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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com.
For the last three months I have been taking part in the Monster Goddess Book Club run by The Bookie Monsters and The Book Goddess. This months pick was a favourite book from your childhood. Originally I was going to read Holes by Louis Sachar because I loved that book but ended up changing to Stormbreaker after finding out (thanks to Tasha!) that the series had continued after what I had thought was the last book.
It was actually a little strange going back to this because I loved it so much as a kid. Like I literally read this book to death. When everyone else was getting all annoyed over Dumbledore dying at the end of Half Blood Prince I was more worried about the fact that Alex Rider had possibly been killed off at the end of one of the later books. True story.
And now, my opinion on Stormbreaker now that I’m all grown up. I’m very surprised to say I enjoyed it. It holds up to rereading as an adult. Admittedly it does feel a little bit childish, the plot isn’t the greatest and at the end the baddie inexplicably turns up to save the day. But it could be worse. It’s basically a kids version of James Bond. In fact it would be a very good way to introduce a kid to James Bond. I liked it. It wasn’t good but it was still decent enough for me to want to continue the series.
For the last three months I have been taking part in the Monster Goddess Book Club run by The Bookie Monsters and The Book Goddess. This months pick was a favourite book from your childhood. Originally I was going to read Holes by Louis Sachar because I loved that book but ended up changing to Stormbreaker after finding out (thanks to Tasha!) that the series had continued after what I had thought was the last book.
It was actually a little strange going back to this because I loved it so much as a kid. Like I literally read this book to death. When everyone else was getting all annoyed over Dumbledore dying at the end of Half Blood Prince I was more worried about the fact that Alex Rider had possibly been killed off at the end of one of the later books. True story.
And now, my opinion on Stormbreaker now that I’m all grown up. I’m very surprised to say I enjoyed it. It holds up to rereading as an adult. Admittedly it does feel a little bit childish, the plot isn’t the greatest and at the end the baddie inexplicably turns up to save the day. But it could be worse. It’s basically a kids version of James Bond. In fact it would be a very good way to introduce a kid to James Bond. I liked it. It wasn’t good but it was still decent enough for me to want to continue the series.
This was a fun book to read.
The story was about a 14 year old boy, who was employed as a spy in order to gather information about a computer called Stormbreaker. The book kept a light and fun atmosphere. The story was fast paced.
The main character, Alex Rider was very likeable, witty, had a good sense of humor, and very cute. The plot of the story was very movie-ish for me, however. I think that it's the kind of story that we see in some cartoons, with a disturbed villain and all that saving the world stuff. I found the bad guy quite funny, and he was certainly a very peculiar person. The other personalities mentioned in the book were unique too. If you read the book, I think you'd find Mr. Grin hilarious!
What I liked about the book was that it was jammed packed with action, and excitement. It kept me on the edge, especially when Alex went around spying. The ending of the story quite surprised me a bit. There was a little twist, and it kind of left me hanging. I'm looking forward to read the second book.
I definitely recommend this book to children, and those who are children at heart!
The story was about a 14 year old boy, who was employed as a spy in order to gather information about a computer called Stormbreaker. The book kept a light and fun atmosphere. The story was fast paced.
The main character, Alex Rider was very likeable, witty, had a good sense of humor, and very cute. The plot of the story was very movie-ish for me, however. I think that it's the kind of story that we see in some cartoons, with a disturbed villain and all that saving the world stuff. I found the bad guy quite funny, and he was certainly a very peculiar person. The other personalities mentioned in the book were unique too. If you read the book, I think you'd find Mr. Grin hilarious!
What I liked about the book was that it was jammed packed with action, and excitement. It kept me on the edge, especially when Alex went around spying. The ending of the story quite surprised me a bit. There was a little twist, and it kind of left me hanging. I'm looking forward to read the second book.
I definitely recommend this book to children, and those who are children at heart!
After Alex's uncle is mysteriously killed, Alex is forced to take his place as a spy for M16, the British Intelligence Agency (basically who James Bond worked for). Full of danger, criminals, and fast-paced action, teen boys will EAT THIS SERIES UP. This book was written for teens, but I'd have no problem giving it to a high-level slightly younger reader (like, 5th grade). There's some violence, but it isn't horribly graphic and there aren't any language problems that I can recall (maybe they say "Hell" but that's the only thing I can think of).
I listened to the audiobook and it was a decent representation of the book, and the same guy who did the Artemis Fowl audiobook did this one. I think I'll keep listening to audiobooks for books that just aren't my style (Stormbreaker is just not my style) because then I read them, but I don't feel like it's a burden to read.
I listened to the audiobook and it was a decent representation of the book, and the same guy who did the Artemis Fowl audiobook did this one. I think I'll keep listening to audiobooks for books that just aren't my style (Stormbreaker is just not my style) because then I read them, but I don't feel like it's a burden to read.
I can see why the Alex Rider series is such an intriguing read among a teen audience, especially boys. It features a solid protagonist facing many obstacles in the midst of pressing circumstances, and some interesting gadgets that he has to use in the mix of his newfound identity. However, I thought the first novel in the series, "Stormbreaker" reads a bit rugged and isn't as convincing as some of the novels that follow it. I understand since this is the first novel that sets everything to task, however, so I can give it some credit.
After his uncle, Ian Rider, dies, Alex knows something's amiss about the way his uncle died. This is confirmed when he checks the junkyard close by and sees his uncle's car riddled with bullets, and experiences a near miss with death himself. Then, he finds that his uncles profession wasn't a banker at all, but rather a spy. And his uncles former employers want Alex to finish the job his uncle started. Talk about being thrown into a tricky situation. Between training and attempting to hide his identity, Alex struggles to keep himself afloat in the crossfire, and there are genuine sequences of peril that keep this novel moving along fast, fluid, and quite pleasantly in spurts. Yet, reflecting about it a bit, I realized that there are moments that come across a bit clunky, such as not-so-subtle references to James Bond, and the fact that this novel is supposed to take place in England, it doesn't necessarily use British terminology. The antagonists, as well, I expected to be more menacing, but given the target audience, I know why this wasn't the case. Mr. Grin seemed like a lightweight version of Batman's "Joker" - and not quite as amusing/menacing as his moniker would give him. Still, I would be remiss if I said I weren't entertained during the time I read this book. It was a quick read, though it took me longer only because I juggled the read with some of my other library books and school (among other activities).
Worth reading once, and definitely worth looking into the extended series.
Overall score: 3/5
After his uncle, Ian Rider, dies, Alex knows something's amiss about the way his uncle died. This is confirmed when he checks the junkyard close by and sees his uncle's car riddled with bullets, and experiences a near miss with death himself. Then, he finds that his uncles profession wasn't a banker at all, but rather a spy. And his uncles former employers want Alex to finish the job his uncle started. Talk about being thrown into a tricky situation. Between training and attempting to hide his identity, Alex struggles to keep himself afloat in the crossfire, and there are genuine sequences of peril that keep this novel moving along fast, fluid, and quite pleasantly in spurts. Yet, reflecting about it a bit, I realized that there are moments that come across a bit clunky, such as not-so-subtle references to James Bond, and the fact that this novel is supposed to take place in England, it doesn't necessarily use British terminology. The antagonists, as well, I expected to be more menacing, but given the target audience, I know why this wasn't the case. Mr. Grin seemed like a lightweight version of Batman's "Joker" - and not quite as amusing/menacing as his moniker would give him. Still, I would be remiss if I said I weren't entertained during the time I read this book. It was a quick read, though it took me longer only because I juggled the read with some of my other library books and school (among other activities).
Worth reading once, and definitely worth looking into the extended series.
Overall score: 3/5
adventurous
fast-paced
light
easy
simple
awesome
full of action
fights
explosions
trickery
EPIC!
read this!
easy
simple
awesome
full of action
fights
explosions
trickery
EPIC!
read this!
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
adventurous