being around teenagers, and it’s out of her comfort zone but in a good way.There’s a great cast of characters in AKA. Maggie has a mentor and coffee buddy in the forger Angelo, and Maggie’s parents walk the line between over-protective mom and dad, and stern bosses. Maggie is clever and sarcastic and is used to talking to adults all day. Her new friends are independent and loner types (but the filthy rich kind) like her. But together they click as a band of misfits.
I loved the smart and snappy dialogue in AKA. The novel flows in a conversational and easy way and is a quick and fun read. Benway’s wit shines through the pages, and the story is full of action, friendship, and heart. The New York setting is also used to advantage with several scenes taking place in familiar landmarks. I found it humorous that Maggie has to be a “spy” for her Halloween costume and doesn’t know how to dress the part.
In addition to Maggie torn between the spy world and wanting a normal life, there’s also a mystery to solve and the clock’s ticking. The stakes are high for her family and for the first time Maggie has friends that she doesn’t want to let down.
I think anyone that enjoys humorous YA contemporary books will love Also Known As. The spy twist is fresh and a blast to read. And even though there is a sequel in the works, this book has a satisfying conclusion on its own. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Full review can be find at The Reading Date
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LibraryThing member JenRyland
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher for review.
I'm crazy about anything that has to do with spies.I'm also a big fan of Robin Benway's books. If you haven't read Audrey, Wait! and The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, you should definitely add them to your list.
I adored
If you've read Audrey, Wait!, you might remember Victoria, Audrey's outrageous BFF. In Also Known As, Maggie meets the equally outrageous Roux. She's an outcast after getting caught up in some serious Girl Drama, and she offers to be Maggie's friend. This seems like a bad idea, but then Roux turns out to be a really endearing and hilarious character. This is a funny book, but I think I laughed at Roux's lines more than anyone's.
Then there's Jesse. He's also not what he seems to be. This was probably my favorite part of the book -- watching Maggie figure out if there was any way to carry out her assignment and not break Jesse's heart. I was so nervous, wondering what she was going to do. To me, that was more suspenseful than the spy stuff -- which was suspenseful too. And -- shocker -- this book actually had a resolution. I was not expecting that, but I loved it!
If you're a fan of books like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series and Heist Society series, you should definitely try Also Known As.
Full review is on my blog, YA Romantics
If you love spy books, check out my full list of YA books about spies, assassins and secret agents.
I'm crazy about anything that has to do with spies.I'm also a big fan of Robin Benway's books. If you haven't read Audrey, Wait! and The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, you should definitely add them to your list.
I adored
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Maggie, the main character in AKA. She's grown up globe-trotting with her spy parents, watching them work, and they've given her little jobs to do, but she's dying to prove herself. So when they tell Maggie that has her first solo assignment, she's beyond thrilled. All she has to do is locate this new classmate of hers, Jesse, and get into his father's safe. Since Maggie has a special talent for locks, she's confident she can do it. First, though, she'll have to survive high school. If you've read Audrey, Wait!, you might remember Victoria, Audrey's outrageous BFF. In Also Known As, Maggie meets the equally outrageous Roux. She's an outcast after getting caught up in some serious Girl Drama, and she offers to be Maggie's friend. This seems like a bad idea, but then Roux turns out to be a really endearing and hilarious character. This is a funny book, but I think I laughed at Roux's lines more than anyone's.
Then there's Jesse. He's also not what he seems to be. This was probably my favorite part of the book -- watching Maggie figure out if there was any way to carry out her assignment and not break Jesse's heart. I was so nervous, wondering what she was going to do. To me, that was more suspenseful than the spy stuff -- which was suspenseful too. And -- shocker -- this book actually had a resolution. I was not expecting that, but I loved it!
If you're a fan of books like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series and Heist Society series, you should definitely try Also Known As.
Full review is on my blog, YA Romantics
If you love spy books, check out my full list of YA books about spies, assassins and secret agents.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ftbooklover
Also Known As is a fast-paced fun story about a family of spies. Maggie and her parents have been spies for as long as she can remember. Her special talent as a safe cracker and lock picking prodigy make her invaluable to her parents, but their next assignment takes them to New York where Maggie
Show More
must go undercover as a high school student in order to stop the printing of a newspaper article that is about to be written unveiling the organization that Maggie and her parents work for called "The Collective." When Maggie falls for her "target," Jesse, and makes more than a pretend friendship with a sassy loner named Roux, things get more complicated than Maggie ever imagined. This story has lots of action and scenes that are both funny and poignant. Overall a nice light and enjoyable read. Show Less
Awards
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2014)
Original publication date
2013-02-26
Physical description
320 p.; 8.47 inches
ISBN
0802733905 / 9780802733900