'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Monday 24 April 2023

Review: Agents of S.U.I.T.

Cilantro the chameleon is a brand new agent of S.U.I.T., the Special Undercover Investigations Team. 

Being a chameleon, Cilantro has camouflage skills that help her in her job as an agent -- and sometimes scare people with her apparent invisibility. 

Unfortunately Cilantro's invisibility doesn't work when she wears her V.E.S.T. (Very Exiting Spy Technology). 

One day Cilantro goes from catching cat burglars (and dog burglars) to a special undercover mission -- one where she's not actually sure what she's meant to be investigating. 

There are sheep, aliens, secret tunnels, night vision goggles, mysterious happenings, and lots more.

Agents of S.U.I.T. is the first in a new series from John Patrick Green, creator of the bestselling InvestiGators graphic novels. The S.U.I.T. series is created with comic and cartoon writers/illustrators Christopher Hastings and Pat Lewis. It's a spin off from InvestiGators, with alligators Mango and Brash appearing in cameos.

There's a lot of playing on words and other use of language which will help teach kids in a humourous way. For example, the difference between words like duct and duck, and what it means to be 'out in the field'. Extensive use of acronyms might raise questions for newer readers, but with definitions included they will quickly learn how they are made and used. One of my favourite examples from the book is: Sentient Computerised And Robotically Engineered Crow Repeller On Watch, or S.C.A.R.E.C.R.O.W. for short.

At the end of the book, there's also a step-by-step guide of how to draw Cilantro. Perhaps readers who do that will even try creating their own story in a graphic novel style.

Agents of S.U.I.T. is a full colour graphic novel highly recommended for any young readers who enjoy adventure and humour.

Title: Agents of S.U.I.T.
Author:  John Patrick Green and Christopher Hastings
Illustrator: Pat Lewis
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, $14.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781035015467
For ages: 7+
Type: Graphic Novel