PORTES, Andrea. Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind of) Liked Me. 400p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Jun. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062421999.

Gr 10 Up –Paige is a college student who has had anything but a typical life. Her journalist parents ensured she learned five languages, earned a black belt in martial arts, and acquired a healthy skepticism of American involvement in international affairs. Paige’s distrust of the government is heightened with the disappearance of her parents, who were captured by terrorists. Are they even still alive? Paige may have been given the chance to find out. The catch? She is to become a spy, fly to Russia, and get close to Sean Raynes, a whistle-blower for America’s spying program. The assignment gets complicated when the two begin to fall into a real relationship, only for the protagonist to discover that her ultimate directive is to kill Sean. The ending is left open for a sequel. Audiences will appreciate the multilayered plot and cultural references. Paige’s misadventures through training and missions keep readers turning pages in this fast-paced spy drama. Dialogue is fresh and funny, lending an authentic voice to the unexpected heroine. No enemy is safe from Paige’s brains, wit, and heart of gold. Portes deftly weaves a story of an unlikely spy, and readers will be convinced that being recruited by a top-secret government agency for a potentially deadly international mission is possible—and totally fun. Fans of Libba Bray will enjoy the sharp banter and eclectic cultural observations. VERDICT An entertaining girl-power, kick-butt, espionage romp that belongs in all libraries.–Carrie Finberg, South Park High School, PA

This review was published in the School Library Journal April 2017 issue.