Top 10 YA Spy Thrillers
- carolineboxall
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
🕵️♀️ Top 10 YA Spy Thrillers (Including Some You Might Not Know… Yet!)
If you love books full of danger, secrets, and high-stakes spy missions, you're in the right place.
From elite teen agents to ordinary kids caught in extraordinary conspiracies, YA spy thrillers are packed with twists, tech, and impossible choices. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the genre, here are 10 of the best teen spy books to keep you turning the pages late into the night.
by Caroline Boxall
What if everything you thought you knew was a lie?
Billy, 14, has grown up on the dementia floor of a care home, surrounded by forgotten stories and unanswered questions. Across the world, Manya, 17, is living a double life — one she’s desperate to escape. When their worlds collide, the two teens are pulled into a conspiracy that links their pasts in ways neither of them imagined.
Perfect for fans of Alex Rider, this fast-paced mystery is full of spies, secrets, and the power of unlikely friendships.
by Caroline Boxall
With his mum finally home from Moscow, Billy’s next mission begins: finding his dad. But the journey isn’t simple — and back in Russia, Manya uncovers a shocking secret that could change everything.
The thrilling sequel to It’s Raining in Moscow, this second instalment in the Ember Enigma series takes the stakes higher and the twists deeper.
3. 📘 Stormbreaker
by Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider Book 1)
The original teen spy thriller! When Alex Rider’s uncle dies under mysterious circumstances, Alex is recruited by MI6 and sent undercover on a deadly mission. Packed with gadgets, danger, and smart plotting, this series is a must-read.
📖 Ages: 10+
4. 📘 Spy School
by Stuart Gibbs
Ben Ripley just wanted to be a regular kid. But when he's recruited into a top-secret CIA training academy, life gets a whole lot weirder — and a whole lot more dangerous.
Funny, clever, and full of action, this one's perfect for readers who like a bit of humour with their spycraft.
📖 Ages: 9–13
5. 📘 Young Bond: SilverFin
by Charlie Higson
Before Bond was 007, he was a schoolboy at Eton uncovering secrets in the Scottish Highlands. Great writing, eerie villains, and classic Bond-style tension.
📖 Ages: 11+
6.📘 The Gallagher Girls: I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Cammie goes to an elite girls' school for spies — but falling for a civilian boy wasn't part of the curriculum. A blend of espionage and coming-of-age drama with a lot of heart.
📖 Ages: 12–16
7. 📘 The Recruit
by Robert Muchamore (CHERUB Book 1)
James is a troublemaker… until he’s recruited by CHERUB, a secret branch of British Intelligence staffed by kids. This series gets gritty at times but remains a teen favourite for good reason.
📖 Ages: 12+
8. 📘 City Spies
by James Ponti
Five kids from around the world are recruited by MI6 for a covert mission. It’s fast, fun, and full of brainpower and bravery.
📖 Ages: 10–14
9. 📘 Codename Zero
by Chris Rylander
When a mysterious man gives Carson Fender a top-secret package, his life changes forever. A humorous, action-packed spy story with a likeable lead.
📖 Ages: 9–13
10. 📘 The Inheritance Games
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Not a spy book... but spy vibes)
It’s not technically a spy story — but it’s full of puzzles, secret codes, and dangerous minds. If you love mystery, inheritance drama, and riddles, this will scratch the same itch.
📖 Ages: 12–16
👀 Want more spy secrets?
Book 3 in the Ember Enigma series: The Southwold Checkmate is out later this month — so now’s the time to catch up on Billy and Manya’s story. Join my mailing list to get exclusive sneak peeks, reader bonuses, and behind-the-scenes intel.
👉 Sign up here📚 Or grab your copies of the first two books now!
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