Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans by Russell Ginns

Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans (Samantha Spinner, #1)

by Russell Ginns

Get ready for round-the-world adventure with Sam Spinner and her brother Nipper in the first book in a new hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and classics like Holes.

Samantha Spinner's uncle Paul disappeared, and here's what he left:
* Samantha's sister got a check for $2,400,000,000.
* Samantha's brother got the New York Yankees.
* And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says "Watch out for the RAIN."

Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.

After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they've shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message?

The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it's that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella, and never trust a monkey at a hula-hoop contest.

The RAIN is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans.

Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans:

"A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles...[that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers." --Kirkus Reviews

"Full of adventure and survival,...[and with] characters [that] are likable, realistic, and well rounded...[Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues." --School Library Journal

Reviewed by Leah on

3 of 5 stars

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I have to be completely honest here, while I enjoyed Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans, it was probably too young for me; I’m a very literal adult, and just the whole concept of a kid being given $2.4 billion blows my mind, as is the case in the beginning of Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans. However, I think this is perfect for its target audience – I think kids will devour this mystery, traversing the world with Samantha and her little brother, Nipper. It’s filled with secret passageways, high-speed modes of transport where you can reach Paris, from Seattle, in thirty minutes, and ninjas. Everything is better with ninjas.

The whole concept of Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans is brilliant – their Uncle Paul goes missing and Samantha is determined to uncover the mystery, it’s the first in a brand-new series and it’s AMAZING to see a girl character be the one chasing down ninjas, with her little brother for company. It’s brilliant that other girls can read this and be empowered that THEY can be the heroes. I loved Samantha, she was so tenacious and determined and I saw a GoodReads review refer to her as Kim Possible and I can totally see the connection and I LOVED Kim Possible, just because I feel like I need to say that.

I did enjoy Samantha Spinner, and I would have lapped this up when I was a kid – it’s so good to see more adventure books like this, because they’re SO much fun, you can proper get lost in them, away from the real world madness. I’ll definitely be picking up the second book – I may be too old for this book, but you will NOT stop me from going on more adventures with Sam and Nipper (and Dennis the dog).

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 December, 2017: Finished reading
  • 3 December, 2017: Reviewed