Agent Z facts for kids
Agent Z is a fun, made-up character from a series of four funny children's books. These books were written by a British author named Mark Haddon. He is also famous for his book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
When the Agent Z books first came out, Mark Haddon also drew the pictures for the covers and inside the books. Later versions of the books got new cover designs. The Agent Z stories happen in a British city that isn't named.
Here are the books in the series:
- Agent Z Meets the Masked Crusader (1993)
- Agent Z Goes Wild (1994)
- Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars (1995)
- Agent Z and the Killer Bananas (2001)
Agent Z isn't a real person in the stories. It's a secret identity used by three school friends: Ben, Barney, and Jenks. They have been friends for a long time and call themselves the Crane Grove Crew. Their main goal as Agent Z is to cause some harmless mischief and fight boredom. They do this by playing funny practical jokes. After their pranks, they often leave a special 'Z' mark, like the famous character Zorro.
The Crane Grove Crew has a secret hideout. It's an old, unused park-keeper's cottage that is boarded up. It's right on the edge of the park near where they live. Almost no one knows who Agent Z really is, except for a few people who find out during the stories. The boys have promised to keep their secret identity hidden.
In 1996, the book Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars was made into a TV show by the BBC.
Contents
Meet the Main Characters
The three main characters in the Agent Z books are 12-year-old boys.
- Ben Simpson: He is the only child of Trevor and Jane Simpson. They live in a place called Crane Grove. Ben is known as the "handsome" one of the group. He often daydreams, and the adventure stories include his wild ideas and fantasies. His mum thinks his "fertile imagination" means he might become a writer or artist when he grows up.
- Barney Hall: He is also an only child and lives with his parents. Barney is a bit overweight, but he is the smartest one in the crew. Teachers respect him because he is so clever. He is also good at getting adults to do what he wants by complimenting them.
- Ian "Jenks" Jenkinson: Jenks has many brothers and sisters, so many that it's hard to remember the exact number!
Other Characters You'll Meet
Here are some other important characters in the Agent Z stories:
- Trevor Simpson: He is Ben's dad. Trevor is a very practical person. He used to be a bit of a bully when he was at school. To beat boredom, he likes to listen to Elvis Presley and Rock 'n' Roll music in a shed in their garden. He also goes to Rock 'n' Roll nights at the local pub.
- Jane Simpson: She is Ben's mum. Jane fights boredom by watching TV soap operas and eating chocolate. She also takes different night classes, like life-drawing, history, Spanish, and Turkish. She is the smart one in the family and often sets the rules.
- Fisty Morgan: He is the school bully. Even at eight years old, he seemed to be shaving already! He often tries to take lunch money from other kids. He likes to tell everyone that he comes from a tough background. However, the Crane Grove Crew found out his secret: he actually comes from a rich family, lives in a fancy house, and his parents spoil him. His mum even calls him 'poppit'!
- Mrs. Block: She is the headmistress at the boys' school. Everyone knows her by the nickname 'Breezeblock'.
- Badger: This is the Simpson family dog. Badger is an Old English Sheepdog. He is very old, deaf, and has lost a lot of his fur. His breath also smells like old Brussels sprouts!
Agent Z's Secret Code
The Crane Grove Crew uses a secret language called Pig Latin. It's quite simple to learn! To use it, you take the first letter of a word and move it to the end. Then, you add 'ay' after it.
For example:
- The word 'Ready' becomes 'Eady-ray'.
- 'Done' becomes 'One-day'.
- 'Yes' becomes 'Es-yay'.
Agent Z and British Life
The Agent Z books are set in Britain. The language and the way of life in the stories are very British. This means the books are full of references to things that are common in British culture. For example, they mention shops like Sainsbury's and Tescos. They also talk about sports like Cricket and football, including the FA Cup Final and the TV show Match of the Day.
Even though the books are very British, they also include things from American popular culture, like superheroes and action movies. For instance, there are references to shows like Star Trek. The adventures of Agent Z are similar to other popular British children's adventure stories, like The Famous Five books by Enid Blyton.
Images for kids
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Book cover for Agent Z Goes Wild
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Cover for Agent Z and the Penguin From Mars
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Book cover for Agent Z and the Killer Bananas
