It has been quite a busy year for Alex Rider.
Rider, protagonist of the best-selling Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, is a fourteen-year-old superspy for England's intelligence agency, MI6. His adventures take him all over the world, from Cornwall, to the French Alps, to Venice.
The first book in the series, Stormbreaker, starts off with Alex Rider's uncle, Ian Rider, dying. He was orphaned as a young child and had been living with his uncle and an American student named Jack Starbright ever since. Alex learns that his uncle was not just a businessman. He was a very successful spy from MI6. And Alex learns that now they want him to take Ian's place. They send him to Cornwall, where he is to inspect the businessman Herod Sayle. Sayle is planning to give out free Stormbreaker computers to every school in England, and MI6 thinks he is a little too shady for comfort.
This first book in the series is an excellent beginning to one of my favorite series. Horowitz makes us feel suspenseful as we wonder what Alex's next move will be. It is an interesting story to which the recent movie does not do much justice. Stormbreaker is very good.
http://www.amazon.com/Stormbreaker-Rider-Adventure-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406112/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Grade: 8
The second book featuring Alex Rider, Point Blanc (or Point Blank in the United States), sends Alex on another adventure. MI6 wants Alex back. There are several murders that occur that the British spy agency thinks are related. One is of a billionaire named Michael Roscoe, and another is of billionaire Viktor Ivanov. Alex goes to Point Blanc Academy, high in the Alps in France, posing as the son of a billionaire. MI6 suspects the headmasters of Point Blanc as being related to the murders.
The second book in the series might be my favorite one. It is even better than its predecessor, combining plot twists, murder conspiracies, and heart-throbbing action to make an excellent story.
http://www.amazon.com/Stormbreaker-Rider-Adventure-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/014240165X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218576420&sr=1-2
Grade: 8.5
Alex Rider returns in Skeleton Key, the third novel in the Alex Rider series. Alex's help is required by the Secret Service again, but this time, America's. Alex goes to the United States to assist the CIA in a case involving Russian General Alexei Sarov, who is a Communist living on Cayo Esqueleto, or Skeleton Key. He is to meet up with the President of Russia in a few days, and the CIA thinks that foul play might occur. Because Sarov has a nuclear weapon.
This third book is tied with Point Blanc as my favorite in the series. Horowitz writes a thrilling story with plenty of action and surprises in stock for both Alex and the reader. Horowitz weaves an excellent web in this novel.
http://www.amazon.com/Skeleton-Alex-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406147/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218676422&sr=8-1
Grade: 8.5
Book 4 in the series is titled Eagle Strike, and is the first novel where Alex's services are not required by the CIA nor MI6. The superstar and philanthropist Damian Cray is one of the most famous and celebrated men in the world, but Alex thinks that this man may not be all that he seems. He knows that Cray has dealings with shady people, but MI6 does not believe his suspicions. Alex decides to use vigilante justice and reveal Cray's true identity for the world to see.
Eagle Strike, while not as good as its two predecessors, is very good. It has excellent scenes and people, along with stunning events and revelations. From the beginning on a French beach to the finale on Air Force One, Eagle Strike is a very good book.
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Strike-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406139/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218676869&sr=1-2
Grade: 8
The fifth book in the series, Scorpia, again has Alex working for no one but himself. He is on vacation in Venice, when he decides to delve into the mysterious world of Scorpia, the criminal organization whose name stans for Sabotage, CORruPtion, Intelligence, and Assassination. He discovers that his late parents, who had died about the time Alex was born, had worked for Scorpia. Alex is torn between his urge to help MI6, who had lied and blackmailed him before to do what they wanted, or Scorpia, who had killed many, many people, just for money.
Scorpia is not the best Alex Rider book. It is good, but there are many far-fetched scenes. For example, Alex should not be able to fight and win many people who had been doing karate their whole lives, or follow a speedboat through the canals of Venice on foot, while there are crowds and crowds of people surrounding him. I would recommend this book, but it is not the same Alex Rider adventure as the previous four.
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Strike-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406139/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218676869&sr=1-2
Grade: 7.5
The sixth of so far seven Alex Rider books published (and the last one I have read) is Ark Angel. Alex is in a very prestigious hospital, recovering from a sniper bullet that he received just above his heart, when kidnappers from the ecoterrorist group Force Three attempt to kidnap the patient next door to Alex. Alex prevents them from doing this, but gets kidnapped himself in the process. He escapes, and finds out that the patient next door was Paul Drevin, son of the multibillionaire Nikolei Drevin. Drevin is planning to build the first commercial hotel in outer space, Ark Angel. Drevin lets Alex stay with him for a couple of weeks in return for him saving Paul. Adventure abounds.
Ark Angel is much like Scorpia. There are some far-fetched scenes. But for the most part, it is very good. It is filled with double-crossings, action, and well-thought-out plans. If you can ignore the few ridiculous events, Ark Angel is very good.
http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Alex-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142407380/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218677835&sr=1-1
Grade: 8
Anthony Horowitz has definitely written an excellent series with Alex Rider. It is much like the James Bond series of books, the first book of which I will soon write a review for. Horowitz started strong with Stormbreaker, wrote excellently with Point Blanc, Skeleton Key, and Eagle Strike, fell down with Scorpia, but rose again with Ark Angel. (I have not read the seventh book, Snakehead, yet, but I hope I do soon. All in all, Horowitz has a Mission: Accomplished.
Rider, protagonist of the best-selling Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, is a fourteen-year-old superspy for England's intelligence agency, MI6. His adventures take him all over the world, from Cornwall, to the French Alps, to Venice.
The first book in the series, Stormbreaker, starts off with Alex Rider's uncle, Ian Rider, dying. He was orphaned as a young child and had been living with his uncle and an American student named Jack Starbright ever since. Alex learns that his uncle was not just a businessman. He was a very successful spy from MI6. And Alex learns that now they want him to take Ian's place. They send him to Cornwall, where he is to inspect the businessman Herod Sayle. Sayle is planning to give out free Stormbreaker computers to every school in England, and MI6 thinks he is a little too shady for comfort.
This first book in the series is an excellent beginning to one of my favorite series. Horowitz makes us feel suspenseful as we wonder what Alex's next move will be. It is an interesting story to which the recent movie does not do much justice. Stormbreaker is very good.
http://www.amazon.com/Stormbreaker-Rider-Adventure-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406112/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Grade: 8
The second book featuring Alex Rider, Point Blanc (or Point Blank in the United States), sends Alex on another adventure. MI6 wants Alex back. There are several murders that occur that the British spy agency thinks are related. One is of a billionaire named Michael Roscoe, and another is of billionaire Viktor Ivanov. Alex goes to Point Blanc Academy, high in the Alps in France, posing as the son of a billionaire. MI6 suspects the headmasters of Point Blanc as being related to the murders.
The second book in the series might be my favorite one. It is even better than its predecessor, combining plot twists, murder conspiracies, and heart-throbbing action to make an excellent story.
http://www.amazon.com/Stormbreaker-Rider-Adventure-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/014240165X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218576420&sr=1-2
Grade: 8.5
Alex Rider returns in Skeleton Key, the third novel in the Alex Rider series. Alex's help is required by the Secret Service again, but this time, America's. Alex goes to the United States to assist the CIA in a case involving Russian General Alexei Sarov, who is a Communist living on Cayo Esqueleto, or Skeleton Key. He is to meet up with the President of Russia in a few days, and the CIA thinks that foul play might occur. Because Sarov has a nuclear weapon.
This third book is tied with Point Blanc as my favorite in the series. Horowitz writes a thrilling story with plenty of action and surprises in stock for both Alex and the reader. Horowitz weaves an excellent web in this novel.
http://www.amazon.com/Skeleton-Alex-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406147/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218676422&sr=8-1
Grade: 8.5
Book 4 in the series is titled Eagle Strike, and is the first novel where Alex's services are not required by the CIA nor MI6. The superstar and philanthropist Damian Cray is one of the most famous and celebrated men in the world, but Alex thinks that this man may not be all that he seems. He knows that Cray has dealings with shady people, but MI6 does not believe his suspicions. Alex decides to use vigilante justice and reveal Cray's true identity for the world to see.
Eagle Strike, while not as good as its two predecessors, is very good. It has excellent scenes and people, along with stunning events and revelations. From the beginning on a French beach to the finale on Air Force One, Eagle Strike is a very good book.
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Strike-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406139/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218676869&sr=1-2
Grade: 8
The fifth book in the series, Scorpia, again has Alex working for no one but himself. He is on vacation in Venice, when he decides to delve into the mysterious world of Scorpia, the criminal organization whose name stans for Sabotage, CORruPtion, Intelligence, and Assassination. He discovers that his late parents, who had died about the time Alex was born, had worked for Scorpia. Alex is torn between his urge to help MI6, who had lied and blackmailed him before to do what they wanted, or Scorpia, who had killed many, many people, just for money.
Scorpia is not the best Alex Rider book. It is good, but there are many far-fetched scenes. For example, Alex should not be able to fight and win many people who had been doing karate their whole lives, or follow a speedboat through the canals of Venice on foot, while there are crowds and crowds of people surrounding him. I would recommend this book, but it is not the same Alex Rider adventure as the previous four.
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Strike-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142406139/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218676869&sr=1-2
Grade: 7.5
The sixth of so far seven Alex Rider books published (and the last one I have read) is Ark Angel. Alex is in a very prestigious hospital, recovering from a sniper bullet that he received just above his heart, when kidnappers from the ecoterrorist group Force Three attempt to kidnap the patient next door to Alex. Alex prevents them from doing this, but gets kidnapped himself in the process. He escapes, and finds out that the patient next door was Paul Drevin, son of the multibillionaire Nikolei Drevin. Drevin is planning to build the first commercial hotel in outer space, Ark Angel. Drevin lets Alex stay with him for a couple of weeks in return for him saving Paul. Adventure abounds.
Ark Angel is much like Scorpia. There are some far-fetched scenes. But for the most part, it is very good. It is filled with double-crossings, action, and well-thought-out plans. If you can ignore the few ridiculous events, Ark Angel is very good.
http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Alex-Rider-Anthony-Horowitz/dp/0142407380/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218677835&sr=1-1
Grade: 8
Anthony Horowitz has definitely written an excellent series with Alex Rider. It is much like the James Bond series of books, the first book of which I will soon write a review for. Horowitz started strong with Stormbreaker, wrote excellently with Point Blanc, Skeleton Key, and Eagle Strike, fell down with Scorpia, but rose again with Ark Angel. (I have not read the seventh book, Snakehead, yet, but I hope I do soon. All in all, Horowitz has a Mission: Accomplished.
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