Under the Radar: The Spy Drone Adventure

by Blaine C. Readler

Overview

Jared believes he's found every kid's dream when he unwittingly steals a miniature spy drone. What he and his sarcastic friend Russell don't realize, however, is that while they are exploring spaces too small for even a mouse or eavesdropping from the coat collar of a criminal, there are others who want the spy drone for their own, sinister purposes and will stop at nothing to get it. Caught between rogue terrorists and an overzealous military intelligence officer, the boys must use the tiny drone to thwart the terrorist's plans and reveal the true nature of the military agent. Based on real technology and bubbling over with spy suspense, this tale of two friends and their discoveries explores the importance of friendship, discerning right from wrong, and the risks it is sometimes necessary to take for justice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933255187
Publisher:	Dna Press
Publication date:	05/28/2006
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Blaine C. Readler is an electronics engineering consultant, a blues guitarist, and the author of Monsters in the Attic. He lives in San Diego, California.

Editorial Reviews

When this story begins, it is a standard coming-of-age adventure. Jared Martin really wants to be with his father Ted, but he resents being treated like a child and sent to amuse himself while his father is at some secret meeting. The father is breaking rules just admitting Jared to the office—his job involves top-secret government affairs. Poking around the office, Jared finds something that interests him, something labeled "trash," so he picks it up and puts it in his pocket. Later, alone in his room, he inspects it carefully. He is sure that it is a computer part, or maybe even a whole computer, but he cannot make it do anything. He cannot even turn it on. Fortunately, his best friend Russ is brilliant and loves computers so Jared calls him and puts him to work. Their conversation turns to sports, especially football, which Jared now claims to dislike. Russ is surprised and asks if his new hatred might have been triggered by his mother's new husband's love of the game. Jared denies this but to the adult reader, Russ's perspicacity is simply too much for a young teenager. Then Russ discovers how this device works and suddenly the scene shifts. We are back at Ted's office, and he is in big trouble. It seems that the device Jared lifted was not trash but something very new and very important—and very dangerous. Many people want it; they are not all honest people or scrupulous people and they do not care who gets hurt. The scene shifts again. The new protagonist is Sara, a newly-hired agent with the CIA, who fears that her new assignment is nothing more than glorified babysitting. It is not, of course. Her contact is a young woman whose husband may or may not be in touch withterrorists who would very much like to get hold of Jared's little device. This is an exciting story, very timely, and very readable in spite of the constant switch in points of view.

Children's Literature - Judy Silverman