Stormbreaker (Alex Rider)

I am coming late to the Alex Rider series as my oldest son is only seven. This is the second Alex Rider book that I've read, for the purpose of understanding when my spy-obsessed son might be old enough to start reading the series.

I enjoyed reading this book. It obviously lacks the complexity and depth of a book written for adults, but it is still a fast paced and enjoyable thriller that borrows heavily on the James Bond and Mission Impossible franchises. Alex Rider makes a likable hero who is brave, tenacious and resourceful.

I would feel comfortable giving it to my son to read when he's a little older - my gut feel is 9-10 years would be about right. He still needs to strengthen his reading skills (words like interrogation, hyperventilating, cloying, claustrophobic and exquisite are typical), but also to develop the maturity to cope with a plot that involves a fair amount of violence (the book opens with the death of Alex's uncle and bad guys get shot on a regular basis).

Here are some things that parents may like to know about this book:
- The storyline is reasonably simple and the bad guy/good guy lines are clearly drawn.
- Violence is not described in overly graphic detail, but it does occur throughout the book. Alex fires a gun twice and hits a bad guy on one occasion. He also causes the death of another villain by causing a plane crash.
- There is no swearing or bad language.
- There is a noticeable absence of positive female characters (unless you count the housekeeper who barely appears). There is a reference by the MI5 regarding female agents predominantly being of use if you need to slip someone in as a secretary or receptionist.

Story: Alex Rider, a 14 year old boy, wakes up only to find that his uncle, who he was staying with and like a father to him, is dead. The police say it was a car accident. Alex doesn't buy it though. The obvious damage and bullet holes in the car his uncle was in at the time prove something's wrong with the police's story. Why would they lie though? Why would anyone want to kill a bank manager? Alex finds out more than he asked for. His uncle was working for a military intelligence called MI6. He was a "secret agent" as you might say. Now Alex has to summon all his courage to complete his uncle's final mission. In his adventure, he finds himself trapped many times. How will he get out? During the entire book, many questions race through the reader and Alex's minds. Why was there any need for his uncle to die? What did he discover? What will Alex discover? And more importantly, will Alex have to die too for what he finds?

Comments: This was a very suspenseful and action-filled book. There was truly hardly a boring moment. Nearly every minute of the book was full of heartpounding action and shocking heartstopping suspense. There can be some confusion to some, but other than that, it can also explain things rather well. The plot is excellent, full of unexpected twists and turns, but not as good as the action and the way the book is written. Right when you think it's over, it's not. It's impossibly hard to guess what happens next. You're literally at the edge of your seat by the 3rd chapter! If not at the 3rd chapter, somewhere else in the book! I'd say it was one of the most exciting, suspenseful, and non-boring books I've ever read. Stormbreaker is a mix of James Bond, Alias, and a mystery. Good mixure indeed. Read it today!!

Stormbreaker is one of my favorite books. I have read it through many times. It is about a 14 year old boy who lives with his housekeeper, and his uncle. One night, policemen come to the door and tell Alex that his uncle was killed out in a car crash. Alex does some research, and finds out that his uncle's car was riddled with bullets. Soon after, Alex discovers that his uncle was a spy. He decides to follow in uncle's footsteps. Alex goes on a mission to find out if a man donating computers to all the schools in London is really as nice as he seems. Armed with a tube of stuff that burns through metal, a yo-yo that can lift his weight when climing, and a Game-boy that really is a fax machine/scanner, a x-ray device that can see through walls, a bug finder, and a smoke bomb. Using these devices, he goes under cover. Thats all I'm going to tell you, read the book to experience the adventure of STORMBREAKER.

Wow! This was a great book and I really enjoy it. Full of action and realistic people, places and things. Alex Rider is a believable character who gives James Bond a run for his money. I can't wait till the next book in this series comes out.

I don't remember how I got hooked on the Alex Rider Adventure books, but I'm glad I did. Alex is an unusual fourteen-year-old with many skills: he is fluent in French, Spanish, and German...has the ability to drive a Quad...a Blackbelt in karate...can play snooker like Minnesota Fats plays pool...and has a nose for danger...AND a sense of humor! He usually finds himself up against the wealthiest, nastiest, cold-blooded villains this side of James Bond. Alex is also the youngest special agent MI6 (British Intelligence) has ever had. Put all that and more in a fast-paced, action-packed, page-turner of a novel and you can't lose. Mr. Horowitz has developed a likeable and interesting hero. I hope he continues writing more of these wonderful books. I think adults would enjoy reading about Alex, too.