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Henderson's Boys #6
One Shot Kill
Spring, 1943. The war is turning against Germany, but Hitler isn't giving up. In a secret bunker deep in occupied France, scientists are hard at work on Hitler's latest deadly weapon: code name FZG-76. Back in England Henderson's boys will need to undergo advanced sniper training if they have any chance of infiltrating the bunker. Parachuting into occupied France, they track down a secret dossier filled with invaluable material and uncover the meaning of the enigmatic code.
329 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
162 people are currently reading
1041 people want to read
About the author
Robert Muchamore
148 books1,910 followersRobert Muchamore was born in Islington, London in 1972. He still lives there, and worked as a private investigator up until 2005 and the critically-accepted release of Maximum Security.
The Hunger Games phenomenon is part of the huge YA / Children's book explosion that has grown, thanks to the British Rat pack of YA authors, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore, Mark A. Cooper and Charlie Higson. We owe much of the hunger games sucess to authors such as Robert.
Robert was inspired to create the CHERUB series by his nephew after he complained about the lack of anything for them to read. CHERUB: The Recruit was Robert's first book and won the Red House Children's Book Award 2005 in the Older Readers Category.
Following the last book in the CHERUB series, it was revealed that a trilogy would be released starting from August 2011 that will focus on a new set of CHERUB agents centred upon Ryan Sharma and also involve an sixteen year old Lauren Adams. The first book will be called People's Republic.
Check out the Hendersons Boys series. Henderson's Boys is a series of young adult spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore. The series follows Charles Henderson, the creator of the fictitious CHERUB organisation.
CHERUB is currently being made into a TV series.
The Hunger Games phenomenon is part of the huge YA / Children's book explosion that has grown, thanks to the British Rat pack of YA authors, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore, Mark A. Cooper and Charlie Higson. We owe much of the hunger games sucess to authors such as Robert.
Robert was inspired to create the CHERUB series by his nephew after he complained about the lack of anything for them to read. CHERUB: The Recruit was Robert's first book and won the Red House Children's Book Award 2005 in the Older Readers Category.
Following the last book in the CHERUB series, it was revealed that a trilogy would be released starting from August 2011 that will focus on a new set of CHERUB agents centred upon Ryan Sharma and also involve an sixteen year old Lauren Adams. The first book will be called People's Republic.
Check out the Hendersons Boys series. Henderson's Boys is a series of young adult spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore. The series follows Charles Henderson, the creator of the fictitious CHERUB organisation.
CHERUB is currently being made into a TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 22, 2018
good book
August 15, 2021
I probably shouldn't be giving this 3 stars, as it's really not great. But, Goodread's ratings are supposed to be based on enjoyment, and I have to be honest: I do enjoy them, despite their faults.
These faults are many. There were a couple of instances of bad editing, that hadn't picked up mistakes (such as a "he" that didn't seem to refer to anyone specifically), but mostly what I'm referring to is the writing. It's obviously not truly awful - there's enough people rating these highly that obviously the books are enjoyable to their target audience, and to me too, as I mentioned. But I don't think that it's good writing. It doesn't feel remotely historically accurate, for one, and if I'm honest seems juvenile. I'm sure "your mums are all slags" is entertaining to some readers, and maybe I would've laughed when I was in year 7 (when I first started reading the CHERUB books), but I actually don't think so. It just feels...bad. Not low-effort: I'm pretty sure the author does try to make the books attractive to teenage readers, I just think that sometimes he tries too hard, and doesn't give his audience enough credit. But then again, he's written three series of successful novels, so what do I know. He's probably right.
In terms of the story: it's pretty much what you expect from this series. Another mission, some new resistance recruited to help our agents, lots of murder and mahem perpetrated by children, and a bit of snogging thrown in. I can't believe I read "snog" so much in a book, if I'm honest. But if it works, who am I to complain, right?
I've said it before about this series, and I'll say it again: it's unbelievable. I know the premise is anyway, but I still found this to be faintly ridiculous. Sniper training for teenagers that makes them experts in a week? Come on. From what I remember of the CHERUB books, the timescales were at least somewhat believable, but this is a bit of a joke.
Despite my heavy criticism, as I said, I did enjoy it. I don't believe in guilty pleasures - anything you enjoy, you shouldn't be guilty about - but I can't say I'm glad I'm reading these books, as I am when I read something really great. It's the equivalent of watching trash TV, I guess: fun, but really not doing anything positive for you.
I'm still going to read the next one though.
These faults are many. There were a couple of instances of bad editing, that hadn't picked up mistakes (such as a "he" that didn't seem to refer to anyone specifically), but mostly what I'm referring to is the writing. It's obviously not truly awful - there's enough people rating these highly that obviously the books are enjoyable to their target audience, and to me too, as I mentioned. But I don't think that it's good writing. It doesn't feel remotely historically accurate, for one, and if I'm honest seems juvenile. I'm sure "your mums are all slags" is entertaining to some readers, and maybe I would've laughed when I was in year 7 (when I first started reading the CHERUB books), but I actually don't think so. It just feels...bad. Not low-effort: I'm pretty sure the author does try to make the books attractive to teenage readers, I just think that sometimes he tries too hard, and doesn't give his audience enough credit. But then again, he's written three series of successful novels, so what do I know. He's probably right.
In terms of the story: it's pretty much what you expect from this series. Another mission, some new resistance recruited to help our agents, lots of murder and mahem perpetrated by children, and a bit of snogging thrown in. I can't believe I read "snog" so much in a book, if I'm honest. But if it works, who am I to complain, right?
I've said it before about this series, and I'll say it again: it's unbelievable. I know the premise is anyway, but I still found this to be faintly ridiculous. Sniper training for teenagers that makes them experts in a week? Come on. From what I remember of the CHERUB books, the timescales were at least somewhat believable, but this is a bit of a joke.
Despite my heavy criticism, as I said, I did enjoy it. I don't believe in guilty pleasures - anything you enjoy, you shouldn't be guilty about - but I can't say I'm glad I'm reading these books, as I am when I read something really great. It's the equivalent of watching trash TV, I guess: fun, but really not doing anything positive for you.
I'm still going to read the next one though.
October 3, 2017
A book that caught my eye was One Shot Kill by Robert Muchamore. This book caught my eye because I am very interested in military themed books. The author Robert Muchamore was born in London where he discovered his knack for writing at an early age. After starting to read this book I realized it was a series, and this book is the sixth in the series of “The Henderson’s Boys Series”. I hoped to get knowledge of what was happening in England during World War 2 by reading this book. I have read books similar to this one before and I obtained a lot of useful knowledge from them. My first impressions of this book were fantastic. I love the author's writing style and how long he makes each chapter. The chapters are the perfect length, not too short and not too long.
Robert Muchamore uses some fantastic literary devices to help tell the story. He uses the device of characterization the best in this book. He develops the characters Paul and Rosie with this device. He tells the readers how Rosie is sixteen and very brave. Muchamore also says Paul is starting to get feelings for women but is very shy. Paul loves reading and painting in his free time. Rosie and Paul are brother and sister. Both of these characters are spies together during World War 2. These examples helped me understand the book because I found out these characters are teenagers and siblings who work together in the field.
Robert Muchamore uses some fantastic literary devices to help tell the story. He uses the device of characterization the best in this book. He develops the characters Paul and Rosie with this device. He tells the readers how Rosie is sixteen and very brave. Muchamore also says Paul is starting to get feelings for women but is very shy. Paul loves reading and painting in his free time. Rosie and Paul are brother and sister. Both of these characters are spies together during World War 2. These examples helped me understand the book because I found out these characters are teenagers and siblings who work together in the field.
May 18, 2018
First, Muchamore wrote a book called The Recruit, set in the early 2000s and featuring a 12 year old boy who became a spy for a secret British intelligence unit called CHERUB. This led to a series of 12 books, a second series, and the spin off series, Henderson Boys, of which this book, One Shot Kill, is the sixth in a series of seven. While CHERUB is a secret organisation that has operated since 1946, it’s founder, Charles Henderson, piloted the idea during World War II, by enlisting orphaned teenagers to complete covert operations in German-occupied France, with the assistance of the Resistance. These were the Henderson Boys (and girls). In this sixth adventure, almost all of the characters are well-known, well trained and ready for action. Their mission is to destroy a bunker in the forest, where Germany are keeping scientists prisoner and building state of the art bombs. If you like the sound of the series, start with book one, The Escape. If you prefer your child spy adventures to be more modern, check out the CHERUB series. I love recommending Muchamore and my enthusiasm for his work has turned many reluctant readers into book lovers throughout my teaching career. Get onboard.
July 5, 2018
Not the best of the series but still pretty good, this book comes across in three different sections.
The first, and by far the best, shows just what life would have been like for a teenage spy during the second world war, and by no means sugar coats it.
The second by contrast came across as rather pointless, featuring training the likes of which had been covered several times in earlier books, and better in them as well. It also suffered greatly by depicting nearly all the characters, even the leading and title ones, as completely unpleasant.
Finally, the mission, as exciting as this was, it seemed very rushed especially when compared to the training, even though it was rather padded out by a side trip from one of the supposedly under cover agents which, although sweet, was clearly added on to fill up pages.
Oh, and for the first time, there seemed no advantage to actually using teenage in the mission rather than adults, which rather defeats the main premise of the entire book.
Mind you, despite all that, I still enjoyed it, so what do I know?
The first, and by far the best, shows just what life would have been like for a teenage spy during the second world war, and by no means sugar coats it.
The second by contrast came across as rather pointless, featuring training the likes of which had been covered several times in earlier books, and better in them as well. It also suffered greatly by depicting nearly all the characters, even the leading and title ones, as completely unpleasant.
Finally, the mission, as exciting as this was, it seemed very rushed especially when compared to the training, even though it was rather padded out by a side trip from one of the supposedly under cover agents which, although sweet, was clearly added on to fill up pages.
Oh, and for the first time, there seemed no advantage to actually using teenage in the mission rather than adults, which rather defeats the main premise of the entire book.
Mind you, despite all that, I still enjoyed it, so what do I know?
September 8, 2022
What is this book about? (write 1-2 sentences) it's about a group of boys who are training to infiltrate a bomb bunker with sniping skills, where a girl is already on the ground rescuing a girl who is about to be hung and getting Intel on the bunker.
What is your favourite part of the story and why? (write 1-2 sentences) when they start the assault on the base to rescue the scientists.
Who is your favourite character and why? (write 1-2 sentences) Marc Kilgour because he was always cool headed part from the dumb decisions he made he was also the best sniper.
What is a lesson or a fact that you learned from this book? (write 1-2 sentences) that not everyone is who they truly are and some people think differently to others in tough circumstances.
Give your review out of 5 stars 5/5
What is your favourite part of the story and why? (write 1-2 sentences) when they start the assault on the base to rescue the scientists.
Who is your favourite character and why? (write 1-2 sentences) Marc Kilgour because he was always cool headed part from the dumb decisions he made he was also the best sniper.
What is a lesson or a fact that you learned from this book? (write 1-2 sentences) that not everyone is who they truly are and some people think differently to others in tough circumstances.
Give your review out of 5 stars 5/5
November 21, 2017
I flew through the first half and struggled a bit with the second. I liked Justin and his family. It was good getting to see more of Rosie and Marc and Paul. Luc is just batshit crazy. One thing I've found super odd is reading Cherub at the same time - the origins story of Cherub differs. Henderson's Boys Cherub is started by Henderson after he meets Marc and Rosie and Paul and is shown the use of such agents. But Cherub suggests that Henderson started it only after he saw France/Germany using kids as spies. I guess it's only a small distinction but it's driving me nuts. And Terrence I really need to know how he came to be McAfferty - how does he get recruited - is it after his father dies? Before? Does McAfferty adopt him? Why does he take her name? I need answers.
August 18, 2019
A frenzy of action; a kill count of up to 3 people in the first couple of chapters. It's toward the nitty-gritty end of WW2, and CHERUB is back. Where? Out in the hills and fields sniper training. Out on the train tracks smuggling secret weapons. Up in the air parachuting into unknown territory. Inside a science bunker filled with the blueprints for a German missile. Every character has a role in this mission, and the story falls together fairly well. However, it can be confusing to keep up with events with the addition of new characters, but their contributions to CHERUB keeps you on your toes.
November 2, 2022
A weaker instalment in the series - the story felt like it meandered for a bit too long and when it did finally realise it's central premise, it was over! The final action sequence was a big, bold adrenaline rush but that doesn't make up for a lack of character work or depth throughout the rest of the book. And Muchamore continues to be so juvenile with his unnecessary lavatory humour. 3 stars.
June 4, 2017
As always, CHERUB/HB books are awesome. Fun, easy to read, and action-packed. I'm kinda sad that I've now only got one left unless I start the second lot of CHERUB books. I suppose I'll live. Can't wait to read the last one.
December 20, 2018
It Was Amazing
Read
November 8, 2021This book is very tilted towards someone who is Interested in war
March 4, 2023
★★★★
August 6, 2023
Haven't been on here in a while finished this series a while back. It was recommended by a coworker and was definitely worth it. Not my normal fare but I still enjoyed it.
June 3, 2024
good book
February 4, 2025
I enjoy it but I feel like some of the characters have become perversed by the horror of war and are no longer good people at points. They are just willing to win the war by any means necessary
October 28, 2013
One Shot Kill Review
Recently I’ve read the book One Shot Kill, by Robert Muchamore. This book is about the Cherub organization of young spies who work with French Resistance members who get info on German bunkers and secret weapons as they go into occupied France in World War 2, to stop Hitler’s plans. I believe for this book to meet my criterion.
My first criterion, exciting first chapter, is included in this book because in the first chapter of One Shot Kill, some of the young spies and French Resistance parachute into occupied France in order to save their friend from a German interrogation center, then later to be sent on a sniping mission into a secret bunker. Which goes to my next criterion of realistic fiction.
The book shows realistic fiction by portraying the real life of World War 2 and the snipers in that war, which would come later in the book, even though the it is fiction. The book shows later of the cadets of Cherub going through sniper training, getting trained to shoot “in the dark, when it’s raining, and when you can’t stand and barely have enough strength to hold up your gun”, and portraying realistic battle tactics and strategies enabling them to gain victory. Then onto my next criterion of a suspenseful plot.
The book demonstrates a very suspenseful plot as the main characters try to make their way through German occupied France to get to a secret bunker to save French scientists forced to work for the Germans. Then getting them far away before fleets of American Bombers come to blow the bunker to pieces because the bunker contains pilotless flying bombs. I know it’s a mouthful. With the possibility of getting blown to bits, or captured or killed; the book shows a very strong suspenseful plot.
All in all, the book demonstrates my criteria well, by meeting and excelling at each criterion, and drawing me into the book by making me want to read more. I would recommend this book to fellow eighth graders because I think that they would be really fascinated by all the excitement, realism, and suspense that Robert Muchamore puts in in his book, One Shot Kill.
Recently I’ve read the book One Shot Kill, by Robert Muchamore. This book is about the Cherub organization of young spies who work with French Resistance members who get info on German bunkers and secret weapons as they go into occupied France in World War 2, to stop Hitler’s plans. I believe for this book to meet my criterion.
My first criterion, exciting first chapter, is included in this book because in the first chapter of One Shot Kill, some of the young spies and French Resistance parachute into occupied France in order to save their friend from a German interrogation center, then later to be sent on a sniping mission into a secret bunker. Which goes to my next criterion of realistic fiction.
The book shows realistic fiction by portraying the real life of World War 2 and the snipers in that war, which would come later in the book, even though the it is fiction. The book shows later of the cadets of Cherub going through sniper training, getting trained to shoot “in the dark, when it’s raining, and when you can’t stand and barely have enough strength to hold up your gun”, and portraying realistic battle tactics and strategies enabling them to gain victory. Then onto my next criterion of a suspenseful plot.
The book demonstrates a very suspenseful plot as the main characters try to make their way through German occupied France to get to a secret bunker to save French scientists forced to work for the Germans. Then getting them far away before fleets of American Bombers come to blow the bunker to pieces because the bunker contains pilotless flying bombs. I know it’s a mouthful. With the possibility of getting blown to bits, or captured or killed; the book shows a very strong suspenseful plot.
All in all, the book demonstrates my criteria well, by meeting and excelling at each criterion, and drawing me into the book by making me want to read more. I would recommend this book to fellow eighth graders because I think that they would be really fascinated by all the excitement, realism, and suspense that Robert Muchamore puts in in his book, One Shot Kill.
September 23, 2014
1. I decided to read this book as I have previously read many books from Robert Muchamore, and I'm a big fan. He is well known for his successful series "Cherub" where he sold many books world wide.
2. I enjoyed the character Justin, a young 10 year old boy. I was unimpressed at first by the character when I was introduced in "One Shot Kill", although as the book goes on, he slowly develops as an useful resistance member and I find him more enjoyable. He is first made known to the reader on a pursuit, where Rosie (A member from the resistance) escapes German soldiers via boarding a coal train. Justin is on the same train where he steals coal for a living.
3. A quote that I found very interesting is; "Something is the matter, but it usually sorts itself out in the end," I was intrigued with this notion as I know half of the time it doesn't happen. I personally think this is a strange mind set for someone fighting in the war, and instead I think they should attempt doing something about it, because sometimes this could result in losing a battle war etc...
4. "One Shot Kill," Made me think about WW2 and the huge impact it has had to the world today. It made me think back then at the war, how people like this (resistance) had a huge impact on the war although they are not really known and instead forgotten, without them I personally think the world today would be slightly different place (not in a good way).
2. I enjoyed the character Justin, a young 10 year old boy. I was unimpressed at first by the character when I was introduced in "One Shot Kill", although as the book goes on, he slowly develops as an useful resistance member and I find him more enjoyable. He is first made known to the reader on a pursuit, where Rosie (A member from the resistance) escapes German soldiers via boarding a coal train. Justin is on the same train where he steals coal for a living.
3. A quote that I found very interesting is; "Something is the matter, but it usually sorts itself out in the end," I was intrigued with this notion as I know half of the time it doesn't happen. I personally think this is a strange mind set for someone fighting in the war, and instead I think they should attempt doing something about it, because sometimes this could result in losing a battle war etc...
4. "One Shot Kill," Made me think about WW2 and the huge impact it has had to the world today. It made me think back then at the war, how people like this (resistance) had a huge impact on the war although they are not really known and instead forgotten, without them I personally think the world today would be slightly different place (not in a good way).
January 6, 2014
This book had loads of action and never stopped. There are many things that I liked in this book like when Marc goes of to see Jae. I felt this book never stopped. It was action after action. I like how we meet some new characters as well as some of the character we met in previous books. Also it feels like we haven't seen some characters in ages, like Rosie and Paul. Rosie is now sixteen and Paul has past his 'girls are icky' stage. It only felt like a few minutes ago when Rosie and Paul were trying to escape France with important documents and now both of them are spies.
My only issue with this book is that we didn't see enough PT, he speaks only in one chapter, although he does a appear in earlier and later chapters.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and this is shown in the fact that it took me only three days to read. I think this book is the best book in the series so far and all that I can hope is that Scorched Earth,which is the next book in the series, is just a good as this one.
My only issue with this book is that we didn't see enough PT, he speaks only in one chapter, although he does a appear in earlier and later chapters.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and this is shown in the fact that it took me only three days to read. I think this book is the best book in the series so far and all that I can hope is that Scorched Earth,which is the next book in the series, is just a good as this one.
March 13, 2013
i am up to page 118 in this book
the main characters at the moment are rosie, edith and joseph.
at the start of the book, rosie and a man called eugene parachuted into occupied france to train some spy's in the resistance. when they landed they realised they had been ambushed and that all their spy's had been tortured and killed... except for one. Edith was in prisoned by the germans and they were organising a public hanging the next day. while they are taking edith to the place where she is going to be hung eugene and rosie ambush the car and take edith who has life threatning injuries. they take her to eugenes safe house where they are found by germans and eugene is killed, rosie manages to escape and takes edith to a doctor where she is being treated for her injuries.
the main characters at the moment are rosie, edith and joseph.
at the start of the book, rosie and a man called eugene parachuted into occupied france to train some spy's in the resistance. when they landed they realised they had been ambushed and that all their spy's had been tortured and killed... except for one. Edith was in prisoned by the germans and they were organising a public hanging the next day. while they are taking edith to the place where she is going to be hung eugene and rosie ambush the car and take edith who has life threatning injuries. they take her to eugenes safe house where they are found by germans and eugene is killed, rosie manages to escape and takes edith to a doctor where she is being treated for her injuries.
January 3, 2013
The story starts off with Rosie and Eugene parachuting into France. They were there to help the Resistance. Naturally stuff goes wrong, and Rosie is left dragging an injured girl halfway across France to find safety. Back in the UK the boys are being trained. Trained to be snipers.
This book reads fast. It was only about 300 pages, 325? But it felt like lots happened in a short space of time. Which I quite like.
Muchamore has once again written a book which will attract a wide range of ages.
"Hands off cocks, feet in socks!" - Call me immature, but I laughed waaaay too hard....
This book reads fast. It was only about 300 pages, 325? But it felt like lots happened in a short space of time. Which I quite like.
Muchamore has once again written a book which will attract a wide range of ages.
"Hands off cocks, feet in socks!" - Call me immature, but I laughed waaaay too hard....
December 17, 2012
It was an alright addition to the Hendersons Boys series but it feels like it's missing something. I found it hard to get invested in the storyline, it felt shallow compared to some of the other books like The Prisoner. It also felt short - perhaps it was a little rushed, it certainly feels it.
December 24, 2012
GREAT!!! One Shot Kill was a light, super fun read. Throughout the series the characters have developed and in One Shot Kill this is demonstrated particularly well. I thoroughly enjoyed One Shot Kill and cannot wait for the next book in the series; Scorched Earth to come out.
August 9, 2016
Fast-paced, intense and very entertaining as all the books in the series, although at this point the missions can start feeling like too much of the same thing. I read the seven books one after the other, so maybe that did not help. A lot of fun, nevertheless.
August 18, 2012
Does anybody know when this book is coming out???
March 20, 2013
good, but i think the earlier books (in both CHERUB and HB) were better
January 7, 2013
I liked the idea of it, though i would have liked to see the journeys on how everyone got back to Allied territory at the end.
December 30, 2012
best in the series so far, can't wait for the last one.
January 17, 2013
Another excellent and rollicking tale from Robert Muchamore. Follows his successful formula and is a very enjoyable read. Hurry up with the next one please!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews