The Recruit (Cherub): by Robert Muchamore

THE RECRUIT

SUMMARY

CHERUB agents are all seventeen and under. They wear skate tees and hemp, and look like regular kids. But they're not. They are trained professionals who are sent out on missions to spy on terrorists and international drug dealers. CHERUB agents hack into computers, bug entire houses, and download crucial documents. It is a highly dangerous job. For their safety, these agents DO NOT EXIST.

James is the latest CHERUB recruit. He and his sister were recently orphaned, and James has been in a lot of trouble. But he is brilliant in math. And CHERUB needs him. After one hundred days, the grueling training period is over. But the adventure has just begun.

REVIEW

For decades people has been fascinated with the world of espionage. From James Bond to Jason Bourne, spies have made the entertainment industry billions of dollars.

Whether it be their debonair, devil may care, attitude, the endorphin high we feel as they pull a fast one over the mark, or the exhale of exhilaration as they narrowly escape death to clutch victory from the hands of defeat, we were born to love spies.

But where did these spies learn their trade? When did they start?

We learn all this and more in Robert Muchamore’s, The Recruit. The Recruit takes place at Cherub, a government training facility for underage spies. These child spies are trained to perform the duties of an adult spy, operating in situations that would draw less attention from children than from adults. These situations includes everything from vandalizing a house to infiltrating an organization through the suspects children.

The Recruit starts a little slow but the minute James enters Cherub it becomes a captivating rollercoaster ride of excitement. Readers wont be able to put the book down as James navigates the brutal training program at Cherub, and with the execution of his first mission readers will hold their breath in anticipation.

I would have liked the main characters to be a few years older, possibly 14 or 15, but it doesn’t affect the story enough to put the book down. That said the only other complaint I had for the book were some of the characters like Amy, who seemed to change personalities throughout the book, causing the reader to feel confused about their purpose.

That said The Recruit is a fast paced exciting read that young adult boys will just love. It is a perfect fit for its target audience, and anyone else who enjoys the world of espionage and deceit should pick it up as well.

RATING

9 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Published: April 6, 2010

Price: $16.99