Award-winning author Shannon Greenland’s The Winning Element, third book in The Specialists series of young adult novels, is the continuing story of young genius, GiGi, and her Specialist colleagues. Published in 2008 by Penguin Group, The Winning Element is a coming-of-age story about trust and leadership that makes a point about judging by what is seen on the outside.
A Spy Thriller Young Adult Novel
When the Specialists are hired to track down a notorious chemical smuggler, and GiGi uncovers information about the smuggler’s connection to her parents, she is put in charge of designing the mission. This time, she needs the help of the Specialists’ chemistry expert, Sissy, code named Beaker, whom GiGi affectionately (or not-so affectionately) refers to as “goth-girl.” When their cover for this mission is cheerleading, neither of them look at the job happily. After her mission in the previous novel, Down to the Wire, GiGi is yet unprepared for the size of her newest responsibility.
More than simply a suspense story for young adults, The Winning Element shares a message about trust, leadership, and judging by appearances. In her third mission, finding a chemical smuggler who plans on making bombs and millions of dollars, GiGi must work with someone she did not think she could get along with, and readers learn a little something about Beaker. Through GiGi's eyes, readers can learn about the personality Beaker hides under her black garb.
The Winning Element Adventure Story
During their mission, GiGi and Beaker must learn to put their differences aside to work together to solve the case. GiGi also needs to learn to separate her emotions from her job, and it proves to be harder than she thought. Not sure that the mission will succeed when things go wrong, GiGi must learn to trust her teammates, marking a pivotal point in the story and in her growing up.
In the midst of the lessons learned, the cheerleading training and competition the girls go through for the mission adds a touch of humour to the novel. Shannon Greenland’s writing in GiGi’s first person narrative, as it is in the first two of The Specialists series novels, still holds the charm of GiGi’s character alongside the drama of the story.
The Winning Element is another gripping story in Shannon Greenland’s young adult novel series The Specialists. Readers who enjoy The Winning Element may enjoy the fourth novel of The Specialists series, Native Tongue, in which GiGi finds herself on a dangerous mission with another of her Specialist colleagues.
Michelle Wright - Michelle is an avid reader and writer, with a focus on book, film and music reviews, gluten free recipes, and fiction writing "how-tos."
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