While El Niño might promise a rather warm winter, those reading “Spy School: Goes North” by Stuart Gibbs will surely feel the icy chill of north winds fingering down necks and up sleeves. Because in this eleventh novel in the Spy Series, Ben and his cadre of fellow spy students and a few adults are in Alaska, where even in the summer you need parkas in addition to industrial strength mosquito repellant.

Gibbs’ gift is that no matter how many novels are in one of his series—pick this Spy School series or the FunJungle series—the stories are always fresh and the action is nonstop. In fact, between the plotting and planning and code-breaking, and the humor that Gibbs deftly inserts into much of the dialogue and narrative, this is a book that is a quick read. You won’t want to put it down.

Ben and his fellow spy student and girlfriend Erica are at a makeshift camp in Alaska with their friends and fellow students Mike and Zoe after their CIA training school was blown up in “Spy School Project X.” These four students are being taught by Erica’s grandfather Cyrus and her parents. But trouble finds its way to the remote Alaskan camp as Russian spies kidnap Cyrus. Erica’s parents are away getting supplies, so the four kids must follow the submarine and try to rescue Cyrus.

And, of course, once he’s rescued there’s more danger, and it seems that yet again, Ben Ripley will be called on to save the world from calamity. Of course, he’s not alone. Erica is a formidable ally as are Mike and Zoe. As they race across the Bering Strait, into Russia, and then back into Alaska, to try to stop a Doomsday plot that will kill millions of creatures, we are riveted. Incidentally, we are also learning quite a bit about the Arctic tundra, bogs, and the vegetation there.

And the humor. While the first sentence in this book isn’t as spectacular as the first sentence in “Whale Done” (of the FunJungle series), the first person narrative by Ben is bitingly funny and witty. There are plenty of farting walruses as well as some light, age-appropriate romance, so there’s really something for almost every reader. And don’t be afraid to jump into this series even if you haven’t read the prior books. Although I highly recommend the previous book, “Spy School Project X” because of it’s incredibly timely message, this one will surely hook middle grade readers. And even some adults.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Simon & Schuster, the publisher, for review purposes.