What This Book Is About
Eleven-year-old twins Kensy and Max are agents-in-training with Pharos, a covert international spy network. Their parents are still missing, and the twins still have no answers about where they have gone. A school trip to Rome looks like a welcome distraction from all of that, right up until it stops being one.
In Rome the twins come across a runaway boy and hints of Mafia involvement, and a harmless excursion turns into real work. Jacqueline Harvey writes with the pace and wit of a junior spy thriller, packing chapters with puzzles, plot twists, and just enough danger to keep pages turning quickly. This is the second Kensy and Max book, following Breaking News, so readers who take to it have a series ahead of them rather than a single story.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
Kensy and Max is an ideal gateway to independent chapter book reading for G4 students. The spy adventure format hooks reluctant readers with action and mystery, while the 342-page length builds the reading stamina that international school curricula increasingly demand. Because this is a series, students who finish one book have more waiting, which turns into months of engaged, voluntary reading.
The story also crosses borders, with much of this book set in Rome, reflecting the internationally mobile lives of many UWC families. The twins have to find their way in an unfamiliar city and language while solving problems through teamwork and critical thinking, values that sit at the heart of UWC's educational philosophy. There is a quieter thread running underneath as well: the twins are carrying the unexplained disappearance of their own parents, which is the kind of loss a nine-year-old can take seriously without being overwhelmed by it.
Reading Level Guide
Too challenging at A1. The plot twists and spy vocabulary need more reading experience. Start with Magic Tree House or Junie B. Jones first.
The sweet spot. The fast-paced action carries you through unfamiliar words, and the spy plot and its puzzles make reading feel like a game.
A breezy, fun read at B2. Great for pleasure reading between more demanding texts.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.