Roxy Villareal is a student at Spy School.
Well, the publishing department for these adventures clearly indicate it is Spy Academy but that term is not used anywhere in the pages of the recorded stories. Spy School is what everyone calls it so we will as well. Villareal explains, "Spy School is a school where young people train to become spies and assassins. It sounds made up - a bunch of teenagers training to be spies - but it's true. I am fifth generation Spy School". It is run by a very stern but understanding Michael Sinclair who shows over and again he can be a force to be reckoned with.
Another note on the name of these tales - Spy Academy - The Royals. This is the same school, led by the same Michael Sinclair, that is talked about in a couple other series ( and ) but this one references the term "Royals". In the hierarchy of Spy School, a Royal is a student whose parents were also students and who went on to become agents as adults. A Royal is considered an elite member of the student body as a result. In the case of Villareal, "I am fifth generation Spy School, the best of the best. My family started training me while I was still in the womb."
That sound impressive. Until, however, you learn that she adds "Yet, despite all the training, I'm still a disappointment to them." She goes on to explain to Director Sinclair "I'm not good enough to be a Royal. I know that. I'm not the best fighter, or runner. I'm not even good at walking and chewing gum at the same time. I'm clumsy and I trip all the time. My mom always says it's because I'm not good at watching where I'm going. I'll walk into poles. Or people. Sometimes trees. One time I fell into a manhole, but that's beside the point. The point is, I'm not a good Spy School agent. No matter how hard I train, I never can seem to get it right. So, I'm surprised that I am being offered a spot on The Royals right now."
Sinclair counters that it did not matter whether Villareal believed she was good enough, only that he believed it. And he did. And now, entering her senior year, she is being given the opportunity to operate as a Royal. She is being put into a team with four guys, one of whom recommended her for membership while the other three might have decidedly different feelings about her arrival. The problem there is that Villareal knows about there being one on her side but no idea who that one is.