Maximum Security (Cherub Mission #3)
Robert Muchamore
Adventure, kid spies
CHERUB agents are highly trained, extremely talented and all under the age of seventeen. For official purposes, these agents do not exist. They are sent out on missions to spy on terrorists, hack into crucial documents, and gather intel on global threats all without gadgets or weapons. It is a highly dangerous job, but these agents have one crucial advantage: Adults never suspect that teens are spying on them.
In Maximum Security, James's newest mission brings him to the sun-baked desert prison Arizona Max, home to 280 child criminals. One of them is the son of a weapons dealer who has been selling U.S. missiles to terrorists. If James can get the kid, CHERUB has a chance to stop the father. Getting into the prison is easy. Breaking out is the hard part.
You can read my reviews for CHERUB books 1 & 2 here.
Once you have, you'll see I looooove the Cherub series. Book 1 was by far the best, but I've really been enjoying the continuation of the series thus far.
What's great about this series is that each mission is totally different and disconnected from the last. Therefore, content-wise, I have very little to say. As usual, fun, wild, fast-paced, and everything a Percy Jackson/ Maximum Ride fan will love. In this installment the stakes get higher, which is always good.
The new in Maximum Security is this time we get Lauren, James's sister, along for the ride. She's smart and young and cute and adds a fresh perspective. For those nostalgic for Kyle, Bruce, Kerry and Gabrielle- they're not in this one so much, but they'll be back, you can tell(:
All in all? Go get it, especially for a guy reader. Rating: 4 stars
Happy spring break!
Love,
Esty
The Dealer (Cherub #2)
Robert Muchamore
Middle grade spy book
Drugs, cars and guns!
Keith Moore is Europe's biggest cocaine dealer. The police have been trying to get enough evidence to nail him for more than twenty years.
Now, four CHERUB agents are joining the hunt. Can a group of kids successfully infiltrate Keith Moore's organisation when dozens of attempts by undercover police officers have failed?
James Adams must start at the bottom, making deliveries for small time drug dealers and getting to know the dangerous underworld they inhabit. He needs to make a big splash if he's going to win the confidence of the man at the top.
You can read my review of book 1 here. No spoilers, don't worry(:
As you know, I loved loved loved The Recruit! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this installment and I was sure it would just get better and better as we went along. While I did love this one, too, It didn't live up to my expectations of it.
One of the reasons for that was the raising of the stakes. Now usually, that's a good thing, right? It adds suspense and thrill to a story. Except this time, it hurt the believability of the series. In The Dealer drugs and guns were involved, and people got killed. It's not gory or anything, and the only people dying were the bad guys, but still. The fact that these kids are 10-14 made me uneasy. The person in charge of CHERUB acknowledged that and kept warning them that if anything happened that threatened their lives they would be pulled out immediately and don't they dare keep fighting when there's a gun etc. But that didn't hold back the action almost at all. I couldn't really buy that- MI5 allowing minors to be risked like that - you know, international law and kids' rights and ethics and little things like that.
HOWEVER, overall, The Dealer was a hilarious roller coaster ride of fun and I don't think the above should spoil the experience for the older reader (I find that the actual middle graders usually don't have realistic issues with their books) . The characters are as lovable and great as ever, but I'm hoping to see a little more development in book 3. There are hints the Lauren (the protagonist's little sister) will be playing a bigger part in the next one so I can't wait for that.
If you love Percy Jackson meets Alex Rider with elements of the Gallagher Girls this is your book. Rating:
Enjoy!!
Esty
The Recruit (Cherub Mission #1)
Robert Muchamore
Middle grade spy novel
CHERUB agents are highly trained, extremely talented--and all under the age of seventeen. For official purposes, these agents do not exist. They are sent out on missions to spy on terrorists, hack into crucial documents, and gather intel on global threats--all without gadgets or weapons. It is an exceptionally dangerous job, but these agents have one crucial advantage: adults never suspect that teens are spying on them. James is the latest CHERUB recruit. He's a bit of a troublemaker, but he's also brilliant. And CHERUB needs him. James has no idea what to expect, but he's out of options. Before he can start in the field he must first survive one hundred grueling days of basic training, where even the toughest recruits don't make it to the end....
I have wanted to read this series ever since the great Rick Riordan recommended it on his blog. Even more so when I started working at a bookstore and saw how fast they fly off the shelves. So finally I did. And let me tell you, IT WAS WORTH EVERY SECOND I SPENT ON IT.
Fast-paced, twists and turns at every corner, smart, badass characters who are all like 12 YEARS OLD all in one book basically equals gold. Not to mention a world I was just SALIVATING to live in. I mean, a top-secret, hi-tech training facility filled with like 150 super spy kids who kick butt and flirt. Notice the multiple uses of the words 'like' and 'just'. Can you tell I'm fangirling??
The book follows the tragic circumstances that bring James to CHERUB, his days at basic training, and then his first mission. In the begininng you even get a taste of a kid on his way to the streets- for a novel being sold to 12 year olds, I didn't realize it would have that kind of a dark aspect. Surprised, I actually thought it added to story- made it realistic and relatable, not to mention more appealing for an older audience.
All that aside, THIS BOOK WAS FREAKING HYSTERICAL. I had this big goofy smile most of the time and actually lol'ed a couple of times. Pure awesome.
Basically? Pick it up right now. I'm pretty sure this CHERUB is climbing it's way up there to my list of All Time Best Series. Can't wait to get my hands on book 2!! Rating:
Love,
Esty
