The 16th Academy ~ Review with Excerpt

The 16th Academy
By Spencer Yacos

Davy Prince is living a life most would not believe, unless they too, were attached to Eastway Academy. Having been a "student" since he was 13 years old Davy is anything but a typical student. He and his fellow classmates are a well-trained group of agents. And most missions meet with success.

But after one mission things begin to change with their next assignment. Their assignment takes them to San Pablo where years before the 10th Academy never returned from a similar mission. And when things begin to go wrong questions are raised about a traitor in their midsts. But who would want them dead and why?

But when their mission goes even further off course Davy finds himself in a most unlikely situation one where he must decide whom he distrusts the most if he is to survive.

Tweens and teens who love the action and adventure of teen spies will enjoy this debut offering from Spencer Yacos. The danger is physical, emotional, and mental. In this deadly game who you trust could very well determine who will live. As the story progresses the intensity builds for a climatic end that is clearly the first in a series that will keep the reader in anticipation of what comes next. I highly recommend this book for mystery and suspense fans. Though for aimed at teens I feel many adult readers will enjoy this book as well.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Eastway Academy, a shadowy organization steeped in espionage, values obedience above all else. Although a well-trained agent in his third year, 16-year-old Davy Prince struggles to find his morals when every mission seems to put innocent lives at risk. How will Davy react when sabotage turns an already risky job into an all-out struggle for survival?

About the Author:

Spencer Yacos is proud to be publishing his debut novel at Cedar Fort. He has been writing on the local level as well as for magazines such as Teen Ink. Spencer was also accepted into the Emerging Writers Institute at Brown University over the summer of 2015. He looks forward to continuing with the series as he heads off to study in college.

Author Residence: Wyckoff, NJ

Excerpt:

“Camelot is ready. The operation is a go,” a voice crackled through the
transceiver in my ear. The mission was being initiated and a part of me was
annoyed. Only halfway through my fried chicken, I was still pretty hungry. I
hadn’t eaten since the night before, since the plane ride down that morning
served no breakfast. Given that I was going to meet with a drug kingpin in a
few minutes, the last thing I wanted was for my stomach to be growling.
I sat in the first floor food court of the Franklin Building, El Paso’s premier
commercial block and the headquarters of the global fast food chain Beef n’
Wings. It was just after noon and the area stirred with visitors eager for their
lunch. From my position I could see two other field agents, the only other two
in the building. Far off to my right, just outside the crowds and colorful
cacophony of restaurants, a hulking teenaged boy seemed to have the same
idea I had as he snacked on a beef hot dog from one of the stands. He wore
a blue hard hat, with matching blue overalls and heavy-looking harnesses
which clung to his body. At his side he loosely held a squeegee as well as
some napkins, presumably for his meal. After taking a big gulp, his lips began
to move. It was much too noisy in the food court to pick up any word he was
saying naturally, but on the transceiver I could hear him perfectly. Percival is
ready. Let’s get this over with.”