Reviewed by Stephen K.

TITLE: Schooled

SERIES: Codename: Winger #2

AUTHOR: Jeff Adams

NARRATOR: Kirt Graves

PUBLISHER: Big Gay Media

LENGTH: 8 hours and 7 minutes

RELEASE DATE: June 15^th 2021

BLURB:

Secret agent and teenage computer genius Theo Reese lives in two separate worlds—and they’re about to collide.

Theo’s high school computer-science club is gearing up for a competition, and Theo agrees to lend his knowledge of cyber-security to help them win. The covert agency he works for also needs his talents. An encrypted key that allows access to the nation’s electrical grid has been stolen. Theo’s skills are crucial in its recovery before disaster strikes.

When the file shows up at the competition as one of those to be decoded, Theo must find a way to be both an average high school student and Winger, his secret identity. The file must be secured—all while protecting his teammates from those who will use any means necessary to get the file for themselves.

REVIEW:

This is my second book in the Codename Winger series and I enjoyed it more than the first. Theo Reese is super-smart when it comes to computers and has a maturity well beyond his years but he’s also a “normal” teenager in many ways. Though he’s been a “secret agent” of sorts for a while, in this installment he has to deal with the death of a co-worker and mentor. It clearly affects him. I guess Edna St. Vincent Millay was right… “Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies.” Here Theo is forced to leave another part of his childhood behind. He’s still lucky enough to have understanding parents and a sexy and caring boyfriend.

These tales are clearly told in a YA “action movie” style. Much of the action in this one concerns the theft of a secret encryption key, and Theo trying to “coach” a team of his fellow school-mates in a cyber-security challenge with college scholarships and cash prizes at stake.

Again, I was struck by the way Theo’s being gay is accepted by his parents, his teammates, and his workmates as if it were just commonplace. It’s just treated in an “It’s no big deal” manner.  At one point Theo and Eddie even double date with Theo’s best friend, Mitch, and his girlfriend. Later that girlfriend and Theo team up on the straight boy by teasing him about what they find attractive in a guy.

As you’d expect with teen-aged main characters, there is no graphic sex depicted here. Very little is even suggested, though the boys do get to spend some private time alone again.

This audiobook presentation is again narrated by Kirt Graves. His boyishly youthful voice works perfectly for Theo. Kirt even does a passable British accent for his boss, and a bit of an Irish one for one of the villains. Many of the more minor characters don’t get their own “voices.” While this might have been better with more variety,  it isn’t all that confusing, and doesn’t really detract from the story in any way.

If you’d like to read something with a gay main character, where romance isn’t the primary focus, these books may be right up your alley.

RATING:

BUY LINKS:

Amazon 

Author site