Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Title: Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls #5)

Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books

Format: Hardcover
Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Source: Bought

Overall: 5/5

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

Review:

**Warning: Spoilers for Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls #4). Sorry, it’s kind of unavoidable. However, this review is spoiler-free for Out of Sight, Out of Time.**

It is a truth universally acknowledged that you did not have a childhood if you did not:

1. Play the floor is lava

2. Want to be a spy

At least, I’m pretty sure that’s how that quote goes.

Cammie Morgan goes to Gallagher Academy, one of the top spy schools in the world. At the end of book four, Cammie has decided to leave her school, leave her friends, and leave her sorta-boyfriend Zach, in an attempt to finish the mission her father was on when he went missing five years ago. She only meant to be gone for the summer.

But when Cammie wakes up at the beginning of Out of Sight, Out of Time, nuns are calling her Gillian, her hair is dyed black, it’s the beginning of October, and she has absolutely no idea how she got there. In fact, she can’t remember her summer at all.

When Cammie finally returns to Gallagher Academy, she and her friends must figure out just what she did over the summer, and just why the Circle is trying their hardest to keep that from happening.

Ah, how my inner spy girl yearns to solve this mystery.

(And rest assured, just because I mentioned childhood just up there, this book/series is not just for kids!)

I stumbled on this series completely by accident when I found the first two books at a massive book sale. I thought, “Ehh, this looks fun. I guess.” Tossed it in my pile, and moved on.

Well! I did not know what I was getting myself in to. Ally Carter is an incredibly, incredibly gifted writer. I FEEL like I am right there with Cammie. I FEEL like a spy. And I’m constantly surprised and thrilled with each twist and turn in the series.

Gallagher Girls is FUN, and easy to read. The plots are compelling (because SPIES, seriously), and the characters are dynamic. Cammie and her friends are so well written. They feel like real teenagers. They just also happen to be spies. And despite Cammie’s claims to be the plain girl chameleon (which in her own words she notes is seriously underrated), Cammie is one of the most compelling characters I’ve ever had the honour and pleasure to read about.

Out of Sight, Out of Time is the fifth book of the series, and I have to say, I’m incredibly pleased with the direction of the series. Over each book, it’s easy to see the complexity of the plot grow, and with that, the growth of the characters. But I think that Out of Sight, Out of Time is the book that really shows and explores that character growth. They’re older. They’re more experienced. And even though they always knew the dangers of being a spy, now those dangers finally feel real.

I’ll admit it, I spent the first, oh, about a hundred pages of this book crying. Of course, there are still funny moments, still awesome action. But the emotions in this book are so real, so raw, and so perfect. I am so glad the author wasn’t afraid of showing this kind of growth in the series, to show this darker side of Cammie and her spy world.

My only minor qualm with this book: I would have liked to see first hand “in real time” just what Cammie did over the summer because I think it would have made for an excellent adventure. But! As I kept reading, I COMPLETELY understood why the author chose not to do that, and it totally makes sense. This book is exactly what it was supposed to be. I really don’t think otherwise we would have seen the same growth in the plot and the characters (how many times have I said the word “growth”? I am all about the growth apparently).

And don’t worry! Plenty of action! and mystery! and hot shirtless boys! in this book to keep you on the edge of your seat! Because, come on, this is a Gallagher Girls book after all. Would you expect any less?

*puts on spy goggles*

Now! I’m off to climb the tree in my front yard and see if any evil spies out there need taking down. If only I can get out of my house without touching the lava floor...

And you! You are off to read this book, yes? I promise, if this book doesn’t hook you, I will sacrifice myself to the lava. And yes, I am writing this with my feet pulled up onto my chair.

I recommend Out of Sight, Out of Time (and the entire Gallagher Girls series) to everyone who loves laughing hysterically, crying, adventures, compelling characters, and Young Adult books of course.