Mac B. Kid Spy (Book 4): Mac Cracks the Code by Mac Barnett

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading level: Mid-Late Elementary

A humorous and silly spy story involving a lot of video games.

Possible Concerns (including spoilers).

• Mac is pretty negative about his mom’s boyfriend. (Chapter 1)
• Video games. Mac turns to video games when he’s frustrated, and says he still does as an adult, too. He talks about escaping problems. Mac plays video games a lot. Go outside, Mac!
• Stereotypes/ Racisim. The enemy is from the KGB, the security agency of the Soviet Union. It might be good to have conversations with your kid about how not all people with a Russian accent are evil, as this book leans into stereotypes a bit that way.
• Subtle hint about dogs breeding. The queen says it was her idea to breed two dogs and tells a story about them mating. Mac comments that it sounds like it was the dog’s idea. It was actually really funny. See excerpt below.

The good outweighs the bad for me for this one. But not for Book 3! See also my reviews of Book 1, Book 2 and Book 6.