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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Real Spies Don’t Use Rowboats by Jeffrey Hope is a heartfelt, humorous, and charming ode to childhood adventure. The story follows two brothers, John and Sam, who live in a quiet coastal town in Maine. They spend their summer on imaginative adventures inspired by their love of James Bond. Their lives change when their outboard motor, Evin, is destroyed by the Johnson boys, who run it without oil. The boys are devastated but receive a smaller outboard motor from their Aunt Susan for Christmas. Despite its slower speed, they continue their adventures and learn valuable lessons about resilience, friendship, and the importance of taking care of what matters to them. The story is filled with humor, sibling dynamics, and the joys and challenges of growing up in small-town America.
This is an engaging tale of youth’s creativity and resilience. Jeffrey Hope expertly captures his young protagonists’ humor, innocence, and determination. Through their misadventures, the boys learn teamwork, perseverance, and the value of looking out for one another, even as they argue over who gets to be James Bond for the day. Real Spies Don’t Use Rowboats is a fun book for young adults and anyone who grew up in the pre-technology era when playing outside was a part of everyday life. The nostalgia is deeply ingrained and will bring back pleasant childhood memories. It’s a reminder of the power of imagination and the joy of finding summer-day adventures. Hope rekindles the carefree days of childhood with engaging prose and laugh-out-loud moments. Real Spies Don’t Use Rowboats is a book you’ll want to read again and again. I know I will.
