Silver Medal, Global Book Awards Honorable Mention , New England Book Festival “These kids are hilarious.” Bushnell On Books, Morning Sentinel News Life in Cricket Cove, Maine, should be smooth sailing—unless you're John and Sam, two brothers whose summer plans are anything but ordinary. When their dad upgrades the family’s boat with a shiny new outboard motor, the boys know exactly what it means: their chance to become real spies ! After all, everyone knows real spies don't paddle—they speed through covert missions on powerboats, ready to outsmart the bad guys. But there's just one problem. Actually, a lot of problems . For starters, their parents aren’t exactly thrilled with the idea of them zooming around the cove, and there's the small matter of not crashing into rocks—or the boat catching fire. Then there's the Johnson brothers, the neighborhood bullies who seem determined to ruin their spy plans at every turn. Join John and Sam as they embark on a summer filled with wild schemes, outrageous mishaps, and laugh-out-loud moments. From daring adventures to top secret meetings, they'll learn more than just spy tactics—they'll discover the true power of teamwork, forgiveness, and finding courage in unexpected places. Perfect for fans of Diary of A Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson , The Wonder Years and Calvin and Hobbes , Real Spies Don’t Use Rowboats is a heartwarming adventure packed with humor, imagination, and the ups and downs of brotherhood. "An ambitious and fun effort to chronicle boys growing up in an age when it was OK to just be boys. And these kids are hilarious ." Kennebec Journal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "The bond between Sam and John is particularly heartwarming , the book imparts important life lessons, emphasizing themes of forgiveness, resilience, and positivity. It's a story that not only entertains but also inspires, making it a great read for young audiences. A memorable adventure that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next twist in Sam and John's journey." Literary Titan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "100% fun. To say this witty read is only for teen readers would be akin to thinking that only kids would enjoy Jean Shepherd's enchanting "A Christmas Story" (you remember- "You'll shoot your eye out!") It's not only stinkin' thinkin' it's just plain unfair to adults who would find this to be great entertainment. " Reader Views "Rekindles the carefree days of childhood with engaging prose and laugh-out-loud moments. Real Spies Don't Use Rowboats is a book you'll want to read again and again. I know I will." Reader's Favorite "Highly enjoyable with lots of local Maine color! Had to chuckle quite a few times while reading it. Enjoy!" Goodreads Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Their encounters with bullies, parents and more are often hilarious and their adventures will have readers on the edge of their seats." Amazon Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REAL SPIES DON'T USE ROWBOATS Of boys, J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964) said: "A fairly bright boy is far more intelligent and far better company than the average adult." And that surely describes grade-school brothers Sam and John Hassenfuss of Cricket Cove, Maine. "Real Spies Don't Use Rowboats" is central Maine author Jeffrey Hope's debut novel for young readers, 8-12 years old. It's the first volume in his "The Boy Spies of Maine" series, an ambitious and fun effort to chronicle boys growing up in an age when it was OK to just be boys. Set in 1976, the story introduces John (11) and Sam (10), brothers who display all the imagination, cleverness, humor, innocence, wackiness and sincerity one would expect of young boys who worship Agent 007 and want to be spies just like James Bond . They have their own two-member club, the James Bond Society, and are writing their own spy manual, the "JBS Rules of Survival Handbook." And these kids are hilarious. Hope clearly enjoyed writing this book, for it is filled with funny boy adventures and the comical "Leave to Beaver"-style challenges of dealing with parents and other adults. The boys have an old rowboat they call the Tub, but it has no motor and real spies can't escape from villains by rowing. Their adventures involve getting an outboard motor, traveling to New York City with their parents, and meeting an elderly aunt who regales them with fanciful stories of her work as a detective (more lessons for the spy handbook). Add in typical hilarious boy situations like long car trips ("Are we there yet?"), listening to Dad's "Work Voice" explaining things, testing the parents with a swear word, and Mom's magic word: "Pizza!" This will delight anyone who has been a boy or wishes they had been. Bill Bushnell, Bushnell on Books Morning Sentinel, Waterville, Maine Growing up in Midcoast Maine, I developed a deep love for the ocean and the beauty of its shores. That's the inspiration for the setting of  Real Spies Don't Use Rowboats . While I have changed the names of various towns, I h