Ben and Natasha are likable and realistically flawed characters. Natasha’s got a good heart and an even sharper mind. And Ben is working hard to wake up to his own faults. If Drew wrote another book about these two, it would be on my reading list. The most richly accomplished of the brothers’ pairings to date—and given Connelly’s high standards, that’s saying a lot. The basic premises of this book is great. A secret spy organization that only employs kids to gather information. The beginning of the novel also started out strong. I found myself liking the orphaned boy with the obese mom who runs a huge crime organization. However, as soon he entered the CHERUB, things started to go downhill.

Warning - this is a graphic book and Drew doesn’t shy away from describing the violence, including against animals. Muchamore’s writing gives great reality along with futuristic qualities to James’s life of difficulties and amazement. Through the tough beginning to the upward posing plot and future James can be seen as a great example to others. He can relate to many other teens and at the same time give the idea that good things can happen later down the road. The Recruit is thoughtful, relevant, and brainy. Alan Drew paints such a vivid portrait of a seedy world, you’re convinced you’d never want to visit it. Yet as the story tightens its grip, you soon realize you can’t bear to leave.” —Graham Moore, author of The Holdout The Recruit is the first novel in the CHERUB series, written by Robert Muchamore. It introduces most of the main characters, such as James Adams (formerly Choke), Lauren Adams (formerly Onions), Kyle Blueman, and Kerry Chang. It was released in the United Kingdom by Hodder Children's Books on 30 April 2004, and by Simon Pulse in the United States on 30 August 2005.

Success!

The kid was 11. Actually, except for like two other minor characters, everyone was under the age of 12-13. And if that isn't enough, they're way more worldly than preteens. They're cursing, drinking, smoking, fighting, partying, and overall way too mature in adult situations to be taken seriously as little kids. After basic training, James is given a mission alongside Amy. The two pose as siblings visiting their aunt at a hippie camp called Fort Harmony. The government suspects some of the hippies are working with an extremist group called Help Earth. A nearby resort is planning a conference that police fear Help Earth may target. Amy and James befriend the other children at Fort Harmony and search for information. James falls for a girl named Joanna who sometimes visits Fort Harmony. a b c d Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 28, 2021). "Noah Centineo to Star in Netflix CIA Series from Alexi Hawley, Doug Liman & eOne". Deadline . Retrieved October 3, 2022. So then this girl-injuring twelve year old "couldn't face up to what he'd done. No one would believe it was an accident." The basic plot is that an eleven year old boy lives with his younger sister and morbidly obese mother, who runs a shoplifting ring. When his mother dies unexpectedly, he ends up in the system while his sister is sent to live with her father. James gets into all kinds of trouble while in a group home, to the point where he ends up being recruited by CHERUB, a division of MI5 where all the agents are between the ages of 10 and 17. We follow him through basic training and his first mission.

This was a compelling, thought provoking and brutal book. I enjoyed being reacquainted with Ben and Natasha. They are a great couple, and I enjoyed the investigation. Why would James want to seek out his future as an agent for Cherub when life isn’t even worth it? The answer is “refuge”; James needs success to complete something in life. He hasn’t accomplished anything else in life and this is it. Saving the world from terrorists! I didn’t think I could finish it, but this author knows how to tell a story and was able to hold my attention. Jacob Clay is a young man who finds himself slowly immersed in a violent teen-aged white supremacist group. Impressionable, and already experimenting with violence on his own, Jacob allows himself to be groomed by the group’s leader, Ian Rowan. He must shed blood to gain full acceptance into the group and be rewarded with the coveted, red-laced boots. The victim he chooses will shatter a family but will ultimately pull these storylines together with devastating results as Ben, Natasha & Vanek work to find those responsible once and for all. Extraordinary! I can think of no other thriller that portrays its vital themes—all relevant to our times—in such a riveting and up close and personal way.”—Jeffery Deaver, author of The Bone CollectorListen, everybody, I really wanted to love this book, I did. A young adult novel about spies who belong to an organization that doesn't exist? YES PLEASE! This is my genre, you don't even understand.