The Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz

For the last many weeks, I've been reading the eight books of the Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz: Stormbreaker, Point Blank, Skeleton Key, Eagle Strike, Scorpia, Ark Angel, Snakehead, and Crocodile Tears.

I remember years ago when Stormbreaker was first released. Our school was having a Scholastic Book Fair, and the promo video described Stormbreaker. I was very interested, and I went on to purchase the book. But like so many on my shelves, it has had to wait its turn to be read. Zack was my first student to recommend Alex Rider, and Andrew and Samantha have been the most recent. I must say I wholeheartedly agree with them.

Anthony Horowitz has written a very likable character in Alex Rider, a 14-year-old English boy who has already lost his parents and now loses his uncle to death. Alex learns that his uncle was a secret agent working for MI6 - British Intelligence. Alex is recruited to help MI6 - not only has his uncle been surreptitiously training him for intelligence work by teaching him skills such as scuba diving and martial arts, but Alex would never be suspected as a agent because he is so young.

I was pleased that this series is so clean - almost squeaky! That doesn't mean it isn't without its killing. This is espionage and there are bad guys. But I was glad that in this day and age to find an author who can write without putting so much of what "sells" to teens now. This series would engage both boys and girls and adults, too. I've got something to put on my Christmas list - I want to make sure I have this series on the shelf for my boys when they are older.

Hopefully, Anthony Horowitz has a few more Alex Rider adventures percolating!