The Spy Wore Shades

It's almost impossible to say what's best about this little gem. Dougie accidently encounters Varloo, who is from a secret Druid cave. She is visiting Earth to make sure that "extros" (Earthlings) aren't doing anything that would endanger her civilization. Dougie helps Varloo as she has Earth experiences, such as Oreos and the mini-mart, while he learns about her culture, which communicates by singing. Carine Montbertrand is sublime as she portrays kids from diverse backgrounds, whose vocabulary ranges from ancient speech patterns to Dougie's "holy guacamole." Everything about her rendering is kid-like, including pace and emotion. Sheer delight. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

July 9, 2001
Freeman's (Fourth Grade Weirdo) fantasy falters under numerous contrivances. The perpetually hungry and bumbling 12-year-old Varloo, by happenstance the youngest Spy in the history of Hek (an underground Druid cave civilization), emerges from that realm to gather information on the Extros (humans) in suburban Nova Albion (California). Wearing her long Druid gown, Varloo quickly loses both her glasses and the company of the sacred cat, Osi, after a tumble in the creek. She is saved by an 11-year-old boy named Dougie, who hides her in his tree house (coincidentally, his younger brother, Judah, rescues the cat). Though Hekians are taught to regard Extros as enemies never to be trusted, Varloo blabs her mission to Dougie almost immediately and enlists his help. Interest picks up as Dougie pieces together rumors, dating to Gold Rush days, of man-eating trolls on Spook Hill (site of the portal to Hek), stumbles upon Sir Francis Drake's role in bringing the Druids to California; and tries to subvert planned development of Spook Hill, which would destroy Hek. Humorous moments ensue as Varloo discovers mini-marts and junk food, but the claims of friendship between Varloo and Dougie seem exaggerated, given the evidence. The Druids' awkward songs and hokey archaic English grow increasingly grating, a constant reminder of the far-fetched quality of the plot. Ages 8-up.