Spy Camp

Discuss the symbolism of the wilderness in the novel.

Is Alexander Hale a dynamic character? Does he grow and change throughout the book? If so, how?

Cyrus and Erica Hale are very dismissive of Alexander and insult him openly. How has this dynamic shaped Alexander as a person? In what ways has Ben experienced a similar dynamic?

Ben does not have the same level of typical spy skills that many of his classmates do, but he still manages to foil SPYDER’s plans. How do Ben’s unique individual strengths help him be a good spy despite his other weaknesses?

SPYDER insists that they’re acting in defense of the common people—Joshua Hallal insists that the assassination targets “have betrayed their own people!”—but Ben says SPYDER is motivated only by profit and that the alleged betrayal “doesn’t mean they deserve to die” (307). Why is SPYDER’s approach to enacting change wrong?

Like Alexander Hale’s super-spy persona, Ben’s “Smokescreen” reputation is based on fiction. Is it different because Ben simply does not correct Zoe’s mistaken assessment of his skills, or are both characters guilty of the same manipulation? Why or why not?

Discuss the function of the incompetence of adults in the novel. How do adult ineptitude and failure make the narrative possible?

Analyze how courage is depicted in the text. The book promotes a definition of courage that includes the experience of fear—how does this provide opportunities for unlikely heroes?