The Spies That Bind by Ally Carter
The Audible Original audiobook titled The Spies That Bind by Ally Carter tells the humorous, creative story of Cammie Morgan, a 12-year old girl who recently enrolled in the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. The story begins with the tale of a young woman named Gillian Gallagher, the original Gallagher Girl, who saves Abraham Lincoln from an assassination attempt. This moment in history begins the story of the Gallagher Girls, a group of female spies made up of the most brilliant girls in the world. After telling the tale of Gillian Gallagher, the story picks up with Cammie Morgan’s first days at the Gallagher Academy. Cammie’s father has gone silent on a mission and everyone besides Cammie believes him to be dead. Cammie’s mother, one of the best spies in the world, has accepted the position of headmistress at the school. At the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, Cammie meets Liz, a genius raised by non-spy parents. Liz is self-conscious and does not believe she fits in at Gallagher Academy. Part of Cammie’s mission is to show Liz that Gallagher Academy is lucky to have her. Then there is Bex, the mysterious British girl who already seems to know everything there is to know about being a spy. However, there are still some things Cammie can show her about being a friend.
This audiobook is the prequel to a series about the Gallagher Girls. I would recommend this story to any middle schooler or young adult who wants a quick, entertaining tale to listen to in the car or while exercising. I listened to it on the treadmill! The narration is perfect and I found myself wanting to be a Gallagher Girl myself. This story is feminist because it encourages girls to use their physical, mental, and emotional strengths to make changes in the world. None of the female characters are weak. Even the token mean girl at Gallagher Academy is simply misunderstood and deserves a second chance. At first, I was worried this would be another book that pits female characters against each other. While the characters face conflict, they also work together to save each other. Listen to this audiobook with a group of friends and laugh at the quirky humor and perfectly timed references to modern adolescence.
Reference
Carter, A (2015). The Spies That Bind. Audible Studios.