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Stormbreaker (Alex Rider #1)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 31,801 ratings · 2,445 reviews

They told him his uncle died in a car accident. Fourteen-year-old Alex knows that's a lie, and the bullet holes in his uncle's windshield confirm his suspicions. But nothing prepares him for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for MI6--Britain's top secret intelligence agency. Recruited to find his uncle's killers and complete his final missi...more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published April 12th 2004 by Speak (first published January 1st 2000)

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Mar 11, 2010 Carter Knopik rated it 4 of 5 stars

Being a teenage spy is something I've never experienced, but Stormbreaker really makes me feel like I have. This book is about a boy named Alex Rider, who has been a regular boy all his life until he is called by M-16, the British secret service, to be on a secret mission to investigate a computer called the Stormbreaker.
This book is full of good guys, bad guys, and of course, its full of suspense, adventure, and action.
The person in this book that really draws you in is Harold Sayle, the in...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Emma Long rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Following the death of his spy uncle, Ian Rider, 14 year old Alex Rider is recruited into the MI6 to complete his mission. After eleven days of intense SAS style training, Rider is set on his first mission where he investigates the work of Herod Sayle and his Stormbreaker computers. Weaving through old tin mines and underwater caverns, Rider uncovers the unfortunate truth behind the Stormbreakers, a bout of lethal smallpox encased within. At the press of a button all the children of the UK could...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Louise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Louise by: Rida

Shelves: 3-stars, reviewed, spy-fiction, male-authors, 2012-reads, 21st-century, 2000s, childrens-books, library-book, first-in-series, new-authors-2012

3 Stars

Another three star read. I enjoyed it, I’ll read the next couple of sequels at least, but there was a lot that held me back from liking it more. This is (mostly) more my fault than the book’s; which is, for the most part, a high quality action-adventure spy-story very much in the vein of a ‘teenage James Bond’ that has fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Unfortunately I’ve never been that into the James Bond films, found Casino Royale to be a total snooze-fest, and have never had a...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: movie-was-better

So, i was quite excited when i found out there was a book. I loved the movie, so of course i had to read the book.

Well, i can say i didn't got disappointed.

The book was fine, but it's not like it was horrifying, or filled with big emotions. Everything in it was all happening quite fast, and we almost never got Alex opinion on anything.
The writing-work and stuff was alright too, but there were some sentences and terms, where i would have used some other words. But perhaps it was because i read t...more

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May 07, 2013 Salama R 140A501 rated it 5 of 5 stars

First of all I chose this book because I watched the movie and I like it. The book was more magnificent than the movie because it contained more details that caught my eyes through the reading process. Since this is my first book I have read for Anthony Horowitz, I really love it. In addition, the author has an amazing way of writing that catches my heart and he has a sense of humor that makes me laugh loudly. As a result, I want to read all parts of Alex Rider.

This book can be considered as an...more First of all I chose this book because I watched the movie and I like it. The book was more magnificent than the movie because it contained more details that caught my eyes through the reading process. Since this is my first book I have read for Anthony Horowitz, I really love it. In addition, the author has an amazing way of writing that catches my heart and he has a sense of humor that makes me laugh loudly. As a result, I want to read all parts of Alex Rider.

This book can be considered as an action, suspense and fiction genres of book. The story of the book happens in London and it is about a boy that is called Alex Rider whose parents died and he lives with his uncle who is Ian Rider and a housekeeper that is called Jack Starbright. Alex Rider is a teenager when his uncle dies in suspicious circumstances. His life turns upside down when he know every thing about his uncle by spying on MI6. Consequently, he works for MI6 after he takes a part in SAS training exercise. After that, he has sent to his first mission that is dealing with Herod Sayle. Herod Sayle is a very rich man who is making a stormbreaker as a gift for schools in England. I did not know the end until the last word of the story because I changed my expected ending every minute.

This book was written very well, I liked every part of it especially Twelve O'clock part because it has a lot of action and exciting events that make you happy, exciting and anxious to know what will happen to Alex. The ending is also exciting because it leads you right into the next book with a good feeling.

At the end of the review, I want to share with you my favourite quote from the Stormbreaker that is "Whoever this man was, he seemed to have less life than anyone in the cemetery. Above or below ground." I love this quote because it always makes me laugh every time I read it.

I think you should read the Stormbreaker to have the same feeling l had when I finished the book with big smile. However, I felt sad because I did not want to finish it because I got involved in the story not only with my mind but also with my heart. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a lot of fighting, killing, and action. In addition, this book is appropriate to all ages.

Now, I feel exciting and I want to take a part in fighting to be just like Alex Rider. :) (less)

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Dec 02, 2008 Daniel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Title: Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series #1)
Author: Anthony Horowitz, John Blackford (Illustrator)
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA), 224 pp, 2001
Audience: Tweens (young adult)
Format: Juvenile book aimed at the tween market

Description: Alex Rider is fourteen years old and was in the care of his uncle, Ian Rider. The police came to his home at 3 in the morning to inform him that his uncle had died in a car accident. He had died because he hadn’t been wearing a seat belt and was struck by a truck. Alex...more Title: Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series #1)
Author: Anthony Horowitz, John Blackford (Illustrator)
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA), 224 pp, 2001
Audience: Tweens (young adult)
Format: Juvenile book aimed at the tween market

Description: Alex Rider is fourteen years old and was in the care of his uncle, Ian Rider. The police came to his home at 3 in the morning to inform him that his uncle had died in a car accident. He had died because he hadn’t been wearing a seat belt and was struck by a truck. Alex doesn’t believe this and finds bullet holes in his uncle’s car. He later finds out that his uncle was actually a spy for Britain’s intelligence agency, MI6.

Personal Review:
This story reminds me of Ian Fleming’s 007 except with a younger spy. It has all the elements of a spy and action thriller but more appropriate for younger children. It also has the element where the parent or guardian is killed off in the beginning of the book. What I really liked about this book was the possibility of a 14 year old becoming an agent for MI6. It’s unbelievable but at the same time makes for a good story. It’s also like the movie Agent Cody Banks but with a more realistic approach. Kids will definitely want to read this book and possibly look at the character of Alex Rider as a role model who is looking of revenge and justice in hunting down the people that killed his uncle.

Citation of 2 critical sources:
Lynn Bryant’s School Library Journal review does a good job of giving the reader the right amount of teaser information to get the reader interested in the story. It also makes a reference to the James Bond style of adventure that kids will love. This review did a great job of getting the person excited about reading the book but not giving too much of the plot away.

Kirkus’ reviews starts off with the question: “What if James Bond had started spying as a teenager?” I think that this is a great way of hooking younger and maybe even older readers into this story. I think that review makes a great comparison of this story and it really does a great job of describing some of the action pieces of the story.

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Apr 13, 2008 Tim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book if a fiction book about a fourteen year old boy named Alex Rider. Alex is a normal school boy in London who lives with his uncle. Towards the beginning of the book, Alex is told his uncle died it a car accident. Alex doesn’t think this is true because his uncle is very protective and safe. Alex later finds out his uncle died from gun shots when he was on a secret mission. He also finds out being a spy was his uncles full job. This mission was called the stormbreaker. Alex is told by Al...more

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Apr 13, 2008 Charlie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is fiction and the main character is Alex Rider who is a fourteen year old boy who is very fit and living a good life in London. The conflict is external because a lot of fighting happens in this book. At the very start of the book, Alex finds out that his uncle just died in a car accident and didn’t wear his seatbelt. Alex doesn’t believe this because Ian Rider always wore his seatbelt. Later Alex sees bullet shots in the car window which proves that Ian Rider was shot to death. After...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Trisha rated it 3 of 5 stars

"And the next time they ask you, say no. Killing is for grown-ups and you're still a child."

What an adventure of a book! This story hits the ground running and never lets up. Alex is an amazing kid. He was raised with all the correct steps and training to be the perfect agent, embodied in a young boy. and his first assignment just might kill him.

I hadn't expected to like this book - I thought it would be a little boring and unrealistic. But, it just zooms through and you really find yourself ro...more

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Sep 23, 2008 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2008, general-fiction, young-adult

I picked up Stormbreaker on impulse, based on the popularity of the book. I didn't really expect to enjoy it as I've never been a big James Bond fan and the whole spy thing doesn't interest me.

To my surprise the story sucked me right in. Horowitz is a master of character and description and did a great job with this teenage spy novel. While some elements definitely echo the usual spy novel tropes it was still a fun and engaging story. I really liked Alex and was rooting for him the whole time....more

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Apr 07, 2009 Ted rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 12 and up

Recommended to Ted by: Jeremy Tucker

Shelves: ya-fiction

Fun! With no shilly-shallying. Anthony Horowitz's first Alex Rider action/adventure story moves right along. With some a cast of characters! There's Alex, our 14yo hero who, often despite himself, disentangles himself from some pretty awful situations. And then there are the bad guys, "Herod Smell" and the ever-endearing Mr. Grin. Not a lot of UK vocabulary, either, so easy reading for all American tweens and teens. (The book does include some interesting descriptions of UK geography and London...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Nilesh Magan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I only read this book because I needed to complete one of the book on my reading blog chart. But when I started to get further into the book, I got hooked to it and wanted to read more. This completes the "Book been made into film" category on the chart. As I said before, I thought it had a slow start but I started to enjoy the book after a while and I would recommend it to others. Although I also didn't like the fact that Anthony Horowitz didn't talk more about Alex Rider's past and more about...more

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Apr 02, 2009 Will rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is very action packed and fiction. It is about a boy named Alex Rider whose parents died and he lives with his Uncle who he thinks is a banker until he suspiciously dies one night. He later finds out that his uncle is a secret agent for the MI6. Then while he is snooping around MI6 he finds his Uncles office and he reads his files and sees that he was sent to Herod Sayles compound. Herod Sayle is a very rich man who is making computers to send to all of the schools in England as a gift...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Makayla rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this book Alex learns that his uncle was a spy. But not only had that he learned that his uncle had been training him to be a spy since he was a little boy. When he gets his first assignment it is ruff and everything doesn’t go the way he wants it to. But everything works out in the end.
In the junk yard they don't show that he was streaked with oil, his clothes there in rags or that he had lost one of his shoes. Also he only fought one man and kicked him unconscious and got shot at once by t...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Shivani rated it 3 of 5 stars

A fourteen year old, the British Intelligence Agency and a vengeful man with a plan for the destruction of England.

What connection could these three have?

In Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz has artfully spun a thriller with a gripping plot. It is centered around Alex Rider, a teenage James Bond minus the 007 and the women.

After the death of his parents, Alex was brought up by his uncle Ian Rider, who worked at a bank. What he doesn’t know is that Ian Rider’s profession wasn’t confined to the gloom...more A fourteen year old, the British Intelligence Agency and a vengeful man with a plan for the destruction of England.

What connection could these three have?

In Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz has artfully spun a thriller with a gripping plot. It is centered around Alex Rider, a teenage James Bond minus the 007 and the women.

After the death of his parents, Alex was brought up by his uncle Ian Rider, who worked at a bank. What he doesn’t know is that Ian Rider’s profession wasn’t confined to the gloomy walls of a bank. Ian Rider was an undercover spy working for MI6 (a fictitious British Intelligence Agency), and he was their best. It is after his uncle is killed that the identity of Ian Rider is revealed to Alex. The shock of the fact that his uncle’s entire life had been a lie paled in comparison to what Alex slowly discovered – that Ian Rider had inconspicuously been training Alex all his life to become a spy like him.

After blackmailing an unwilling Alex to work for them, MI6 gives Alex his first assignment. MI6 suspected that Herod Sayle, a genius entrepreneur had something fishy up his sleeve. Sayle was donating highly advanced computers called Stormbreakers to every school in England, which would enhance the experience of learning. It was the same assignment which had cost Alex his uncle, but he had a massive advantage over his uncle. Herod Sayle was inviting the winner of a contest to live with him for a few days in his sprawling mansion and be the first to try out the Stormbreaker before it was activated in the country. And this is how Alex got easy access to Sayle to spy on him. After all, how dangerous could a harmless fourteen year old be?

What Alex gradually discovers is something chilling. Herod Sayle isn’t as generous as he seems – he’s got a motive behind donating free Stormbreakers.

Stormbreaker is a fast paced read. The thrilling stunts, cool gadgets and engrossing plot ensure that the reader’s breath is held in anticipation throughout. A great read.(less)

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Apr 11, 2013 Michael Vanegas rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Anthony Horowitz wrote this book so he could wright his idea of a young English boy whose uncle was a spy then died in a so called accident. Thou later in the story he becomes spy and goes out on a mission. The same his uncle was on before he died. But the way he wrought this way so he could continue this as a Chronicles and wright about more adventures for Alex to go on as a spy. The book has a good impact to its reader. It tells them that anything can happen to anyone and it’s not impossible....more Anthony Horowitz wrote this book so he could wright his idea of a young English boy whose uncle was a spy then died in a so called accident. Thou later in the story he becomes spy and goes out on a mission. The same his uncle was on before he died. But the way he wrought this way so he could continue this as a Chronicles and wright about more adventures for Alex to go on as a spy. The book has a good impact to its reader. It tells them that anything can happen to anyone and it’s not impossible. No it won’t most readers who read this may forget it but those remember this book may remember.

I believe the book Stormbreaker is a well written book I have read this week. That why I have gave this book fife stars. This book has everything and even more what a spy book should have like action, adventure, mystery, twists, twisted evil villains, a kid with gadgets, and parts were his snooping or about to get heart and keep the people it. For example at this part "The man fired. There was no explosion. The gun spat at Alex and he felt something slam into his heart." Chapter 3, pg. 37. This part had action and a gasping feeling in it which kept the readers on their feet. As well as this part in the begging of the book "When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it's never good news." Chapter 1, pg. 1. It brings a misters part in the begging to keep the people questioning like who’s at the doer and why. That’s why this book is well written because in keep people mind entertained.

This book was very captivating because when I first picked it up I could not let it go. I just kept reading it till I finished the book and even now I would like to read the second book. In this book I felt like I don’t relate to any of the characters in it. They were kind of different from me. Thou it did not matter to me because it kept my interested in it every chapter of the way. The books greatest strength is that he was able to make the book interesting, exiting, and mysteries witch gives the reader a nice story to read. The books weakness is that he did not have much of a romance thing in it like most spy books. This book was funny/serious/though-provoking/dramatic/thriller/mystery/adventures/and actions. Yes I would recommend it to a friend because it’s a good book and other might in joy it to.
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Apr 02, 2013 Rishad Manecksha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alex-rider

I was on the edge of my seat while reading this novel. Horowitz got me completely immersed in this action-packed book, I couldn't stop reading until I finally got till the end. When Alex Rider's uncle, Ian Rider dies in a 'car crash' Alex goes on to find out more, when he finds bullet holes in the car, this can only mean one thing. Ian Rider never worked for a bank, he worked for the MI6, Britain's top-secret spy agency, and from that moment on, so was Alex. Recruited to finish the mission his u...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Deborah Takahashi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tween-adventure

Alex Rider is an average fourteen year old guy who lives with his Uncle Ian (Alex's parents are gone). One day, when Alex returns home, he is told that his uncle was killed. Confused, and upset, Alex cannot fathom why anyone would want to do this to a banker until he sees the bullet holes in his uncle's car. Although people were telling him he was involved in an accident, he realized that accidents don't involve gun shots. When Alex starts putting things together, officials from the British gove...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Brad Z added it

Alex rider was woken by doorbell at three in the morning that day. He went down and answered the door and it caught him off guard when he seen who was at his doorstep, i know i would be a little worried if i was him, it was the police they came to tell him that his uncle had been involved in a car accident and died because he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Alex didn’t believe what the police said and takes matters into his own hands.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz is about how alex finds out abou...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, young-adult

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

“When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it’s never good news,” begins Stormbreaker, the first in Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling Alex Rider series.

I would definitely concur. The last time someone buzzed me at three in the morning it was my twenty-one-year-old sister-in-law asking to borrow a MacBook cable for someone’s twenty-first speech.
Of course, the adventures that followed my own early-morning contact simply involved a...more This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

“When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it’s never good news,” begins Stormbreaker, the first in Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling Alex Rider series.

I would definitely concur. The last time someone buzzed me at three in the morning it was my twenty-one-year-old sister-in-law asking to borrow a MacBook cable for someone’s twenty-first speech.
Of course, the adventures that followed my own early-morning contact simply involved a bit of sleep-deprived conversation and then some more sleep. There was nothing at all about my uncle having been brutally murdered, his identity being revealed as an MI6 operative, or my being recruited as a young spy to monitor some dodgy wheelings and dealings relating to school computers.

But where life (and sleeping patterns) went quite promptly back to normal for me, the same is not true for Alex, for whom all the above applies. Soon enough, he’s narrowly escaping near-death situations, playing with Go-Go-Gadget devices, and kicking broody chaps out of aeroplanes. For their own good, of course. And then there’s the whole undercover assignment thing where Alex is sent to investigate self-made millionaire Darrius Sayle, whose “computers for all!” philanthropic program seems just a little bit dodgy.

Stormbreaker is a quick and zippy read, but it’s not without its problems. Alex suffers from the everyman-type characterisation issues that plague many heroes in similar series: he’s a fairly flat, bland character who’s really only painted into existence by those around him. He’s given little personality of his own; rather he’s the sum of his skills and gadgets. Where a character in another book might surprise you with an emotional outburst, Alex surprises you with Secret Karate Skills. Or his ability to drive a car. Or his knowledge of jellyfish.

The fact that he’s largely acting alone means also that he’s in charge of McGuyvering himself out of various near-death situations, and the set-up and resolution of these events does become a little samey-samey after the first couple of times. Because there’s no one around for Alex to really engage with, we see very little emotional response from him (ho hum, my uncle’s dead, chaps), and it’s hard to really empathise with him–or feel that he’s ever really in danger. So much of that tension, after all, arises from the way that other characters respond to dangerous situations.

Although there is a reasonably large cast of secondary characters slinking around in the background it’s hard to ignore the pall of stereotyping that’s been cast over them. We have brutal Russian assassins, cruel and humourless Germans, a squat and fat bad guy from Beirut, and two MI6 operatives who fall fairly blatantly along traditional gender lines–the inscrutable, stoic male and the maternal, concerned female (one of three, from memory, females in the whole book). It’s not hard to see that Horowitz is taking his cues from James Bond, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep abreast of social developments, surely.

However, even though I have my qualms about certain elements of the book (I haven’t even touched the plot here, but let’s just say, 14-year-old boy, MI6 and evil via school computers, shall we?), it is overall zingy, action-packed fun, and it would be remiss of me to tear apart the book for being pretty much what it professes to be from the get-go. It’s silly, it’s over the top, and it contains enough action and intrigue that I’m sure there are a bunch of kids out there secretly hoping for their door buzzer to ring in the middle of the night. (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 Olivia Penfold added it

What would you do if within 24 hours everything you know starts falling apart? Everything you have ever known about your guardian was a lie, and you had to take the place of your uncle in his extremely dangerous job. That was the life that was thrown at Alex Rider when he was only fourteen. Alex’s parents were killed so then Alex’s uncle was then the legal guardian. Alex didn’t see his uncle much he was always away doing “banking” work. Once his uncle was killed, on one of his secrets mission. T...more What would you do if within 24 hours everything you know starts falling apart? Everything you have ever known about your guardian was a lie, and you had to take the place of your uncle in his extremely dangerous job. That was the life that was thrown at Alex Rider when he was only fourteen. Alex’s parents were killed so then Alex’s uncle was then the legal guardian. Alex didn’t see his uncle much he was always away doing “banking” work. Once his uncle was killed, on one of his secrets mission. That then left Alex to finish the mission for him. This book brings you into a world of danger, suspense, and excitement. Honestly I read this book in 8 hours, I didn’t put it down. This book was amazing. It was so exciting and I was easily able to relate to the protagonist because of some of my own personal experiences. The way Anthony Horowitz gets his pen to weave his words together is amazing. His writing flows perfectly, his craftsmanship made the book irresistible. I recommend this book to any teenage boy who is craving some adventure and thrill. There is a line in the book that the author gives you. This quote gives me the chills and it’s quite strong actually. The quote is “… And at this moment, he thought he was going to die.” This quote really does sum up the atmosphere of the book. The whole entire book is mainly of him getting away from death by the skin on his teeth. Throughout the book Alex most defiantly does grow up. He has to go to several weeks of military camp with much older men. He had to see and deal with things that young boys should not have to deal with. From the beginning of the book to the end, Alex was almost a complete different person. When I put down the book there was on lesson that I took away with myself. “The weak never benefit.” I think that lesson is so important because the weak don’t ever get anywhere. They never put themselves out of there comfort zone they never are courageous. All of the amazing things happen outside of your comfort zone.(less)

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Mar 07, 2013 Travis Doyle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a book about a 14 year old kid named Alex that hears about his uncles dead due to a tragic car accident. Alex does some digging and looks at the junk yard where his uncles car was and he see blood spatter showing that his uncle was murdered.Alex's quest for the truth introduces him to Alan Blunt, a spymaster for Britain's MI6 espionage agency. Caught while seeking further information Alex is blackmailed by Blunt into becoming the youngest spy to ever work for MI6. Herod Sayles, a mu...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Shee-Eun Park rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stormbreaker is a book worth reading because it kept me turning pages from beginning to end. The first few pages started with the death of Ian Rider, and it grabbed my attention. It was even more filled with action and excitement towards the middle of the book because of the main character’s main goal. The ending was unexpected because Alex faced another danger right when the story was about to unravel. Therefore, I felt relieved after the conflict in the story was resolved completely. The autho...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Michael Mccarthy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book of a series, the reader is introduced to a 14-year old boy called Alex Rider. Alex is an orphan that is being raised by his uncle, soon into the story Alex Uncle dies in a car crash. Alex then learns that his uncle was a spy for MI6 and was not killed in a car crash at all. The death of his uncle remains a mystery for Alex but he is determined to find out the real cause of death. Alex is approached by British intelligence to finsh the job his uncle was on which involves in...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Hudson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: rwr

Anthony Horowitz's idea of a 14-year-old MI6 agent is very exciting. Although most of the scenarios in his novel "Stormbreaker" are quite cliche, relating to old James Bond titles and other famous spy books and films, the author created a well developed character and story. The protagonist, Alex Rider, is suddenly thrown into a life of stealth and vengeance, when his uncle Ian Rider (also and MI6 agent) is murdered by an infamous assassin by the name of Yassen Gregorovich. But that's the least o...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone, YA or Bond lover

I don’t generally read a lot of youth-oriented (aka “YA”) fiction these days, but being an “omnivore” when it comes to reading I don’t specifically exclude it. Mumblety-mumblety years ago, writers that I respected and enjoyed wrote what was called “juvenile” fiction.

For example, Isaac Asimov wrote six “Lucky Starr” novels (under the pseudonym “Paul French”) in the early 50s. Robert Heinlein started writing “juvies” in the late 40s eventually producing 13 (or 14 depending on how you count). Unli...more I don’t generally read a lot of youth-oriented (aka “YA”) fiction these days, but being an “omnivore” when it comes to reading I don’t specifically exclude it. Mumblety-mumblety years ago, writers that I respected and enjoyed wrote what was called “juvenile” fiction.

For example, Isaac Asimov wrote six “Lucky Starr” novels (under the pseudonym “Paul French”) in the early 50s. Robert Heinlein started writing “juvies” in the late 40s eventually producing 13 (or 14 depending on how you count). Unlike Asimov, Heinlein’s works were pushed under his own name. As far as I know, Arthur C. Clarke (the 3rd member of the “Big Three”) did not write any juvenile fiction.

All of this is the long way of saying that when an author turns his or her hand to creating a story for a younger market, I don’t necessarily turn away in avoidance.

While I do not remember exactly why I had originally placed “Skeleton Key” (aka “Alex Rider #3”) on my TBR shelf, I suspect one of my friends did so and I found its premise interesting enough. Recently, I read one of his adult books (“The House of Silk”) and rated it fairly highly (4 stars). Of course that was a Holmes pastiche for which I do have a very soft spot.

At the same time I picked up “Stormbreaker” which is the first Alex Rider novel. Up to that point (THOS) I had not read anything by Mr. Horowitz, so I did not know that he apparently has written a fair amount of YA fiction or that he has written extensively for British dramatic television.

“Stormbreaker” is not a bad novel nor is it a great novel. Like most things, it lies somewhere in between abject failure and unqualified success. The story is reasonable, the protagonist is a bit too lucky and capable, but falls into that James Bond kind of luck.

(If you don’t know what I am talking about, go back to the earliest films (or books) and see how Bond stumbles his way through the story relying on bravado, luck, and the kindness of strangers to augment his own powers of observation and martial skills in an almost-unsuccessful attempt to avoid death.)

Alex has the same kind of luck and "Stormbreaker" has the same kind of moments. I don’t have any proof (nor have I researched this), but I would guess that this copying of the “Bond formula” is deliberate both because of the longevity of the original and because quick action/changes are a hallmark of film and TV.

This novel takes a boy who has an unusual uncle and first turns his world into chaos, then gets him embroiled into the deepest secrecy of government (through his own natural inquisitiveness, sense of wrongness, physical skills, and luck –see the parallels?) From then on he is offered and then forced to accept a role as the boy spy. He goes through an abbreviated training period during which he “rises above” others’ pettiness (he is the “hero” after all) and then is thrown into his first, critical mission. Since there are beaucoup sequels, Alex obviously succeeds in his mission and eventually returns to his normal life, but available for recall.

In writing this review I am trying to keep in mind that it was intended to have less depth and read faster than an “adult novel” (even a Fleming-written Bond). But I keep comparing it to other children’s/YA stories and thinking it comes up a bit too “light”. (The “Lemony Snicket” series about the Baudelaire children is my reference standard here.) But there is nothing wrong with it; I just left a little unsatisfied. It’s definitely well-constructed and well-plotted (it crams in plenty of action) with a few morals here and there. I’m giving it a three (3) star rating because I do think it works for its intended audience, but I don’t know if I will be reading more of this series.

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Jan 23, 2013 Halkovic's-Classroom rated it 3 of 5 stars

16 year old Alex Rider has found out found out his uncle Ian Rider was killed in a mysterious car accident. When discovering what truly happened to Alex’s uncle he finds out Ian was an agent for MI6. Alex follows in his uncles shoes and becomes an MI6 agent to try and hunt down and take revenge on those who have taken all of Alex’s family.
Alex Rider a new MI6 agent is sent on a mission to learn about a new computer called Stormbreaker and the maker Darrius Sayle’s true intent. Alex discovers tha...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Simon Aldous rated it 2 of 5 stars

Stormbreaker is the first of Anthony Horowitz’s highly successful Alex Rider series, detailing the adventures of a young James Bond-like character. I shan’t be rushing back for more.

The book begins with Alex learning about the death of his uncle (also his guardian – children’s books do love an orphan!) in improbable circumstances. He learns that his uncle was in fact a spy for MI6, and then finds himself cajoled into working on the case his uncle was investigating at the time of his death.

This i...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, the writing in this book is actually not bad. The problem here for me is sort of 2 pronged (though one of the prongs may be "mufti-pointed"). First, this book is very young in some ways. With plot it has to be, and that's the other problem.

I just couldn't get my head around a 14 year old super spy. I know, I know I like Harry Potter and I liked the Ranger's Apprentice books as well as other books with young heroes. But those are set in fantasy universes where magic exists and so on. If I c...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Caro rated it 3 of 5 stars

As much as I would love to, I cannot write a review for each book simply because they are so engrossing that I must read the next one as soon as I have finished one until I'm done with the entire series.

But to the book that started it all. Anthony Horowitz is an absolute hidden gem of writing books about young adolescents that aren't completely idiotic or just lucky. There are sacrifices and realistic reactions made on both sides of the field. I do find Alex's actions ridiculous sometimes, but t...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Favourite book in the Alex rider series?	19	60	May 10, 2013 06:38am
Anyone else think novel is better than movie?	12	35	May 09, 2013 10:07pm
What do you think was Alex's greatest escape in the series?	2	8	Apr 17, 2013 07:07pm
Favorite gadget Smithers makes(any book)	16	19	Apr 16, 2013 05:23am
alex rider	1	6	Feb 22, 2013 05:09am

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About Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz is perhaps the busiest writer in England. He has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder...more

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“You're never too young to die.” — 227 people liked it

“Believe me, It would be better if we didn't meet again. Go back to school. Go back to your life. And next time they ask you, say no. Killing is for grown-ups and you're still a child.” — 78 people liked it

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Stormbreaker (Alex Rider #1)

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