The Recruit (CHERUB) Paperback – December 21, 2010

One of the most exciting books I've ever read. Don't bother to rent it from the library, just buy it because I'll guarantee you'll read it a LOT. Here's what the book is about but not finishing the book for you."James Choke is one of the toughest kids in his school. No one messes around with him. When a girl in his class makes fun of his overweight mother, he retaliates. The girl's face is cut open and James is expelled from school. Before he can tell his mom what happens, he discovers her dead in her armchair. James is sent to Nebraska Home because his stepfather and the father of his sister Lauren, don't want him. James joins a dangerous gang and gets caught stealing beers. He spends the night in a cell and wakes up in the morning in a completely different location.James has been relocated to the campus of CHERUB, an agency that trains children to become spies for the British government. After passing a series of tests which included karate and mathematics, James is offered a place at CHERUB, which he readily takes. After changing his name to James Adams, he begins the difficult task of learning how to swim. Once he successfully swims 50 meters, he starts Basic Training.Basic Training is designed to work the trainees to the point of physical and mental exhaustion so when they go on missions as a CHERUB agent, they can perform at a higher level. James's partner, Kerry, has already been through basic training before. She was kicked out halfway through due to a knee injury, and knows all the shortcuts on the obstacle course. She and James overcome their differences and become a well-oiled machine. After a grueling 100 days of physical labor, exhaustion, extreme cold, an instructor that seems to enjoy torturing the trainees, and a trip to sunny Malaysia, James and Kerry pass Basic Training and become CHERUB agents.After waiting around at the CHERUB campus while all his friends go on missions, James is finally given an assignment with his swim instructor, Amy. They are going to uncover any information concerning the Hippie town, Fort Harmony, and an environmentalist/ terrorist group, Help Earth! The two kids stay with a woman from Fort Harmony and begin to unravel a plot to kill all the oil company representatives in the upcoming Petrocon oil convention. Will James and Amy foil Help Earth!'s plot?"There is only one way to find out........DEFINITE BUY!

My 7th grader loved it. Read very quickly.

This book is amazing!!! I read this book in a day, i was so in love with the characters and the storyline. I have never picked up a book series and have been so amazed by words on paper. Robert Muchamore has a serious skill for making you feel as if you are standing right in the middle of these stories. Once you read this incredibly book, there is several more books to pick up after this. Trust me once you read the first chapter you will fall in love with these books!!The Recruit by Robert Muchamore is a book that you will plough through without even realising how much you have read and at that stage you will realise your done.Stop reading this review and go buy it!!!!

I am thirty years of age, and enjoy reading young adult fiction in my spare time. I enrolled in a children's literature course as a freshman in college, and have been hooked every since. I was browsing on Amazon, looking for another good read, when I stumbled upon Cherub: the Recruit. It looked interesting enough, so I thought I would give it a go.This book was fantastic in its pacing; I never wanted to put it down, even when it was time to go to work or to sleep; this book resulted in several late nights for me. The beginning of the book deals with James's troubled home life, ensuing tragedy, and his recruitment into Cherub. The beginning and middle of the book were the strongest spots of storytelling; they kept you hooked and interested, generating a healthy sympathy and concern for the protagonist. I particularly loved the 100 days of training; it was very intense and suspenseful.The characters were also well written and conceived, and the author caught a realistic sense of the insecurities young adults face in their social lives. The way most characters reacted to situations were realistic, and took me back to my dreaded middle school days. Still, the book's references to pop culture (PlayStation 2 and clothing brands) were a bit outdated, dating the book and hurting the reader's ability to stay in the world created by the author. Most of the dialogue was great, even funny at times, but there were also several "rough" conversations that felt forced, particularly towards the end of the book.The third "act" of the book involves James's first mission. While I did not hate this part, it definitely fell short of the first two acts, creating a sense of disappointment in the overall story development. Basically, James's actions help to thwart some terrible plot, and he is rewarded for such actions. The problem is, the actions are not terribly heroic, and there is a play for drama where there really is none; it felt cheap, and I know the author could have constructed a more "fun" mission for James to cut his teeth on.Despite the disappointing third act and outdated popular culture references, I would still recommend this book. I believe children will find it entertaining, while also relating to it. Do keep in mind that this book is part of series due to the current trend in children's literature right now, which is to write a long series, and hope to score big (think Harry Potter money). Because of this, your children may want (or need) you to purchase all of the books, but encouraging children to read is important, even if I do not believe in extending a series entirely for profit. Therefore, I say take the plunge, accept the mission, and earn that Navy shirt.

There were a lot of tough situations for the main character. He seemed to be bullied everywhere he went. The writing in this book was great. I could not stop reading it. Characters very interesting. Although this seemed marketed to young boys, I loved it even though I am an old fellow. Strongly recommend this book. I think I may just buy the whole series, even though the cost seems a bit high.

I am eleven and a good reader I was tired of boring stuff like Alex Rider which in my opinion after you read you can predict. I was on a trip to Amelia Island so before the trip I convinced my mom to get a book and this was it. At first I was a person not liking James but you have to read farther. The action in this book is amazing and isn't predictable as Alex Rider. The one thing that got me hooked was that this isn't really kid like where there is no cussing or fights, or any older content that you may have to read later on in life you can't read picture books when your forty years old. THIS WAS AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

Bon livre,

Love this book, it got me into reading when I was in elementary school and is even a great read a few years later!

Wonderful book written for today’s children. Hardy Boys for 21st century

These books are absolutely brilliant, the whole series is amazing. The characters within the book are brilliant, very likable and relatable in many ways. The books are brilliantly wrote and every mission these kids go on is so exciting with twists and turns. You are wanting to carry on reading and not put the book down. I mean reading these books, you are always waiting to be taken to Cherub campus to become a cherub agent. I mean it would be seriously awesome to be a spy. I have read these books over and over again, loving it every time I read them and never ever getting bored. Robert Muchamore is a brilliant author, and any teenager to adult should read these. There needs to be more cherub book. Absolutely brilliant, a must read!!

un libro bellissimo, se ci fossero 10 stelle le metterei. parla di un ragazzo orfano che viene scelto per essere un agente segreto.a brilliant book,.if I could put 10 stars I would. James, an orphan, gets chosen for being an undercover secret agent.