Christine Harris - Author

Are you a Spy or Undercover Girl?

Jesse Sharpe covers


Jesse Sharpe's series has different names in various countries: Spy Girl, Undercover Girl, Girl Undercover and Spy. But Jesse's cool in any language.

Watch the cool YouTube video from Editora Fundimento, the Brazilian publisher.

CLICK here to check out all five books in the series.

(No, there won't be a sixth book)
 

Spy/Undercover Girl Quiz

Jesse Sharpe's work as a secret agent means she has to think quickly. Test yourself with these brainteasers:

1. Which word doesn't belong?

Each of these lists include a word that has a different meaning - it doesn't belong with the others. Which one is it?
  1. comprehensive, broad, extensive, compact, omnibus, sweeping.
  2. sneak, lurk, skulk, slink, sidle, snide.
  3. secret, private, sector, cryptic, covert, hidden.
  4. treacherous, trespass, false, dangerous, unsafe, perfidious.
  5. fib, fiction, inventive, fantasy, creator, fabrication.
  6. coax, inveigle, entice, tirade, entrap, wheedle.

2. Decipher a coded message

The following excerpt from the Spy Girl series has been written in code.

'Jbssb rln. Thb nlrrow xlth twistbd lround trbbs lnd bouldbrs. Hbr snblkbrs snlxxbd twigs lnd sclttbrbd flllbn lblvbs. Low-hlnging brlnchbs sllxxbd hbr flcb lnd rixxbd lt hbr hlir.'

(Here's a hint - three letters of the alphabet have been exchanged for others.)
a. What is the code that has been used?

b. What does this paragraph really say?

c. When you have cracked the code and discover the meaning of the paragraph, see if you can remember where it appears in the Spy Girl series.

d. Write a message (one paragraph long) from one secret agent to another, in your own code. Swap three different letters of the alphabet. Give your coded paragraph to a trusted friend. See if they can work it out. If they can't, then share the secret of your code so they can decipher your message.

e. Ask your friend to write a coded message for you, using a different code.

f. Here are four sayings or proverbs. They are all scrambled using the same code. What is the code used?
(Code breaking takes practice. It's all about finding the 'key'. Once you do, then deciphering the meaning is easy.)
* 1 st3tch 3n t3m2 s1v2s n3n2.
* H1nds4m2 3s 1s h1nds4m2 d42s.
* Y45 c1tch m4r2 fl32s w3th h4n2y th1n y45 d4 w3th v3n2g1r.
* Pr3d2 c4m2s b2f4r2 1 f1ll.
g. When you have cracked the code, write down the sayings correctly. What does each saying mean?

3. Unjumble these words

  1. rsteecs
  2. eodc
  3. yps
  4. egsdisiu
  5. rsncnae
  6. mxpeeneitr

Spy Tips, Codes and Science


  • U.S. Secret Service: Faqs by kids
  • Secret Codes: CIA
  • Find the hidden words: CIA
  • Codes and activities: Cryptokids
  • Mystery Word: AOL Kids
  • Special Agent Undercover - add a disguise: FBI
  • Secret codes: National Geographic
  • Secret messages: Cryptoclub
  • Nanosurgeon Game: National Geographic
  • NASA
  • Invisible inks: Inky Magic
  • Spy gadgets: How Stuff Works
  • Wire tapping: How Stuff Works
  • Lock picking: How Stuff Works
  • Nanotechnology: How Stuff Works
  • Self-healing spacecraft: How Stuff Works
  • Cryonics: How Stuff Works
  • Geckos and nanotechnology: New Scientist
  • Illuminator weapons: New Scientist
  • Genetic engineering: Eurekascience
  • National Snow and Ice Data Center improve your chances of surviving an avalanche
  • First Special Response Group: Rescue Dogs
  • Snow Search and Rescue Dog Training


    • 4. Crossword

    (based on book #1: Secrets)

    Crossword

    DOWN
    1. What is Liam's nickname for Jesse Sharpe?
    2. Jesse is part of Operation - - .
    3. When Jesse is kidnapped, there is only one way to escape.
    4. In her room, she has a painting of an
    - - - - - soaring over a mountain.
    5. No one can leave C2 without giving what kind of print?
    6. The colour of Jesse's jacket when she begins tailing Liam.
    7. Jesse's parents died in a - - - - - .
    8. After her escape, Jesse says she hates this colour.
    9. Jesse's younger C2 'brother.'
    10. Files marked this way can only be read and memorised, with no copying of papers.
    11. Mary Holt walks like a kind of - - - - - .
    12. Jesse must - - - - - - - Jasmine.

    ACROSS
    1. Jesse has one of these in her room.
    2. C2 Director.
    3. Colour of giant footprints in Jesse's room.
    4. Number of passwords on Jesse's computer.
    5. Jesse works for this organization.
    6. How often does Jesse change her computer passwords?
    7. Jasmine is obsessed with these.
    8. He has disappeared.
    9. Jesse's C2 partner.
    10. In a world of shadows it is sometimes hard to tell what is - - - - ?
    11. On what floor is Jesse's room?

    5. Write six qualities that you think would be essential in a secret agent?

    6. Which item is false?

    While most things on these lists are true, one on each is false, put there to trick you. Name one thing on each list that is not correct.
    a. These things are in Jesse's room: eagle painting, wardrobe, telescope, fridge, kite, bookcases.

    b. The following people are connected to C2: Liam, Rohan, Granger, Mary, Joshua, Jesse.

    c. In the mall, Jesse noticed: a fruit stand, beggar, her target, juggler, shoppers, windows.

    d. To enter the Director's office, Jesse had to pass the following: retina scan, weight test, heart rate monitor, blood test, guards, sliding doors.

    e. Facts about Providenza: black-haired, sculptured nails, Greek, smiles a lot, born with pneumonia, wears heavy eyeliner.

    f. Facts about Jesse Sharpe: prodigy, speaks seven languages, learnt clarinet in one day, read encyclopedias at age three, part of Operation IQ, tailed Liam without being detected.

    7. Punctuate this sentence

    Read carefully, then put in commas, full-stops or question marks so the sentence makes sense.

    'that that is is that that is not is not is that not so'