Jason Mason is about to tell you a story. His story, about how he became a secret agent for the NZ government. It all begins after his Uncle Bill’s funeral. Uncle Bill, (like Jason himself) is a pretty ordinary person, driving an old car, working for a government department and doing the same joke every Christmas of putting a bin on his head and pretending to be Darth Vadar.

Jason used to play chess with Uncle Bill, and when Jason’s parents said Uncle Bill had left him a book, Jason knew exactly which one. He followed Uncle Bill’s instructions and went to his home to collect The Rudiments of Chess. Jason used to think it was called something else, but I’ll let him tell you what.

This book leads Jason to the first of Uncle Bill’s secrets, and they just get more exciting from there. Surprise, then shock then complete wonder at what is happening to him, Jason is suddenly meeting a real life secret agent named Agent Ratana, climbing into a helicopter and meeting the Prime Minister.

Why Jason you might ask? Jason has a special something no one else has, to help the government in special missions. But just as quickly as all this happens, he’s being dropped off home in an ice-cream van. Nuts!

Back at school, he can’t tell anyone what has happened to him, least of all the bully who demands the best thing out of his lunch box every day. Jason wishes he could do something to stop it, but he’s not sure how. Being a secret agent is super cool but maybe he can learn some new skills to help him in his real life?

Jason Mason is a normal kiwi kid, telling his amazing story of becoming a secret agent, directly to the reader. We get to know Jason really well as he constantly veers off topic, telling little side stories, or sharing anecdotes.

From peanut butter sticking to the roof of his mouth, wondering why people duck under spinning helicopter blades too high to chop anyone’s head off, or explaining why the Australian Rugby team are called the Wallabies, Jason takes the reader on a hilarious wide ride into his new life. All the while, he’s wondering whether he’ll get a real mission. When he finally does, you’ll be laughing while Jason and other characters are trying their hardest not to.

Every page has quick sketches showing Jason’s imagination or action, and dozens of fun fonts, both bold and entertaining, to add even more punch to the story.

Jason Mason is perfect for kiwi kids, with references to New Zealand places, people and normal kiwi life. Watch out Dogman. Kiwi kids can laugh with someone just like them instead.

Authors – Jason & Andrew Gunn

Illustrator – Cheryl Smith

Age – 8+

(2022, Bateman Books, Super Agent, Humour, Funny, Laugh out Loud, New Zealand, NZ, Aotearoa, Helicopter, Series, Prime Minister, School, Bully, Beehive, Ice Cream van, Rugby, Secret, Action, DNA, Chess, Crime, Uncle)