Lois Wickstrom has once again taken me back to being a young person. I so very much enjoyed this very adorable chapter book. It was full of amazing characters, a little mystery, friendship, loyalty, acceptance, and all the things that being a kid encompass. Lois has written the story so beautifully that illustrations aren’t necessary. If you’ve got a young person, ages 7-10 (or any age, really, if they’re interested, of course) I highly recommend this book (like allllll her other books) be added to your library. She is an amazing author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Manda Kellyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngManda Kelly2024-03-05 11:51:412024-03-07 08:56:19The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Manda Kelly
I have read many of Lois Wickstrom’s picture books with my son. They have always been a hit with us. This is no different! This book was fun and witty. It kept my son’s attention (and mine as well). This book was a great adventure and flowed beautifully. Of course since it is a chapter book, it doesn’t have pictures. It’s all left up to your imagination. The job of an author is to weave details into the story so you feel like you are there with the characters. Lois did not disappoint!
Timmy Covert is a young man in sixth grade, he is currently staying with his Grandma while his parents are away and his life with her is slightly unusual, especially when he finds out that his Grandma has bought a rat called Hildegarde, but he doesn’t find out from her, he finds out when the little rat starts scraping the wall under his bed in the middle of the night, it also just happens that it is the same night as an earthquake hits Pillow, Pennsylvania, the town where Timmy lives with his Grandma!
As Timmy and his Grandma start to train Hildegarde, the neighbour next door starts acting in a suspicious way and so they decide to send Hildegarde in to see what is going on, so this is where Hildegarde’s training begins with earnest, but that is not the only thing, which is strange in Pillow, a mysterious woman who speaks German and an FBI agent turn up on the Covert’s doorstep asking questions and showing interest in strange things, not to mention that Timmy is still going to school and spending time with his friends and family all at the same time.
Will Timmy and his Grandma be able to train Hildegarde and make her some miniature spy equipment in time to solve the mystery of the earthquakes and the next-door neighbours’ antics? This is a cozy mystery with a cute animal and her reluctant trainer as you follow along through this tangled web and become a reluctant spy yourself.
Adventurous Read! I just love this author and how she is able to draw you and keep you to the end. This story is more of a chapter book geared towards elementary age. Great introduction into chapter books. Recommended to all readers. Looking forward to the next great read.
Adventurous Read! I just love this author and how she is able to draw you and keep you to the end. This story is more of a chapter book geared towards elementary age. Great introduction into chapter books. Recommended to all readers. Looking forward to the next great read.
This was a fun read about a boy named Timothy who finds a rat under his bed. He’s afraid of his grandmother finding it and screaming so he’s doing everything he can to get it out of the house. Grandma already knows about the rat though and she’s telling Timothy how this is a special rat. Hildegard is going to take them on adventures and help solve a mystery plaguing the community.
This is a longer read by this author. An emerging chapter reader could easily follow along with this book. There are a few German words scattered throughout, which is a great way to garner interest in a new language. True to this author’s style, there are also STEM components in this story.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Julie Johnsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJulie Johnson2024-03-03 21:07:512024-03-25 11:27:30The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson
This book is another fantastic, adventurous piece written by this author. It has adventure along with teaching you something as well. The characters are relatable and like someone you would meet on the street. My daughter loves this author.
My family and I have read several picture books by this author, so we were extremely excited to see her branch out into chapter books. I was a little hesitant as picture books are quite different, but pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this even more! My kids are 8 and 12, and I’m obviously a tad older, but we all gathered around and read this book in one day. I loved the cover immediately, and once I read the synopsis, I knew we were going on an adventure! The flow of the story is marvelous and seamless. I never felt jolted out by an oddly placed fact or chapter. This was such a fun and mysterious adventure where you’ll have a lot of questions that will absolutely get answered. I highly recommend picking this up for the younger ones in your life whether that’s in your family or in a classroom!
The Reluctant Spy is a children’s chapter book full of mystery, suspense, excitement, a mad scientist, a rat trainer, and mysterious earthquakes. The story centers around Timmy, his grandma, and their pet rat named Hildegarde who is smarter than the average rat. Timmy and his grandma set out to uncover what is causing mysterious earthquakes in their small town. The adventure sees Timmy setting Hildegarde off to the mad scientist’s house outfitted with special spy gear. Hildegarde might be the only one who is able to find out the truth. The story is fun, entertaining and enjoyable with a mix of quirky characters added throughout. Timmy and Hildegarde have a special bond even though he was uncertain about having a rat in the house in the first place. Grandma is quite an interesting character with her sense of humor and witty attitude. An enjoyable read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tara Johnson Barneshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTara Johnson Barnes2024-03-03 18:22:132024-03-25 11:32:04The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes
I loved this chapter book from Lois Wickstrom, its such a different read from her. In this book we meet Timmy and Grandma as they train their pet rat Hildegarde to discover the cause of the earthquakes. I really enjoyed this book I would recommend it for older children aged 8-12 years.
Here I am again enjoying yet another great read from the author Lois Wickstrom. I have read multiple books from this brilliant Author but mostly the picture books. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw she had written a chapter book. It’s awesome because I got to read it with my older nephew who usually enjoys the other books also. We both found it to be a very Unique and interesting book. We read it in about 2 days, reading before bed. As always I love how the author always adds in some learning aspects.i look forward to reading more from her both picture and chapter books 🥰🥰
I am always a fan of the author’s picture books, so when I had a chance to read her youth chapter book, I was so excited and she definitely did not disappoint. I thought she did a wonderful job of weaving together a delightful and amusing tale that children of all ages will enjoy. I do miss the illustrations from her picture books, but the author did an amazing job of creating a well written and vivid story. I absolutely loved all of the zany and fun characters she blended together. The interactions between Timmy and Hildegarde absolutely cracked me up and I found his Grandma a really fun and interesting character. I absolutely enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone looking to read a cute and engaging story with fun messages for kids woven within.
I absolutely love Hildegarde the rat and Grandma…though I do have a soft spot for pet rats 🙂 Wickstrom has done it again with her chapter books…I love reading a chapter or two with my kiddos at night or during our weekly reading time. Wickstrom’s books (picture and chapter) are so engaging and have so many lessons woven throughout them. I love Grandma’s sense of wit throughout the book and I feel that Hildegarde had her own wit as well. Timmy’s first meeting with Hildegarde made both myself and my kids giggle and I love his reluctance to really trust “a rat.” I really miss the illustrations of Wickstrom’s picture books because they are just so well done (I know, I know…it’s a chapter book…but who says you can’t have pictures too!). This is a great read for anyone wanting to spend some quality time with their kiddos. It really does make for a great read aloud. Reviewed by @meggs1717
The Reluctant Spy is a fun chapter book aimed for children ages 7-12 but I think children of any age can enjoy this story. This author is one of our favorites so we had to read it This one doesn’t have colorful illustrations to go along with the story but that didn’t stop my son and his imagination. Follow along with Timmy on his adventure of a lifetime when he finds a very special mouse named Hildegarde. What happens when they find themselves on a spy mission? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. We look forward to reading more from this Author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Dawn Daughenbaughhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDawn Daughenbaugh2024-03-01 04:16:312024-03-25 11:14:10The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh
A delightful read! A boy with his pet rat that he is training to become a spy. We enjoyed partaking on the adventure with Timmy, his grandmother, and Hildegarde. It was a quirky good time that me and my children enjoyed reading together. There were lots of laughs throughout the story. It is good to be able to continue enjoying the imagination of Lois Wickstrom in chapter book format. She is a favorite author of my family.
I was excited when I found out this author had branched into chapter books, as my daughter has just moved onto these style books. And as a favourite author of ours, this was a must read. It was a shame to lose the illustrations from her stories (just because they are so good!) But the story was just as engaging and entertaining as her others. It was great that I could read this with her and it felt like we were both able to connect with the characters. The story was entertaining and yet, as always, held a positive message for children to learn. And now I know the author has other books available, we will definitely be reading more.
The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom. This is a little bit different type of book from this author. Its for a little older kids who are just getting into chapter reading. Its the story of boy named Timmy and his pet rat Hildegarde and they are trying to uncover the cause of all the earthquakes in their town. This book is geared towards 8-12 year olds and its full of imagination, quirky characters and lots of fun. Will Timmy and Hildegarde be able to solve the mystery of all the earthquakes? Read this fun chapter book to find out. Its also a great book for families to read together or teachers to read to classes. I love this author and try to pick up all her books for my nephews.
The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom is a fun little children’s chapter book. It’s a little different from most of her other works as it doesn’t contain any illustrations, and yet again, the story is original and imaginative. It is also a much longer story than her picture books, so it’s great for reading a chapter or two at bedtime. This is an intriguing fantasy with a spy adventure element, mystery, action, suspense, a mad scientist, a little danger, a sprinkle of drama, imagination, friendship, loyalty, values, family, investigation, and a little danger. Timmy finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime when he discovers a ‘special’ rat named Hildegarde at his grandmother’s house, then finds himself in the middle of a spy mission to uncover a mad scientist…What happens makes for a fun read. Happy Reading…
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2024-02-20 00:32:342024-03-20 10:27:33The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Hayes
Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom is a delightful and charming story that follows the unlikely spy duo of a young boy named Timmy and a pet rat Hildegarde as they try to uncover the mystery behind the earthquakes in their town of Pillow, PA.
The storyline is engaging and fast-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Timmy and Hildegarde encounter a host of quirky characters, from a mysterious German rat trainer to a chocolate-loving girl. The bond between Timmy and Hildegarde is heartwarming and genuine, making readers root for them every step of the way.
Wickstrom’s writing is witty and lighthearted, with a dash of humor that adds to the overall charm of the story. The plot twists keep readers guessing, and the resolution is satisfying and heartwarming.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Crainhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Crain2024-02-19 20:41:002024-03-20 10:26:47The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain
An entertaining story of a rat turned spy. There are so many fun characters in the story that make this fun. My grandson really enjoyed this when we read it at bedtime. He chuckled at the adventures. He thought the German Rat Training lady was funny. A neat addition to the family or classroom libraries.
Apparently, there is “a smell of mystery in the air” and Grandma is determined to find out what it is. So much so that she has bought Hildegarde in to help. It is a fun, mystery tale where everything is not as it seems. It is 180 pages of adventure and entertainment. The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom is aimed for children aged 7 – 12 years. What secrets does Timmy’s family hold? How does Grandma know what she knows? Can you actually smell mystery? Can you train a rat to be a spy? Who or What is Hildegarde? Where are Timmy’s parents? These are all very good questions which will be revealed as you sit and read this story.
Timmy’s Pet Rat Doesn’t Want to be a Spy. But Nobody Else Can Sneak into the Mad Scientist’s Home.
Timmy and Grandma train their pet rat Hildegarde to discover who or what is causing earthquakes in Pillow, PA. They meet a mysterious German rat trainer, a crazy inventor, an FBI agent who specializes in aliens, and a cholocate-eating girl.
They work hard to train the rat. They build spy equipment small enough for the rat. But when it’s time to send her on her mission, does she have all the skills she’ll need?
Watch Hildegarde, the rat, do her best to save the day.
Lois Wickstrom lives in a world where imaginary playmates are real. She doesn’t remember being born, so she finds unbirthdays are more exciting than the official once-a-year date on the calendar. She’s taken so many science classes that she believes science is the solution to almost every problem, including the dilemmas in fairy tales.
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