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Loyalties Become Complicated
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London follow a young spy girl as she tries to find a missing spy, and winds up entangled in more trouble. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
This is the second book in a planned 6-7 book series. After toying with a completely different plot, I decided to pivot to a more traditional second installment. Second books are notoriously hard to balance and I needed to add information as well as characters that are critical to the following books. It was also important for Simone to leave Paris and expand her world. The primary inspiration was again highlighting the importance of family.
The tween years are when children go through a lot of character development and discover themselves. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Character development is always critical as it endears the characters to the reader. Characters do not need to be complex, but they do have to offer enough information to let the reader form an opinion on them. In this book, relationships and loyalties become complicated for Simone, which is typical for the age. As mentioned in the book summary, life is about to get messy, which everyone can relate to.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As previously mentioned, one of the central themes is that Simone’s life, both personal and professional, is getting complicated. The absolutes that she used to accept and even found comfort in are now wavering. The theme of a family’s love for one another is also front and center, as it was in the first book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing Book #3, which I hope to have published in mid-2023. I also have a graphic novel currently under consideration for publication.
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In this second book of the Simone LaFray Mysteries, Simone navigates school rivalries, oversees the opening of a new LaFray’s Patisserie, and finds herself questioning her loyalties as she prowls under the moonlight with the notorious Red Wolves. And to top it all off, the most popular boy in school can’t stop staring at her. The life of the world’s most promising young spy is about to get messy.
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London, by S. P. O’Farrell, is the second book of the Simone LaFray Mysteries. Simone is a twelve-year-old spy for the French Ministry. After finding fame at the Chocolatiers’ Ball, Simone tries to fade into the shadows. But while she is attending school, a mission comes up. She goes undercover in London to find a missing junior spy, the OmniKey and gets entangled with the notorious Red Wolves. Among doing schoolwork, she questions her loyalty and helps her father open a second patisserie shop in London. Add in that the most popular boy in school has noticed her, and Simone has a lot to contend with.
As the second book in the series, the story stands independently. O’Farrell excellently wove enough information from the first book into this one to help readers understand the world and the backstory. Like other children’s series, this one has links to previous books and hints at new books, but each book is its own complete story that can be enjoyed.
I like that Simone is the awkward neurodivergent girl who is suddenly thrust into being famous. In order to find out the information she needs to find the missing spy, she has to socialize with people she normally would not. While uncomfortable she finds a way to get through the situations, showing courage and growth along the way. Twelve is a challenging age to find yourself and deal with middle school. She goes through the normal ups and downs of any twelve-year-old, including homesickness. Being a spy makes this even more challenging as she has more secrets to keep than normal kids her age.
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London is a middle-grade mystery that is well-written and entertaining. Staying true to a twelve-year-old’s life while adding in the mystery of the missing junior spy will make this an entertaining book and a favorite for children.
Pages: 248 | ISBN : 1953021360
LITERARY TITAN 