- Paperback
- Publisher: Galaxy; Large type edition edition (7 Aug 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1405661380
- ISBN-13: 978-1405661386
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,668,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Stormbreaker (Alex Rider)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Spies are great currency for exciting storylines, but few authors manage to successfully concoct realistic scenarios for a willing readership expecting chases, gunshots and thrills aplenty. In the first of what could easily become his most memorable series of novels to date, Anthony Horowitz has added a tongue-in-cheek quality to Stormbreaker that lifts it above several others in the same genre.
Horowitz knows that his main character, 14-year-old Alex Rider, is a normal teenager and he never forgets this when he thrusts his young hero into the thick of several truly edge-of-seat scenarios. There is humour alongside the action too--some great characters and cutting one-liners--that helps to ensure that entertainment is high on the agenda throughout.
Orphan Alex thought he knew his Uncle Ian Rider--until the elusive banker is killed in a tragic car accident. Immediately, Alex's life starts to get stranger by the day as his guardian's friends and colleagues start showing up and contradicting everything Alex thought he knew about the man he'd called Dad for so long. Maybe Ian Rider was not a banker after all? Surely the bullet holes in his Uncle's totalled car reveal that he had not died in an accident, but was murdered? Everything is explained when Alex decides to track down Ian Rider's real employers, but Alex is in for a surprise when they decide to contact him. The truth is hard to take, but maybe by following in his uncle's secret footsteps he might get the chance for revenge.
Apart from a slightly over-the-top finale involving a helicopter and the roof of London's Science Museum, Stormbreaker is a refreshingly energetic yarn that is required reading for fans of the contemporary thriller. --John McLay --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Is there anyone in Britain who will not enjoy this fabulous junior James Bond adventure?' Daily Mail"
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
137 of 143 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am coming late to the Alex Rider series as my oldest son is only seven. This is the second Alex Rider book that I've read, for the purpose of understanding when my spy-obsessed son might be old enough to start reading the series.
I enjoyed reading this book. It obviously lacks the complexity and depth of a book written for adults, but it is still a fast paced and enjoyable thriller that borrows heavily on the James Bond and Mission Impossible franchises. Alex Rider makes a likeable hero who is brave, tenacious and resourceful.
I would feel comfortable giving it to my son to read when he's a little older - my gut feel is 9-10 years would be about right. He still needs to strengthen his reading skills (words like interrogation, hyperventilating, cloying, claustrophobic and exquisite are typical), but also to develop the maturity to cope with a plot that involves a fair amount of violence (the book opens with the death of Alex's uncle and bad guys get shot on a regular basis).
Here are some things that parents may like to know about this book:
- The storyline is reasonably simple and the bad guy/good guy lines are clearly drawn.
- Violence is not described in overly graphic detail, but it does occur throughout the book. Alex fires a gun twice and hits a bad guy on one occasion. He also causes the death of another villain by causing a plane crash.
- There is no swearing or bad language.
- There is a noticeable absence of positive female characters (unless you count the housekeeper who barely appears). There is a reference by the MI5 into female agents being of use if you need someone to slip in as a secretary or receptionist.
I enjoyed reading this book. It obviously lacks the complexity and depth of a book written for adults, but it is still a fast paced and enjoyable thriller that borrows heavily on the James Bond and Mission Impossible franchises. Alex Rider makes a likeable hero who is brave, tenacious and resourceful.
I would feel comfortable giving it to my son to read when he's a little older - my gut feel is 9-10 years would be about right. He still needs to strengthen his reading skills (words like interrogation, hyperventilating, cloying, claustrophobic and exquisite are typical), but also to develop the maturity to cope with a plot that involves a fair amount of violence (the book opens with the death of Alex's uncle and bad guys get shot on a regular basis).
Here are some things that parents may like to know about this book:
- The storyline is reasonably simple and the bad guy/good guy lines are clearly drawn.
- Violence is not described in overly graphic detail, but it does occur throughout the book. Alex fires a gun twice and hits a bad guy on one occasion. He also causes the death of another villain by causing a plane crash.
- There is no swearing or bad language.
- There is a noticeable absence of positive female characters (unless you count the housekeeper who barely appears). There is a reference by the MI5 into female agents being of use if you need someone to slip in as a secretary or receptionist.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a teacher, the Alex Rider series is my number one recommendation to get boys reading. It has never failed yet! The plot is gripping from the start, it's every boys fantasy, and is the answer to getting reluctant boys in to reading. Very exciting, very engaging, bang up to date, every boy (or girl) I have recommended this book to has been hooked from the start, and gone on to read the whole series. The only slight drawback is that you do then catch them sneaking round the school pretending to be spies!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
This is a great book for children of almost any age. The book follows fourteen-year-old Alex Rider into life threatening situations after his uncle dies in suspicious circumstances. Anthony Horowitz has almost created an entire new genre for children's books in what is undoubtedly his best novel. It's a childrens version of James Bond! Stormbreaker leads the way for two sequels which, although not as good, are still worth buying. Don't miss out on this very entertaining and origional (although sometime rather predictable) adventure.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Alex Rider Stormbreaker
Alex Rider Stormbreaker is a gripping spy and action story that's impossible to put down. It is the first book in the series and sets up for a fantastic series. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Tangerinecat
Junior Bond
I bought Stormbreaker on the basis of the TV series Foyle's War scripted by Horowitz. Foyle's War is plausible and realistic, as far as any crime series can be; Foyle is decent and... Read more
Published 22 days ago by Dr. P. M. Symmons
The perfect story for kids who dream of having adventures
Helen for [..]
Having heard lots of good things about Anthony Horowitz I thought I'd check out his work. Stormbreaker seemed a good place to start; and it was! Read more
Having heard lots of good things about Anthony Horowitz I thought I'd check out his work. Stormbreaker seemed a good place to start; and it was! Read more
Published 25 days ago by Big Book Little Book
Enjoyable
The villains are as colourful as any created by Ian Fleming and the background for the evil plot was well thought out. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Will.I.IS
Nice series
I enjoyed this series, Stormbreaker is the greatest book of all of them. I love how it starts and how they get Alex to go ahead as a spy. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Torquay Reader
Alex Rider Book1
A truly great series written by another of the `British Rat pack crowd' Anthony Horowitz, (Alex Rider) Mark A. Read more
Published 2 months ago by ToddJohnson
stormbreaker (alex rider)
very good story ideal for the younger person who likes fantasy and have a very good imagination bought for a youngster
Published 2 months ago by Ronald Dutton
A good, fast, adventure with a few too many Bondian elements
The first entry in Horowitz's Alex Rider series sets up the orphaned character as an unwilling agent of MI6, sent in where adults have failed to discover the secret of a Cornish... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
My Book Review
One 14 year old spy, one assassin, one murder, two mysteries. The book I am reviewing is called Alex Rider Operation Stormbreaker. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Philip Vavaletskos
The best novel ever
It is amazing. No bad points. Very addictive. Not much else to say. Exhilarating. Fun. Action-packed. Addictive. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Helen Hiscock
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