The Recruit is a 2004 young adult novel by British novelist Robert Muchamore. It is the first book of twelve in the CHERUB series. The novel follows unfortunate teenager James Choke, later named James Adams. James, reeling from the death of his mother, is sent to live in a children’s home, only to be recruited by a spy organization. The Recruit has been translated into twelve languages, and there is also a graphic novel adaptation of the book by Ian Edginton.

I’m that kind of person that only read one book at a time, but with this one I thought that I should read another book between, because this one was a tough read. But I decided that taking a break after a couple of chapters would help me go through it, and it did, but there were moments that I thought about quitting because the main emotion that this book triggered was rage, serious rage, scary rage, because everything sounded so real, so believable and current. There were definitely a few points in this show where I've found myself saying, "Oh man, this is so good," but a few places -namely in the last two episodes- I thought it felt strained by some script choices that were not greatest or most sensible. A female classmate comments on Mum’s weight one too many times, and James pushes her against the wall. Her face catches on a nail, leaving a bloody gash. James runs from the school and wanders around to think. When he finally goes home, he sees Mum’s answering machine is full. She and Ron are drunk, and she hasn’t heard the school’s messages. Pair with something nonfiction about the topics Drew discusses. Options include: The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart or Everything You Love Will Burn by Vegas Tenhold.

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two groups that "gave up on arbitration." The author apparently either meant "mediation" instead of arbitration, or he doesn't know what arbitration is. Both? This book is a disgrace to the spy genre. It's not only implausible and stupid, but the writing is horrendous. As a young adult, I blame these kind of books for watering down the 'young adult' genre. As an aspiring writer, I had a good laugh about how awful Robert Muchamore's writing is, and have learned many lessons from reading what I could bear of this book. Prior to James’s 100 days of basic training, he begins some physical drills. Since he can’t swim, one of his greatest challenges is overcoming his fear of water. A 16-year-old CHERUB named Amy trains him. James is pleased to learn Lauren has been removed from Ron’s care and invited to join CHERUB as well. Basic training is brutal, emotionally and physically. James gets off to a bad start with his 11-year-old partner, Kerry, but eventually sees her as an asset, friend and potential romantic interest. After basic training, James is given a mission alongside Amy. The two pose as siblings visiting their aunt at a hippie camp called Fort Harmony. The government suspects some of the hippies are working with an extremist group called Help Earth. A nearby resort is planning a conference that police fear Help Earth may target. Amy and James befriend the other children at Fort Harmony and search for information. James falls for a girl named Joanna who sometimes visits Fort Harmony. A 3-CD audiobook was released in the UK on 21 September 2006, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt. [5] [6] Critical reception [ edit ]

The plot of this story is is a about a boy named James who lives with his 10 year old sister and his mother . When James is at school one day a girl called Samantha was teasing him about how fat his mum is. James pushes Sam over, she cuts her cheek open. When James gets home he sees his mum lying on the couch, she is pale and not moving this is when James relises she is dead. Later James is abducted by CHERUB (children undercover spys). This is a company for kids with no parents and once they a trained they go on missions to save the world. Drew highlights what it’s like to be a lost teenager looking for community in the worst possible places….That’s just one of the many ways in which The Recruit, set in 1987, feels almost contemporary.” — The New York Times Book Review Drew does a great job of painting 1987 Southern California. This small, middle class community doesn’t have a crime problem. In fact, people move here to escape the crime of the big cities. Ben Wade was one of those people. But still, there’s a Vietnamese sub-community that isn’t welcome by all. “This kind of thing didn’t happen until they got here.” The parallels to today are frightening. It wasn't gripping or scary... we barely knew the bad guys. I like stories with detail. With the twists and turns that have you on the edge of your seat. This wasn't the case at all. There wasn't any guessing or suspects or covert stakeouts with close calls. James did practically nothing and it all sort of fell in his lap. Nearly five years ago, I read and reviewed Shadow Man by Alan Drew, and I said it was “the best kind of novel: one that truly entertains the reader while making us THINK. Ben Wade is a great character, and I hope Shadow Man is the first in a series.” Then my (long) wait began, and finally I was ecstatic to receive a copy of The Recruit from Random House and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.Drugs/Alcohol/Smoking: Mum and Ron frequently get drunk together. The combination of alcohol and Mum’s painkillers for a leg ulcer are thought to have killed her. Older kids give James alcohol at Amy’s birthday party because it’s always a laugh to get younger kids drunk. James vomits a lot that night and has a hangover the next day. Leaders get drunk on CHERUB’s vacation trip. James’ adult counselor offers him a cigarette. He declines then and at the children’s home when other kids offer him cigarettes. Kids have cigarettes at Amy’s party. James tries a cigarette when Joanna offers him one.

Muchamore’s writing gives great reality along with futuristic qualities to James’s life of difficulties and amazement. Through the tough beginning to the upward posing plot and future James can be seen as a great example to others. He can relate to many other teens and at the same time give the idea that good things can happen later down the road. There are swear words, there is violence, and there is talk about sex. But you're being extremely naive if you think that your child doesn't already talk about these topics when they aren't around you. Not to mention that they probably have watched porn by the time they reach 12. In these books there is always an authority figure punishing them when they go wrong and teaching them lessons. There were multiple characters and storylines that were a little confusing at first, but I enjoyed how they were brought together throughout the story. The Recruit is the first novel in the CHERUB series, written by Robert Muchamore. It introduces most of the main characters, such as James Adams (formerly Choke), Lauren Adams (formerly Onions), Kyle Blueman, and Kerry Chang. It was released in the United Kingdom by Hodder Children's Books on 30 April 2004, and by Simon Pulse in the United States on 30 August 2005.

Following the last book in the CHERUB series, it was revealed that a trilogy would be released starting from August 2011 that will focus on a new set of CHERUB agents centred upon Ryan Sharma and also involve an sixteen year old Lauren Adams. The first book will be called People's Republic. Gaudens, Reed (December 16, 2022). "The Recruit episode titles: What do the acronyms mean?". Fansided/Netflix Life . Retrieved December 16, 2022. Don't get me wrong- the story was good. Plot kept me interested and everything.. I think the greatest issue was I was the wrong audience.

The Recruit is thoughtful, relevant, and brainy. Alan Drew paints such a vivid portrait of a seedy world, you’re convinced you’d never want to visit it. Yet as the story tightens its grip, you soon realize you can’t bear to leave.” —Graham Moore, author of The Holdout So then this girl-injuring twelve year old "couldn't face up to what he'd done. No one would believe it was an accident." Drew also tells part of the story from other viewpoints, even though Ben and Natasha are central. We hear from a new, teenage member of a skinhead gang. And alternately from both father and daughter in a Vietnamese-American family. Although sometimes the variety of voices was overwhelming, ultimately Drew ties everything together into a cohesive whole. The most richly accomplished of the brothers’ pairings to date—and given Connelly’s high standards, that’s saying a lot. Why would James want to seek out his future as an agent for Cherub when life isn’t even worth it? The answer is “refuge”; James needs success to complete something in life. He hasn’t accomplished anything else in life and this is it. Saving the world from terrorists!The characters are tied together in some way, but you don't know how until about halfway through the book. It took place in LA, Orange County, CA and sometimes in Big Bear - I grew up here and it was fun to picture everything that was in the book. Something I learnt throughout the story was that being attentive could come in handy, this was because when James was in his Russian class, he had to pay attention because all that knowledge would come in handy for reading the instructions that were only in the language that they learnt. They would have to use their knowledge of the language they were learning or else if they didn't know then they wouldn't be able to pass basic training. James wakes up naked in a strange bed, and he doesn’t know how he arrived there. The room is like a fancy hotel, and someone has left new clothes for him. The bright orange t-shirt says “CHERUB.”