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Kitty Granger never meant to catch the interest of a spy network, but when her attention for detail accidentally causes her to become entrenched in a case with a Russian spy ring, two British secret agents offer her a job.
Turns out, in the world of espionage, Kitty’s hyper-awareness isn’t a weakness, something to be ostracized for. It’s a gift.
Kitty’s first mission is supposed to be an easy one, but soon she finds herself drawn into a fascist conspiracy led by a prominent politician and reformed Nazi sympathizer. Kitty will have to use her wits, training and instincts to get out alive and save her new team, as well as her country.
The Secret Life of Kitty Granger was a quick read full of action and a simple writing style that kept me flying through the pages.
At the end of the book, the author describes Kitty as being autistic. It’s never referred to in the story by that name because the diagnosis was not common in the 1960s, when this story took place. However, Kitty’s behaviors are typical of some people who have autism. Instead of being a disability, her approach to the world makes her an excellent spy. While the author states that Kitty has autism and shows it in certain behaviors, I found that it was shown only when it furthered the plot, rather than it being an important part of Kitty’s personality and nature. In the end, it lacked emotional resonance.
Overall, the story might be a bit far-fetched in some ways, but the positive representation of a neurodiverse teen protagonist was still refreshing to see. And if you can overlook its flaws, it’s a fun spy read.
Rated: Mild, for 16 uses of mild language, 2 uses of moderate language, and 19 uses of the name of Deity. Violence is a strong part of the plot, and while there is little detail, it seemed particularly dangerous to me because it elicits little emotional response from the characters. A girl is kidnapped. A girl’s torture is overheard. The main character kills a man. Characters witness the aftermath of the mass murder of a spy network and must walk through the building among the bodies.
