November 10th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

It's Friday, which means it is time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56!

I'm switching things up a little and sharing from a Middle Grade book this week.  Still a mystery, however.  This week's book is the delightful Spy School Secret Service by Stuart Gibbs.

                                                    

If you haven't discovered his books yet, you need to fix that today.  I'm talking for yourself.  And if you have any kids in your life, you should get his books for them, too.
Here's how this book starts.

"SPYDER is back!"
Zoe Zibbell's exclamation rang out through the spy school library.  In her excitement, Zoe had spoken a bit too loudly - and since we were in the library, it was quieter than any other place on campus.

Fans of the series know that SPYDER being back is indeed bad news since they are the evil organization who our main character, Ben Ripley, always seems to be facing.

I must admit that page 56 isn't super exciting.  Ben is being given a tour of the White House on his way to meet up with [Redacted].  And no, it isn't the President.  He's already met the man by that time.  But we do have this fun exchange by his tour guide who is taking him to meet [Redacted].

Kimmy ducked left and led me up a staircase.  "This is one of eight staircases in the white House.  There are also three elevators, twenty-eight fireplaces, one hundred and thirty-two rooms, and four hundred and twelve doors."
"Why are there so many more doors than rooms?" I asked.
"Er..." Kimmy said, thrown.  "I have no idea.  But I do know that it takes five hundred and seventy gallons of paint to cover the entire exterior!"

I'm hoping to finish the book today.  As always, it's lots of fun and almost impossible to put down.