Mission: Monster Mind – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Dinosaur, secret agents, mission, betrayal.
Children’s book title: Mission: Monster Mind.
Children’s author: Philip Kavvadias.
Children’s illustrator:Euan Cook.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Chicken House.
ISBN: 9781915026965.
Recommended for children aged: 9-12 year-olds.
First published: Paperback July 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: using as a starting point to discuss the effects of social media and AI on our online experience and also as a fun book to read especially for reluctant readers as there is always something happening.
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Our review:
RAPTOR, it has to be said, features two of the most unlikely special agents ever recruited! Finn, along with his two friends Milo and Tasi, has been working for the agency ever since Artemis, as a dinosaur egg, hatched in his lap! He would far rather be lounging on his sofa playing video games, listing his top ideas for the restaurant he’s sure he’ll own one day, or just eating. Artemis is happy as long as he can see Finn is OK, while Milo is a font of all knowledge, and Tasi is super fit and super fast. They both know Finn will come through in a pinch, but they have more confidence in him than he does.
After a break-in at RAPTOR headquarters and the theft of some top-secret technology, the three friends – and Artemis, the Microraptor – race across London with Sapient X Agents on their heels, just managing to retain their freedom. With a mole inside the organisation, they have to keep a low profile, but it soon becomes clear that the only way to prove the spy’s identity and recover the stolen tech is to break into a secret facility in Scotland.
As the stakes and danger rise, the four of them, plus a hastily recruited computer expert, must face their nemesis in a high-risk game of hide and seek. Even if they do get the proof they need to expose the double agent, will anyone actually believe them? And if they do, how are they ever going to catch those responsible for threatening the technological revolution that has changed every aspect of our daily lives?
Our verdict:
The third book in Philip Kavvadias’s series uncovers the dangers of the Internet, social media, and AI technology in a fictional but thought-provoking way. It asks serious questions about the threats to our technological way of life, how we can identify these threats for what they are, and ultimately, how we might solve the problems caused by AI and the click-driven society we now live in.
The discovery of a spy within the organisation, someone admired and revered by Milo, shows not only how people can be corrupted by their greed but also how their downfall can change the perceptions of those who only want to see the good in their idols. It also explores how the general public can be persuaded to follow the crowd through carefully choreographed posts, opinions, and sound bites on social media. These problems, although resolved for now, will likely return for the three young spies and the agency they represent.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Once again, Finn and Milo are facing their biggest foe, Sapient X. Finn isn’t portrayed as an amazingly talented superhero but as an everyday boy. What are his special attributes, and how does he help the team succeed?
- The three corrupt politicians plan to use social media to falsely raise their profile and make themselves seem far more popular than they really are. How can we avoid falling down a rabbit hole of fake news and false claims when we go online?
- Computers are used for absolutely everything, and some companies and individuals can influence people to behave in ways they never would on their own. Can you think of anything like this that you’ve noticed recently?
- Social media isn’t all bad. Can you name some good, worthwhile things that have been achieved through online campaigns?
- In a cross-curricular activity with art, design a poster to show the steps you should take to stay as safe as possible online, both at school and at home.
- The amazing technology Finn, Milo, Tasi, and Ether use means they can become anyone they want. If you had the chance, who would you choose to become?
- Read a free extract.
Many thanks to Chicken House for the review copy.
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