Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz – A book review

Recommended for ages 9-12

Have you ever imagined that you were a top spy? Fourteen-year-old Alex Rider has never had one. But he still finds himself becoming one, in Alex Rider’s first book, Stormbreakerby Anthony Horowitz.

Alex’s uncle, who raised him, is killed in a car accident. He was supposed to not be wearing his seatbelt, but Alex knows something is wrong. His uncle was the last person to ride without his seatbelt…

After school, Alex goes to the junkyard, to examine the car for himself, and he nearly gets killed. Thus begins his sudden career as a spy for the M16, the main British intelligence agency.

The next two weeks are devoted to intensive special forces training. He’s thrown in with grown men, having to run hurdles and do what they do, with no special treatment. One of the men, Wolf, seems intent on making trouble for him, and Alex is nearly badly injured in an explosion due to something Wolf did to him.

After the training, Alex is sent to the headquarters of Sayle Enterprises, a company run by Herod Sayle, a man who appears to the world as a fine humanitarian. His generous gift to the world will be to ensure that every school in the country receives one of his new advanced Stormbreaker computers.

However, all is not as it seems. While investigating Mr. Sayle and his so-called humanitarian society, Alex’s uncle Ian was killed in the line of duty. Alex’s job is to pick up where his uncle left off. His mission is to discover the secret behind computers and what will really happen the day they are all connected at the same time.

Children who love adventure will immerse themselves in this story full of suspense and action. Alex is chased, attacked by a giant jellyfish, shot, and nearly drowns while swimming underwater in the dark. There are surprises popping up all the time and Alex is put to the limit of his intellectual and physical abilities.

The book reads like a suspense thriller, and it’s hard to put down. Reluctant readers will be drawn into the activity and will want to continue with the rest of the series.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12, it includes some violence, though Alex himself refuses to kill. Kids will feel like they’ve been spies themselves, after reading Alex Rider’s first book, Stormbreakerby Anthony Horowitz.