Spy School

Compare and contrast the way Ben is seen at home and at the academy. What are the major differences and similarities?

Analyze Ben and Erica’s relationship. Erica begins the novel without much respect or regard for Ben. Using text evidence from the novel, explain how their relationship changes over the course of the story.

Consider the role that the adults play in the novel. What effect does their incompetence have on the plot? What effect does it have on Ben?

One of the themes of this novel is that people are not always what they seem to be. Choose a character who used a “smokescreen” and explain how their deception advanced their goals.

Murray’s recruitment speech to Ben argues that governments are no less damaging or corrupt than SPYDER is. What does this belief say about Murray as a character?

Analyze the relationship between Alexander and Erica Hale. What complicates this relationship? What opinion does Erica have of her father?

Erica says that she cannot tell the CIA about her father’s incompetence because she is a teenage girl and he is a respected man. Discuss the ways gender and age have shaped Erica’s character.

Murray accuses Ben of being a “Fleming,” or a do-gooder who earnestly wants to do the right thing. The existence of this term—and Murray’s disgust for it—suggests that most students aren’t Flemings. What motivates some of the other students to pursue a career with the CIA?