EJ12

Full Name:	Emma James
Series Name:	EJ12 Girl Hero, EJ Spy School
Codename:	EJ12
Nationality:	Australian
Organization:	SHINE
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	Susannah McFarlane
Time Span:	2010 - 2016

ABOUT THE SERIES

Emma Jacks, aka EJ12, is an agent with SHINE.

That, both she and we are told by "an old-ish lady with long white hair whipped up into a slightly messy bun with a few pencils sticking out of it", is an underground agency, to which Jacks points out was sort of obvious since they had just taken an elevator 20 floors beneath the city surface.

The first part of SHINE that Jacks is shown is a large room full of women at computers or talking on headsets, all "solving problems and stopping evil plans" which is what SHINE does and why it needs someone like jacks even though Jacks is just 10 years old!

"'We need clever thinkers, especially people who love maths, and it doesn't matter how old they are. We need agents to help us crack enemy codes and thwart the evil missions of the SHADOW agency. We defeat SHADOW,' A1 explained, 'by intercepting their secret messages, getting to their locations before their own agents and foiling their dastardly plans.'" A1, obviously, was the old-ish lady.

Jacks was being introduced to the organization because her school had been one of many participants in a country-wide primary school maths competition and she had entered and won! Jacks was excited just to take part because "she loved maths and loved solving problems" and actually winning and getting a trip with her mom to the big city was so cool!

And from that moment on, she would no longer be just an "average ten-year-old girl" but also "EJ12 - a field agent and ace code-cracker in the under-twelve division of SHINE... And while Emma Jacks often found it hard to deal with mean girls, irritating brothers and other everyday problems, EJ12 was unbeatable. Compared to dealing with mean girls at school, saving the world was easy!"

"Since that day, EJ12 - or just EJ, as she was called when she was on duty - had foiled evil plans all over the world. She had jumped out of planes, dived into oceans and climbed mountains. She had cracked some of the trickiest codes around and beaten SHADOW time after time. In fact, EJ12 had quickly become one of SHINE' s Shining Stars, a leader in the agency's Spy of the Year competition."

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

Number of Books:	31
First Appearance:	2010
Last Appearance:	2016


1			Hot And Cold Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2010 Book 1 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. "The heat is on as someone seems to be melting the polar ice cap. Special Agent EJ12 needs to crack the codes and keep her cool to put the evil-doer's plan back on ice. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why can't she handle the school Ice Queen of Mean, Nema? Perhaps she can after all."

2			Jump Start Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2012 Book 2 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. "Evil agency SHADOW is up to something in the middle of the rainforest. Something that could see them get the jump on SHINE. Special Agent EJ12 needs to leap into action. She must crack SHADOW's codes and trust her instincts to foil their plans and save the rainforest. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is the state gym competition so hard? Perhaps it isn't after all."

3			In The Dark Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2010 Book 3 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. SHINE's solar energy station is under threat from the evil agency SHADOW. Special Agent EJ12 needs to lighten up. She must crack SHADOW's codes and overcome her fears to stop them before they turn the lights out on the SHINE network. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is she worried about going to her best friend's slumber party? Perhaps she isn't after all.

4			Rocky Road Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2010 Book 4 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Evil Agency SHADOW is really rocking the SHINE network. SHINE knows they are planning something but how are they sending their messages? Special Agent EJ12 must not miss a beat. This time she needs to find the code as well as pull the curtain down on SHADOW. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why can't she perform with her friends at the school concert? Perhaps she can after all.

5			Choc Shock Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2010 Book 5 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. SHADOW is cooking up a new invention which could put SHINE in a real jam. It's a recipe for disaster. Special Agent EJ12 needs to be patient and keep her eyes peeled. She must get inside the chocolate cake factory, find out what is going on and stop SHADOW's plan. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is the school fund-raiser such a problem? Perhaps it isn't after all.

6			On The Ball Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2012 Book 6 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. There is a spy at SHINE'S top-secret training camp. But who is it? Special Agent EJ12 must not drop the ball. She must find the spy – and the missing invention. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is she so worried about trying out for the soccer team? Perhaps she isn't after all.

7			Making Waves Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2010 Book 7 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. SHADOW is really making waves and now the coral reef is in hot water. Special Agent EJ12 could be in over her head but she must stop SHADOW before it is too late. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is she so nervous about the school swimming carnival? Perhaps she isn't after all.

8			Drama Queen Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2012 Book 8 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. SHADOW is up to something with the water supply, but what could it possibly have to do with the filming of a new action movie? Special Agent EJ12 needs to keep her eye on the big picture. She needs to infiltrate the movie set and stop SHADOW before it's too late. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is she getting worked up over the little things at home? Perhaps she isn't after all.

9			Out of this World Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2011 Book 9 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. A new SHADOW scientist is over the moon. She seems to have found a way to stop SHINE's top-secret spy satellite. Special Agent EJ12 needs to take off and aim high. Can she stop SHADOW from finding out all SHINE's secrets? That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is she getting so worked up about her school project? Perhaps she isn't after all.

10			Pyramid Puzzle Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2011 Book 10 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. SHADOW seems to have uncovered a secret in an Egyptian pyramid but what and where? Special Agent EJ12 will need to dig deep and unravel the puzzle before SHADOW escapes with ancient treasure. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she think she can't trust her friends? Perhaps she can after all.

11			Christmas Countdown Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2011 Book 11 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. The world’s largest diamond collection has disappeared just days before Christmas. But how and when will evil agency SHADOW try to smuggle it out of the country? And what does the Christmas fun park have to do with it? Special Agent EJ12 needs to stop them – and this time she has a very special spy-buddy to help her!

12			Secret Safari Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2012 Book 12 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Someone is hunting the rare black rhino for its precious horns. Is evil agency SHADOW responsible? Nothing is as it seems. Special Agent EJ12 will need to look beneath the surface if she is to stop more animals being hurt. That’s the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she find dealing with the new girl at school so hard? Perhaps she doesn’t after all.

13			Fashion Fraud Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2012 Book 13 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Some of the world's most famous paintings have gone missing during Fashion Week: could there be a connection? Special Agent EJ12 needs to trust her instincts if she is stop more paintings disappearing. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she find working out what to wear to a mean girl's party so hard? Perhaps she doesn't after all.

14			Kimono Code Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2012 Book 14 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Evil agency SHADOW is threatening to sabotage the traditional Japanese cherry blossom festival. But why and how? Special Agent EJ12 needs to stay calm and keep her mind focused if she is to stop them in time. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she find dealing with mean-girl Nema so hard? Perhaps she doesn't after all.

15			Big Brother Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2013 Book 15 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Evil agency SHADOW seems to know everything SHINE is planning. Is there a connection between that and the new arrival at the SHINE Animal Training Centre? All eyes are on Special Agent EJ12. She will need to find out how SHADOW is spying on SHINE before SHADOW finds her! That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she find her older brother so irritating? Perhaps she doesn't after all.

16			Time To Shine Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2013 Book 16 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Emma Jacks remembers her early days at the top-secret SHINE Agency … Evil agency SHADOW was leaking oil in to the ocean and demanding a ransom. SHINE Agency Agent-in-Training, EJ12 had to be at her brightest to save the marine animals. That's always been the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. Will she still be able to when one of her best friends moves away? Perhaps she will after all.

17			Spooked! Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2013 Book 17 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. In different castles all over England, centuries-old sovereigns have been stolen. All at the stroke of midnight. It will take the new SHINE STARs to crack the biggest SHADOW plot so far. Special Agent EJ12 will have to fight her fears and lead her team in her scariest night mission yet.

18			Ciao EJ! Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 18 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Strange things are happening in some of Italy's most famous cities. What is evil agency SHADOW up to? Team Leader Agent EJ12 and the SHINE STARS split up to find the clues. But will EJ12 be able to piece them all together in time to stop SHADOW? That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why is she suspicious about mean-girl Nema being so nice to her friends?

19			False Note Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2015 Book 19 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. When priceless violins are stolen, SHINE suspects evil agency SHADOW is orchestrating something big. But how did the thief just walk out without anyone stopping her? Special Agent EJ12 and the STAR team must work in concert to find out. That's the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she find doing her school passion project so hard?

20			True Light Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2015 Book 20 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. Somewhere, far north in the Arctic Circle evil agency SHADOW has set up a money-forging laboratory. They plan to make copies of every currency in the world. They must be stopped but there is no trace of the laboratory. Only when Special Agent EJ12 remembers her first mission in the Arctic Circle will she find the key to unlock the mystery. That’s the easy part. As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything. So why does she find thinking about her grandma so hard?

21			EJ Shines! Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2016 Book 21 in the EJ12 Girl Hero series. The Head of SHINE has uncovered a secret laboratory that uses animals for cosmetic testing. But now she is missing and it is up to EJ12 to find her.

22			The Test Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 1 in the EJ12 Spy School series. Emma Jacks loves being at school, but she doesn't like tests. But sometimes good things come from bad. Join Emma as she starts Spy School!

23			The Race Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 2 in the EJ12 Spy School series. Emma Jacks is Agent EJ10. She goes to Spy School! She wants to do well in her first race at Spy School. But then she finds a baby bird that needs help. What should Emma do?

24			Secret Spy Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 3 in the EJ12 Spy School series. EJ10 uses special tools so no one will know she is a spy. But can she keep a secret?

25			Puppy Alert Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 4 in the EJ12 Spy School series. EJ10 is learning how to rescue animals, but a puppy goes missing ... Can EJ10 find her?

26			Deep Water Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 5 in the EJ12 Spy School series. EJ10 must earn her underwater spy badge. But she's scared of deep water. What will she do?

27			Hide and Peek Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2014 Book 6 in the EJ12 Spy School series. Christmas can be full of surprises — even at Spy School! Join EJ10 on a special Christmas lesson!

28			Speedy Spy Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2015 Book 7 in the EJ12 Spy School series. Sometimes a spy needs to move quickly. But things can happen if you go too fast …

29			Lights Out! Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2015 Book 8 in the EJ12 Spy School series. It's time for night mission training. But Emma is a little scared of the dark ...

30			Birthday Secrets! Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2016 Book 9 in the EJ12 Spy School series. Agents have to learn to keep secrets. Sometimes birthday secrets are the hardest ones to keep ...

31			The Big Jump Written by Susannah McFarlane Copyright: 2016 Book 10 in the EJ12 Spy School series. It is the final lesson of Spy School. Is EJ ready to become a secret agent?

MY COMMENTS

If I were a youngster, which I'm not but which I can vaguely recall having once been, and loving to read, which I did then very much and do even more so now, would I have read these young adult adventures clearly intended for girls?

Well, not overtly. I remember reading the Hardy Boys and not caring who knew it while sneaking my older sister's Nancy Drew stories and reading them in seclusion. That is what I likely would have done. In my case, that would have caused a problem because there are so many of them and my sister was always too active to read that much so ...

Luckily, being an old duffer and having a good excuse for reading these - hey, it's for my site! - I don't have to hide. I just get to enjoy this very fun series meant for young readers with a bunch meant for even younger ones.

GRADE

My Grade: B

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