5 YAs for Agent Carter Fans

Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein
Like Agent Carter, Code Name Verity transports you to another time with its powerful tale of WWII espionage and its effects on two young women. A sometimes brutal read (including depictions of Nazi practices during WWII), it is at its heart a story of best friends Queenie, a spy captured by the SS during a mission in Nazi-occupied France, and Maddie, the pilot who smuggled her in. When Queenie is captured by the Nazis, she agrees to confess everything she knows. The narration switches between flashbacks and present day, from the friends’ first conversation to Queenie’s current suffering in prison. While there’s enough adventure and heroics to satisfy everyone, each page is infused with the heartbreak of war and violence.

All Fall Down (Embassy Row Series #1), by Ally Carter
A gripping thriller, All Fall Down is the perfect choice for Agent Carter fans wanting something a little more modern. Army brat Gracie, recently relocated to Embassy Row to live with her ambassador grandfather, is haunted by the death of her mother. While she insists her mother was murdered by the Scarred Man, everyone else is positive her mother’s death was the result of an accidental fire, and that Gracie is crazy. Gracie’s search for the Scarred Man leads her to uncover some pretty surprising secrets—secrets that might just threaten all the countries on Embassy Row. Part spy thriller, part examination of grief and mental illness, this series will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Gracie deals with both international politics and social politics. (And if you like Embassy Row, Carter has two more series, featuring espionage thrills and strong lady leads: the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society.)

Etiquette & Espionage (Finish School Series #1), by Gail Carriger
This book combines some of the best parts of Agent Carter (espionage, witty banter, strong female role models) with Victorian paranormal steampunk, which will become your new favorite obsession. When troublemaker Sophronia is shipped off to finishing school, she’s understandably annoyed. But the annoyance quickly disappears when she discovers “finishing” means finishing everything, including supernatural creatures. In addition to dance and music, the clever and capable Sophronia also gets lessons in espionage and assassination in a fun steampunk world, complete with a steam-powered dog named Bumbersnoot.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
We’re first introduced to Agent Carter‘s titular character in Captain America: The First Avenger, which takes place during World War II. Agent Peggy Carter is shaped by the war, where she battles Nazis and the break-off terrorist group known as Hydra. If you love the WWII setting and time period, The Book Thief is the perfect choice. Narrated by death, its lyrical and haunting prose tell the story of Liesel as she fights to rescue books before the Nazis can destroy them. While Leisel may not be a spy, she has a spark of determination similar to Peggy Carter’s. Despite the horror and death going on around her, she won’t give up hope, making her a truly inspiring hero.

Jackaby (Jackaby Series #1), by William Ritter
Set in an alternative 19th-century England, Jackaby is a supernatural mystery worthy of any Agent Carter fan. It stars a forthright young woman who investigates mysteries under the guidance of a mysterious man named Jackaby, who can see things the rest of us can’t. Raised to be a well-bred lady, Abigail Rook rejects her fate, choosing to find adventure instead. And find it she does. With serial killers on the loose, ghosts wafting about, and banshees signaling impending death, Abigail proves that even “ordinary” young girls can do extraordinary things.

Bonus: Operation S.I.N.: Agent Carter, by Kathryn Immonen, Rich Ellis
This comic is meant to tie in to the Agent Carter television series, so it’s a must for fans. After a powerful alien energy source is discovered on Russian soil, secret agent Peggy Carter and Howard Stark must team up to intercept it before terrorist splinter group Hydra finds it. Full of Peggy sassing Howard Stark and punching bad guys, this story reminds you why we consider Peggy a superhero. While the Peggy in the comic doesn’t look much like Hayley Atwell’s Peggy on the show, it’s a nonissue, because all versions of Peggy Carter kick butt and take names.