The Recruit: Book 1 (CHERUB)

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The kid was 11. Actually, except for like two other minor characters, everyone was under the age of 12-13. And if that isn't enough, they're way more worldly than preteens. They're cursing, drinking, smoking, fighting, partying, and overall way too mature in adult situations to be taken seriously as little kids. Sakura Medal 2007 Winners". ASIJ. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012 . Retrieved 14 August 2014.

Meanwhile, Natasha Betencourt, a county medical examiner and Ben’s girlfriend, is on a scene of her own, where a wealthy real estate developer has just been found dead in his pool. At first glance, a drowning is questioned, but as Detective Joseph Vanek and Natasha work the scene, there appears to be evidence of head trauma. 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. 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." 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.

It is over a decade since the end of the Vietnam War in 1987 and in the seemingly idyllic South Californian town of Rancho Santa Elena, there are dark, corrupt, racist and sinister undercurrents, intent on maintaining the existing white power structures. Detective Ben Wade saves a poisoned baby, where the family dog is missing. Vietnamese refugees Bao Phan, his wife Ai and daughter, Linh, have managed to survive and thrive, owning and running their store despite the challenges that have come their way. Bao finds a dog with its throat cut in the alley and a message meant to intimidate and spread fear pushed into its mouth, Ben investigates. Ben's girlfriend, Natasha Betencourt, is a medical examiner, she is at the scene of a homicide with Detective Joseph Vanek, the murdered victim is a wealthy white real estate developer, Walter Brennan. The cases have some curious connections such as red thread, and all leads point to a group of violent young neo-nazis, but they struggle to find any proof. The eponymous recruit, is the unhappy and vulnerable 15 year old Jacob Clay, desperately needing something to believe in and to belong. This is my first taste of author Alan Drew's work and I found it to be quite well-written. I accepted an arc from the publisher via NetGalley not knowing it is the second book in his Detective Ben Wade series, but had no trouble jumping in here. I will definitely make a point of reading book one now and any others to come. I recommend The Recruit if you appreciate police procedurals set before the age of cell phones. Just plan to steel yourself for darkness, knowing that the main characters are worth cheering on towards the conclusion.

Bao Phan, his wife Ai and daughter Linh Phan are Vietnemese refugees who have settled in Rancho Santa Elena, operating a small grocery store. Having fled their country in 1975 during the Vietnam war, they have found peace and acceptance in the community. So it comes as a surprise to them when they find a dead dog in the alley behind their store. Pinned to the dogs ear is a note that states, “Kill them all”.

Reader Reviews

I demand to know who encouraged Robert Muchamore to publish this. Please step forward and explain yourself. Overall, this book was intriguing. It is a reminder of the oppression experienced by many legal immigrants to our country as well as the resistance of people who cannot accept change, diversity, acceptance, appreciation for fellow human beings because of preconceived notion or family bigotry. The stories of Vietnamese refugees in Orange Co. of their escapes after the Fall of Saigon and the reestablishment of their lives are fascinating and inspirational. Bao Phan, the sensitive art teacher, becomes a store owner, happy to do so because he, his wife and daughter escaped and lived. Teh Vietnamese community seems to always be fighting the hatred of those with resentment toward Vietnamese refugees, or just any refugee, or just any non-white. The Recruit is about a boy named James Choke who is frequently bullied at school because of his obese mother. One day James comes home from school after getting in a fight to find his mother dead after drinking whilst on medication. James’s world is subsequently turned upside-down. After he and his sister Lauren are moved to a foster home, James wakes up one day in a secret location where kids are trained to become lethal spies. This is the world of CHERUB.