Customer Reviews

Spyology (Ologies)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Spying is one of the oldest professions in the world: evidence dates back millennia (which is truly unfortunate for a secret activity should leave no trace)."

The art of spying and secret identities is one of those typical and wonderfully creative childhood fantasies. With SPYOLOGY, young people now have a fun and fascinating introduction and guide to the fantasy. This large book is chock-a-block full of information, games and stories to inspire and challenge. Like all the volumes in the 'Ologies series, readers will come across fantastic illustrations and flaps and pockets galore in these pages. The red jewel on the cover is even a "magnifying filter decoder" that can be used to find hidden messages and pictures in the book.

SPYOLOGY, the publisher tells us, is actually a declassified document. It was the book of a spy named "Spencer Blake" on a top-secret mission that no nation will claim. The first thing spies-in-training will find is the mission he received, still in the envelope marked "top secret."

Mixed in with Blake's notes is information on a variety of spycraft topics such as secret intelligence organizations, disguises, surveillance, codes, information gathering, gadgets, the history of spying and much more. There are several short case studies, spy glasses for disguise tucked neatly in a pocket, paper clues and pieces of ephemera. There are also codes to crack and secret messages, notes and letters to and from Spencer Blake, bills of counterfeit money and a wheel to decipher codex codes.

SPYOLOGY can be read as an adventure story, as a manual for learning the craft of espionage, or leafed through item by item as it catches the reader's eye. It is a book that children (and adults) can easily get lost in!

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

I got this for my boyfriend's 7-year-old. It was his first Ologies book and he couldn't love it more. He's able to figure out some of the really awesome codes and puzzles but not most (I would imagine most kids under 10 would need at least a little help.) He enjoys all the fiddly stuff the series is famous for. Six months later and he's not technically read the book from front to back, but it's easily his favorite. As far as he's concerned, just owning this very official-and-expensive-looking volume is enough to make him feel like he's privy to insider information. He finds great fun in wondering if the stuff is real or not, and has begged and begged for more Ologies. (Dragonology, Mythology, and Egyptology are waiting to be opened for his 8th birthday.) Ologies books are worth the money, and an easy no-brainer gift if you happen to know the kid's interests.

My son started collecting the 'ology' books a couple years ago and was most excited about this one. They are great books for kids!

I thought this might be a little too easy for my 11 year old, but he loved the book. I thought he might read through it once and be done, but he's gone back to it several times to re-read codes and the cool hidden case in the book. It's really clever--he's not one to read for fun, so it's great to see him poring over a book on his own volition.

This was a gift for a 9 year old boy and he absolutely loves it!

I'm a big fan of the whole series of "Ologies," as are my two grandsons. The eldest one specifically requested this book and was not disappointed. After spending several days immersed in it, he proclaimed it a "great book."

As anyone who has boys will tell you the Ology series is absoultely wonderful for boys ages 5+ my newphew has collected, all but has not received the Spyology book until his birthday. It was the most exciting gift he opened until the DIJI was opened. Girls love then too.

Another masterful interactive and informative ...ology book. Lots of pull-outs, open-ups, pop-up and remove-its to play with! Hours of educational fun.

My husband and I have been collecting and enjoying the 'ology books since they first came out. Spyology is our favorite. So much to explore and discover!

My granddaughter came for a summer visit and brought some library books with her, including "Mythology." She was so excited about it and showed it to me. I decided to buy it for her and we saw the "Spyology" book. She was interested in it too, so I got it for her as well. Both books arrived before she returned home and it was so special to get her something she really liked.