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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is it character development if they just become more depressed? Genuinely, Alex deserves the biggest of breaks and better adults (other than Jack) in his life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Murder
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Unique among the series, in that the antagonist becomes a real character and interacts with the protagonist. Plus, some of my personal favorite action scenes from the series.
Age range: 10-15
May be too violent for younger readers. Especially if they are scared of the ocean.
Age range: 10-15
May be too violent for younger readers. Especially if they are scared of the ocean.
The third book in the Alex Rider series doesn’t let up on the gas pedal at all. Alex really has had all he can take with these MI-6 assignments but when offered to be a ball boy at Wimbledon merely in exchange for keeping an eye out for something “unusual”, he takes the bait. That leads to the first part of the escapades in this book. But after he uncovers a drug plot designed to influence illegal gambling and saves the entire tournament, it’s on to the real plot of the story. Here again, Alex just has to play a bit part in exchange for a two week vacation on a small island near Cuba, called Skeleton Key. He is loaned out to the CIA to play the role of a 14-year-old son to two CIA agents. They are supposed to do all the actual spy work. All Alex has to do is pretty much play himself, albeit as an American boy from LA.
Of course it doesn’t work out that way and of course Alex uncovers the real plot. Ultimately it leads to huge consequences, as big as anything James Bond encounters. Readers must certainly suspend their disbelief as Alex gets himself in to trouble time and again only to escape with just seconds to spare. But therein lies the charm of these books. They really are teenage James Bond adventures, complete with dastardly villains, last second escapes, and at least three gadgets that you know will come into play sooner or later. Alex always uses a combination of clever resourcefulness and flat-out luck to save the day.
Wonderful stuff, even for readers that are a bit older than the YA target market.
Of course it doesn’t work out that way and of course Alex uncovers the real plot. Ultimately it leads to huge consequences, as big as anything James Bond encounters. Readers must certainly suspend their disbelief as Alex gets himself in to trouble time and again only to escape with just seconds to spare. But therein lies the charm of these books. They really are teenage James Bond adventures, complete with dastardly villains, last second escapes, and at least three gadgets that you know will come into play sooner or later. Alex always uses a combination of clever resourcefulness and flat-out luck to save the day.
Wonderful stuff, even for readers that are a bit older than the YA target market.