Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

London, 1967: Sixteen-year-old Kitty Granger has always known that others consider her peculiar. She hates noise and crowds, tends to fixate on patterns, and often feels acutely aware of her surroundings even as she struggles to interpret the behavior of people around her. As a working-class girl in London’s East End, she’s spent her whole life learning to hide these traits. Until the day when she notices the mysterious man on the bus and finds herself following him, driven to know why he seems so out of place…only to accidentally uncover the location of a Russian spy ring.

When Kitty’s keen observation and quick thinking help her survive a dangerous encounter, two secret agents working for Her Majesty’s government offer her a job in their espionage operation.

Kitty's first mission pits her against a conspiracy led by a prominent politician―who's also a secret fascist. With help from an unusual team of fellow spies, Kitty must use her wits, training, and instincts to get out alive. And she might as well save the country while she's at it.

Review:

What a book!  Set in nineteen-sixties London, Kitty Granger is introduced to the world of Cold War spies and conspiracies, where she is uniquely qualified to succeed.  Kitty, although it doesn't explicitly say so, is autistic.  In her regular existence, she is considered strange, and a burden by her protective father.  But, in the world of espionage, her unusual traits are valued.  This was a fun, and exciting book.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Who doesn't love London's swinging sixties?  The mod fashion, music, and general feelings of optimism and change are apparent in the details from the author.  Growing up in London's East End (a very poor area), Kitty is used to scraping by in life.  Despite this, her neighborhood is comfortable and home.  I loved that Kitty instantly felt at ease when she met another fellow East Ender.  

The Sixties were a time of great change in England.  As more immigrants started to settle in England, some people became alarmed by what they considered an invasion of foreigners.  A reactionary element in politics gained momentum.  This is the political climate in which the novel takes place, and it becomes important to the progression of the story.  The author did a good job of explaining the foundations of this movement to the reader.

Characters:

Kitty is autistic.  The book does a wonderful job of describing how Kitty sees the world.  She uses many different coping skills when she becomes overwhelmed.  But the author also highlights many positive aspects of Kitty's mind.  She can focus intently on an issue, and notices small details that others miss.  She can also mimic other's voices, and has an amazing memory.  I love how the author shows that Kitty can use her talents when others give her a chance.  

But some situations are more challenging than others.  Kitty has to really think through social interactions before understanding what others expect out of her.  Loud noises and large crowds can trigger a panic.   This is really stressful for Kitty.  I could empathize with her struggle to maintain control.  Having just finished The Queen's Gambit on Netflix, I can see Anya Taylor Joy as Kitty.

One of the other stand-out characters, in my opinion, is Mrs. Singh.  She is a glamorous, independent woman.  I could definitely see Jameela Jamil playing this character in a movie.  Calm, and always prepared, she was such a great role-model for Kitty.

Story:

I love a good spy story.  I found Kitty's training: learning martial arts, how to fire a gun, and using spy gadgets, to be really fun.  The part of the story where Kitty finally gets to use all her training as she goes undercover was exciting.  I couldn't put the book down!  

Strangely, the plot central to the book is rather timely.  Fascists push the slogan, Britain for the British, a racist reaction to immigration.  Groups of these people are plotting something big to create change,  I do not want to spoil it, but what happens echoes events happening today.

A Note about this novel's category designation:  This book is being marketed as young adult fiction.  But it would also be very appropriate for middle grade readers.  There is no cursing, and I think younger readers in middle school will enjoy the action.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  March 2nd, 2021

Author:  G.D. Falksen

Publisher:  Carolrhoda Lab

Genre:  YA Historical Fiction

Page Length:  280 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This was a fun novel that I hope will become a series.  I would follow any adventure where Kitty Granger is headed!  Read this book!