Jason is now a secret agent trying to hide the fact from his friends and family that he is a secret agent!

His first mission went well as he ran onto a rugby field and stopped a villain releasing the world’s most powerful itching powder on everyone. But footage of that mad dash is everywhere and the hot topic on everyone’s lips is:

Who was the boy with the ball?

Jason’s best friend Kyle is obsessed with finding the answer and Jason is increasingly worried that Kyle is getting too close to the truth.

With yet another mission under his belt (debunking sightings of the extinct Moa), Jason has been called in by the Prime Minister to help again. This time he will be an important part of New Zealand’s first ever manned rocket launch.

KIWI 1 Rocket launch will be attended by VIP’s from around the world (well, the ones that aren’t going to a reunion Spice Girls Concert in Stockholm). Jason can’t wait to see who will be attending, not realising part of his new mission will be reading Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy.

Luckily best-mate Kyle isn’t far away and keen to help. Thank goodness, because villain Hugh Jarse isn’t finished with his itching powder! That’s not the worst bit! Somehow he’s connected to the strange Moa sightings at the start of the book!

Suddenly Jason is without his superpower, and the only thing (or person) between the first New Zealand manned Rocket going to space, Cow Fart Tech being stolen, and NZ’s own astronaut Captain Burke Steel believing he is a baboon!

Jason Mason is up front and central for all the world to see without them knowing who he really is. Can he really save everyone and keep his secret again?

The second in this hilarious series by Jason & Andrew Gunn. Celebrity authors don’t always transfer their skills to books but the Jason Mason series is brilliant! Told to the reader in young Jason’s voice, this episode stops early in the action for Jason to explain what happened in the first book in the series. You don’t have to read the first book, but why wouldn’t you because it’s full of laughs too!

The text of both episodes is broken up with different fonts in varied sizes, small sketches, lists and bold words bouncing across the page. This immediately breaks up the look of the novel, making it less daunting for reluctant readers. The story is fast moving and brings surprises among the slapstick.

I loved the kiwi references, place names, TV shows, movies and slang – making Jason Mason New Zealand’s own story sensation. Move over Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates! Jason Mason is here!

Author – Jason Gunn & Andrew Gunn

Illustrator – Cheryl Smith

Age – 8+

(2023, Bateman Books, Funny, Humour, Hilarious, Laugh, Secret Agent, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Prime Minister, Villains, Holograms, Moa, Evil Plan, Super Power, Teacher Agent, Ice Cream Truck Disguise, Rocket Launch, Animals, Dog, Chihuahua, Series, Class Trip, Essay Competition, Action)