THE RECRUIT {CHERUB # ONE} by ROBERT MUCHAMORE.SOURCE: A World Book Night read.
THE BOOK {According to the back cover}: A terrorist doesn't let strangers in her flat because they might be undercover police or intelligence agents, but her children bring their mates home and they roam freely. She doesn't know that one of these kids has bugged every room in her house, made copies of all her computer files and stolen her address book. The kid works for CHERUB.
CHERUB agents are aged between ten and seventeen. They live in the real world, slipping under adult radar and getting information that sends criminals and terrorists to jail. For official purposes, these children do not exist.
FIRST SENTENCE {1: Science}: James Choke hated Combined Science.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 234/5}: Something shrieked and brushed against his leg. James jolted. He was peeing on one of the chickens that roamed around camp.
MY THOUGHTS: A great book for older children and younger teens. I'd especially recommend this for those who are looking for an adventure packed read with which to tempt boys.
Based on a fictional secret service agency set up by French civilians during the second World War Cherub recruits and trains children to act as spies. Youngsters like James, Kyle and Amy who after their initial training (which would test the endurance of most adults) are sent on missions deemed only suitable for a child ..... after all who would expect anyone aged ten to seventeen of being a master spy?
OK so there are bits of the book that stretch the imagination but on the whole this is a fun read that is so much more.
I loved that despite being highly trained spies well versed in weaponry, espionage and survival skills (think Hogworts without the lessons in 'Potions', 'Defence Against The Dark Arts' etc) in many ways these are 'normal' children who enjoy everyday things which in the case of the main character, eleven year old James, includes play stations, Mars bars and cute girls.
That as well as all the derring-dos this is also a thought provoking, ethical read that addresses a lot of issues, some of them very grown-up which, along with the use of some mild swear words and occasional reference to drugs, may be of concern to some parents.
8 comments:
This sounds like the type of book I would have loved as a child. :-) As an adult, I have a harder time separating the parent from the reader so I think it'd be hard for me to suspend my disbelief. Or at least I'd always be so worried about the kids! Still, this sounds like a fun read!
I think this sounds like a really fun book! I might mention it to my granddaughter as she enjoys action-filled stories.
I am so glad you reviewed this book. I am going to check it out for my son!
:-)
Traci
Sometimes stretching the imagination is a good thing. Looks like it works here. Will have to check it out.
Hi, Tracy. I'm back after a break! Wonderful review, as usual. I'm glad you enjoyed this book--it does sound like a fun one!
This sounds like a neat idea. It stands to reason that it would be a bit farfetched but that of course, is part of the fun.
Sounds like it's a well written and fun story, while addressing important issues.
Hi Tracy,
I see more and more books coming through the shop, with young teenagers firmly in their sites as a target audience.
So long as the authors, many of whom also write adult fiction, keep this demographic firmly in mind and don't start to blur the lines too much between YA and adult themes and writing, that's okay, as it can only encourage social reading amongst an age group who typically are so very much against reading, unless it is required for exams!
This author's writing sounds very much in tune with that of Anthony Horowitz and genre newcomer, Andy McNab, whose books YA are becoming well recognised and very popular.
Thanks for sharing this one and for the even handed review,
Yvonne
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