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The Unknown Assassin #1
I Am the Weapon
Previously published under the title Boy Nobody
They needed the perfect assassin.
Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.
But when The Program assigns him to the mayor of New York City, things change. Somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and a girlfriend; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.
In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.
They needed the perfect assassin.
Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.
But when The Program assigns him to the mayor of New York City, things change. Somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and a girlfriend; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.
In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2013
276 people are currently reading
8099 people want to read
About the author
Allen Zadoff
22 books424 followersAllen Zadoff is the author of nine novels and a memoir, including the thriller series “The Unknown Assassin”, which debuted to starred reviews and was a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Reluctant Readers. The series has been translated into over a dozen languages and is being developed by Sony Pictures. A former stage director, Zadoff is a graduate of Cornell University, the Harvard University Institute for Advanced Theater Training, and the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop. As an experienced technologist, he has embraced the intersection of AI and the creative process, becoming an expert in using AI tools to enhance storytelling. His latest book, "The AI Revolution for Writers," explores the potential of AI in writing and offers practical guidance for writers and creatives. Visit Allen at www.allenzadoff.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,365 reviews
June 16, 2013
Generally, I have the attention span of a goldfish. At any given time, I am vacillating between 3-6 books, maybe more...depending on how unfortunate my reading choices happen to be at the moment. I lose interest easily...which says something about this book that I sat down, opened it, and read it through in one sitting. Holy cow, this was a lot better than I expected.
It's not a perfect book by any means, it was rather too political at some point for my liking. By political, I mean the subplot of international espionage and politicians, not that the book had a heavy political agenda in its message (although there were a few digs here or there towards Republicans and Apple employees). However, overall this was a very fast-paced, action-filled book with believable, complex teenage characters despite the plot which, to my dubious self, initially sounds like a deadlier version of The Mysterious Benedict Society. The twists and turns are just unbelievable. The ending had my mouth hanging open, and the second half of the book was nonstop action. I was rarely bored, through the setup, even the weaker flashbacks, this book was absolutely engrossing.
The premise, I admit, is a little far-fetched. We do not know the character's name. His identity changes from mission to mission, the details are always roughly the same. The MC gets a mission and a "mark," he befriends that mark's child, and gets close enough to kill them. Only with this latest mission, there's a problem: the mark's daughter. As I read this part of the summary, you can see my eyes slowly rolling into the back of my head. A girl. It's always a goddamn girl getting in the way. Geez. This girl better be worth it. And she is. And he is.
I loved the writing style. There is no purple prose here. The writing is short, succinct, to the point. It is pretty clear that the author is a male, unlike other books I've read in which the male character was written by a male author, I can completely buy the fact that our narrator is a 16-year old adolescent. There is no Ethan Wates here; our protagonist is observant, but in a business-like manner. He notices body language, he notices suspicious characters, he sees the relevant details, he has been trained to detect abnormalities and inconsistencies. He doesn't notice a girl's wearing shoes that doesn't match her purse, none of that shit here. He is a trained killer and fighter and his way of thinking is absolutely consistent with his character.
Sam (Samara) is not a typically fluffy YA female heroine. She is beautiful, yes; she is smart, yes, but she has suffered in her life with loss, and having been raised as the daughter of a very well-known politician. Sam is no simpering miss; she knows bullshit and a sycophant when she sees one. Sam is a challenge, a tough girl.
Sam has a healthy dose of skepticism:
Their relationship is complex, they're not the core of each others' world, and that's just fine. It's a realistic portrayal of a teenage relationship where friends and others are involved, and the two people are not the center of each others' universe, despite their overall attraction. Besides the fact that Ben has a mission to kill her father, that is.
The other characters in the book are well-done. The teenagers in the book feel authentic. There's drinking, there's sex, there's teenage mating behavior, but it is never outrageous, never done for the sake of portraying a typical teen stereotype and always feels accurate. The school environment takes place in an exclusive New York private school, and it is well-done. The teenagers are studious, and above all, fiercely intelligent; they debate, they are well-prepared for the cutthroat competition as is typical in a college prep school and I love that the author does not dumb it down and lump the teens in this book into a mass of illiterate, unthinking, uncaring clods.
The action is so well-done, I am never lost. There were some weak points, like the flashbacks and one particular plot hole about his past that never got entirely resolved. I didn't like the subplot outside of the mission, it was a little too close to a few recent episodes of NCIS for my liking. I hope there will be a sequel, because I am highly interested in finding out more about what happened in "Ben's" past.
It's not a perfect book by any means, it was rather too political at some point for my liking. By political, I mean the subplot of international espionage and politicians, not that the book had a heavy political agenda in its message (although there were a few digs here or there towards Republicans and Apple employees). However, overall this was a very fast-paced, action-filled book with believable, complex teenage characters despite the plot which, to my dubious self, initially sounds like a deadlier version of The Mysterious Benedict Society. The twists and turns are just unbelievable. The ending had my mouth hanging open, and the second half of the book was nonstop action. I was rarely bored, through the setup, even the weaker flashbacks, this book was absolutely engrossing.
The premise, I admit, is a little far-fetched. We do not know the character's name. His identity changes from mission to mission, the details are always roughly the same. The MC gets a mission and a "mark," he befriends that mark's child, and gets close enough to kill them. Only with this latest mission, there's a problem: the mark's daughter. As I read this part of the summary, you can see my eyes slowly rolling into the back of my head. A girl. It's always a goddamn girl getting in the way. Geez. This girl better be worth it. And she is. And he is.
I loved the writing style. There is no purple prose here. The writing is short, succinct, to the point. It is pretty clear that the author is a male, unlike other books I've read in which the male character was written by a male author, I can completely buy the fact that our narrator is a 16-year old adolescent. There is no Ethan Wates here; our protagonist is observant, but in a business-like manner. He notices body language, he notices suspicious characters, he sees the relevant details, he has been trained to detect abnormalities and inconsistencies. He doesn't notice a girl's wearing shoes that doesn't match her purse, none of that shit here. He is a trained killer and fighter and his way of thinking is absolutely consistent with his character.
"Accidents, illness, genetics, bad luck.Our unnamed MC is known in the main arc of the story as "Benjamin." We are not given an entire back history of his past, but we do get glimpses of it in flashbacks. When he was twelve years old, his parents were killed by the Program, and he became initiated into it.
There are a thousand ways to die."
"Whatever I decided, my life was no longer my own. I could give it up forever and join my parents, or I could join The Program.He is seemingly stripped of personality, adapting it to the situation as it fits. He observes a new environment first, assesses the mark and like a skilled spy, selects the best method and personality to adapt in order to infiltrate his target. We're not meant to love him, Ben is a highly trained killer. He has killed before, we watch him kill not even 10 pages into the book. He does so again and again, methodically, instinctively, but never maliciously or needlessly. He is a soldier, it is his job. Ben does the same with this situation, but the daughter of the new mark turns out to be someone unexpected. Ben is successful at getting close to the target...but to his shock, to his bewilderment, he just can't bring himself to kill his target.
Twelve years old, and I had to make a choice between life and death.
I chose death.
Ironically, it was what they were looking for. It showed them the level of character they were seeking, the list of personality characteristics appropriate to a potential soldier.
Intensity.
Black-or-white thinking.
Stubbornness.
Allegiance without regard to consequence.
They took my allegiance and transformed it into something that would serve them."
Sam (Samara) is not a typically fluffy YA female heroine. She is beautiful, yes; she is smart, yes, but she has suffered in her life with loss, and having been raised as the daughter of a very well-known politician. Sam is no simpering miss; she knows bullshit and a sycophant when she sees one. Sam is a challenge, a tough girl.
"...passion plus intellect, with some deep emotional baggage beneath the surface."A bit stereotypical? Maybe, but she is well-written in her complexity, and I found myself loving her character. Sam doesn't buy the whole new-boy-falls-in-love act; she is not overly stubborn and bitchy, but she calls out bullshit when she sees it.
Sam has a healthy dose of skepticism:
"'I don’t know,' I say. “Something about you, I guess. I can see you’re different.'They do not meet cute. Ben and Sam clash, yet they see in each other a spark, something that draws them to each other. There is no insta-love as Ben meets her and assesses how to best get close to her, and as she sees Ben and gets the impression that he is smart-ass bystander lacking in intelligence. Yet, as they fight, the sparks fly, and they are drawn to each other on a deeper level than that of initial attraction.
It’s a classic ploy. Express interest in a girl you just met. If you do it right, you can charm her, or at least pique her interest.
'You're playing games,' she says. 'We don’t know each other, so how do you know I’m different?'
So much for the classics."
Their relationship is complex, they're not the core of each others' world, and that's just fine. It's a realistic portrayal of a teenage relationship where friends and others are involved, and the two people are not the center of each others' universe, despite their overall attraction. Besides the fact that Ben has a mission to kill her father, that is.
The other characters in the book are well-done. The teenagers in the book feel authentic. There's drinking, there's sex, there's teenage mating behavior, but it is never outrageous, never done for the sake of portraying a typical teen stereotype and always feels accurate. The school environment takes place in an exclusive New York private school, and it is well-done. The teenagers are studious, and above all, fiercely intelligent; they debate, they are well-prepared for the cutthroat competition as is typical in a college prep school and I love that the author does not dumb it down and lump the teens in this book into a mass of illiterate, unthinking, uncaring clods.
The action is so well-done, I am never lost. There were some weak points, like the flashbacks and one particular plot hole about his past that never got entirely resolved. I didn't like the subplot outside of the mission, it was a little too close to a few recent episodes of NCIS for my liking. I hope there will be a sequel, because I am highly interested in finding out more about what happened in "Ben's" past.
October 28, 2018
Q:
In most schools teachers are tired, but not here. Here they are passionate.
This teacher enters the room in midlecture, as if he can’t wait to begin, so much so that he started his lecture in the hall outside class. Hell, he probably started in the parking lot this morning.
(C)
Q:
J’accélère le pas et je sens le vent souffler dans mes cheveux. J’inspire et j’absorbe le mouvement de la ville, du monde, l’incessant tourbillon.
(c)
Q:
L’♥ fait d’une maison un foyer (c)
In most schools teachers are tired, but not here. Here they are passionate.
This teacher enters the room in midlecture, as if he can’t wait to begin, so much so that he started his lecture in the hall outside class. Hell, he probably started in the parking lot this morning.
(C)
Q:
J’accélère le pas et je sens le vent souffler dans mes cheveux. J’inspire et j’absorbe le mouvement de la ville, du monde, l’incessant tourbillon.
(c)
Q:
L’♥ fait d’une maison un foyer (c)
February 15, 2021
Goal : Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to review this book in such a way that readers can be interested to join The Program without revealing them too much classified information.
Agents : Please read enclosed file on Project I am a weapon thoroughly. Parts of the file are encrypted, please only use code spoilerTAG to unlock the contents exclusively after reading the book. Warning : Due to the critical nature of this mission, please keep in mind that you'll have to decide whether or not what I'm telling you is accurate. Secrecy is needed, so you might as well read the book to decipher.
➊ Successful infiltration
✔ The writing flows easily and the choice of short sentences and first person POV appears to be perfect for this kind of book. Indeed while it's sometimes misused by some writers, this writing style adds here to the feeling of speed we get throughout the book.
✔ The plot is well-wrapped and captivating, offering us a fast-paced, action-packed kind of novel where boredom doesn't exist.
✔ The male-lead, who we will refer here as Ben, is a well-trained and realistic assassin. No fluffy sweet here, for once. Although he can come as a Gary Stu, his training can explain his high-level of abilities. I mean, did you see Jason Bournes' training, for real? See? You know what I mean. Organized and focused, as a soldier he kills to obey orders but never needlessly or for the sick "pleasure" (ugh) of it. Not this kind of assassin here, but anti-hero still, because
✔ The flashbacks, where we learnt details about Ben's training and early days in The Program, peaked my interest and I'm really curious to learn more about his past in the sequel.
✔ I absolutely adored the ending which let me both satisfied and eager for more. Moreover, it resolved some of my issues, so take my complains below with a grain of salt.
➋ Facts to stake out : please keep a low profile
✔ The relationships between the different characters, if generally well-done, aren't perfect by any means.
- The romance I didn't buy, because I never really felt the connection between Ben and Sam, daughter of the New York's major who Ben is supposed to kill. To be frank, they were cute enough, I guess, but the short timeframe prevented me from rooting for them as a couple. Don't get me wrong, Sam was an interesting character, and not our regular dumb female-lead changed by love. She's smart, strong-minded and independent, and their interactions quite interesting, even if not free of roll-eyed worthy moments. Moreover, the "romance" is only a little part of the plot, so it didn't bother me too much.
- However I appreciated the evolution of the relationship between Howard and Ben, and to see the beginning of a possible friendship pleased me.
✔ Overall the teenagers are portrayed in a realistic way, therefore their actions seem quite... immature and stupid at some point (except for Ben).
- First Sam's best friend. Seriously, his "back-off" show was ridiculous. Now, is it believable? Sadly, I think it is.
- The "she got her heart broken because A FEW YEARS AGO she had a relationship really deep that turned wrong". She's 16. How in the world can she ... You know what? I don't want to know.
✔The political subplot ... felt a little unbelievable and partisan to me. Excuse my cynical French talking but -
*cough* Really?
And that's the only thing I'll say. Now, everything isn't as simple as it appears at first, so you may be pleasantly surprised, as I was.
☠ You're cover is blown : please stop right now!
To sum up, if I am a weapon is far from perfect, I read it in one sitting and that's saying something, isn't it? Despite his flaws, it stays a pretty good first book in my opinion and the ending gave me hope for an exciting sequel.
► Review terminated. To be continued...
May 20, 2013
4.5 stars
Here’s a fair warning for you guys: don’t start reading Boy Nobody just before bedtime, especially if you have something important to do the next day. It will not end well, learn from my mistake. I thought I’d just read a few chapters and go to sleep, but somehow I ended up with a can of Red Bull at three in the morning, desperate to keep myself awake long enough to finish that last part.
Zadoff was very careful not to reveal our protagonist’s name for most of the book, giving him an alias only when the narrative would have suffered otherwise, and always emphasizing the fact that his name, or anything else about him, don’t matter. His alias, Benjamin, was also used sparingly in the attempt to make him seem less like a person, and more like a well-oiled machine, completely stripped of personality, a weapon you aim at any given target and wait for it to go off.
Our protagonist – I’ll call him Ben to avoid confusion although it’s not his real name - is emotionless, but not cruel; well-trained, but not bloodthirsty; competent, but not overly ambitious. The Program killed his parents and recruited him when he was no more than twelve, and his life is just mission after mission. He has no friends, no family, just two bosses (or handlers) he calls Mother and Father.
While Ben’s story is undoubtedly sad and one can understand why he made some of his choices, make no mistake – he is a killer. He is no would-be assassin; he is an agent with six successful missions behind him. He is the new boy in school who will use his training and expertise to worm his way into your life, kill your parents at first available opportunity and then disappear forever.
Zadoff’s story seems to be Young Adult by accident, not by design, by which I mean that his protagonis’s age seems to be determined by the effect it has the story, and not the publishers or the market. This means that he didn’t pull any punches: the violence in Boy Nobody is not graphic, but it's constantly present. In many ways, this is a story better suited for older, more mature readers, although there's nothing to prevent me for recommending it to younger audience as well..
I loved that the author never tried to redeem his character. He never made excuses for him, never tried to turn him into something he’s not. In that, Boy Nobody is unlike any other YA book before it. Yes, Ben asks himself questions about morality, right and wrong, love and duty, but those questions aren’t the center of this story, nor is there some life-altering lesson hidden between the lines.
Let me put it this way: try to imagine Jason Bourne in his formative years. If you like what you come up with, it means you’ll probably like Boy Nobody as well. Just make sure to start reading when you know you have time to finish it in one sitting.
Here’s a fair warning for you guys: don’t start reading Boy Nobody just before bedtime, especially if you have something important to do the next day. It will not end well, learn from my mistake. I thought I’d just read a few chapters and go to sleep, but somehow I ended up with a can of Red Bull at three in the morning, desperate to keep myself awake long enough to finish that last part.
Zadoff was very careful not to reveal our protagonist’s name for most of the book, giving him an alias only when the narrative would have suffered otherwise, and always emphasizing the fact that his name, or anything else about him, don’t matter. His alias, Benjamin, was also used sparingly in the attempt to make him seem less like a person, and more like a well-oiled machine, completely stripped of personality, a weapon you aim at any given target and wait for it to go off.
Our protagonist – I’ll call him Ben to avoid confusion although it’s not his real name - is emotionless, but not cruel; well-trained, but not bloodthirsty; competent, but not overly ambitious. The Program killed his parents and recruited him when he was no more than twelve, and his life is just mission after mission. He has no friends, no family, just two bosses (or handlers) he calls Mother and Father.
While Ben’s story is undoubtedly sad and one can understand why he made some of his choices, make no mistake – he is a killer. He is no would-be assassin; he is an agent with six successful missions behind him. He is the new boy in school who will use his training and expertise to worm his way into your life, kill your parents at first available opportunity and then disappear forever.
Zadoff’s story seems to be Young Adult by accident, not by design, by which I mean that his protagonis’s age seems to be determined by the effect it has the story, and not the publishers or the market. This means that he didn’t pull any punches: the violence in Boy Nobody is not graphic, but it's constantly present. In many ways, this is a story better suited for older, more mature readers, although there's nothing to prevent me for recommending it to younger audience as well..
I loved that the author never tried to redeem his character. He never made excuses for him, never tried to turn him into something he’s not. In that, Boy Nobody is unlike any other YA book before it. Yes, Ben asks himself questions about morality, right and wrong, love and duty, but those questions aren’t the center of this story, nor is there some life-altering lesson hidden between the lines.
Let me put it this way: try to imagine Jason Bourne in his formative years. If you like what you come up with, it means you’ll probably like Boy Nobody as well. Just make sure to start reading when you know you have time to finish it in one sitting.
February 21, 2017
Esta reseña NO contiene spoilers.
¿Espías? ¿Secretos? ¿Misiones? YES, PLEASE.
Apenas me enteré de que el autor de este libro vendrá a la Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires, no pude evitar correr a mis estanterías y sumergirme en esta historia. Déjenme decir que valió la pena.
SINOPSIS
En Yo soy el arma nos encontramos con una agencia que recluta a jóvenes para enviarlos de incógnito a misiones secretas. Nuestro protagonista (quien es tan bueno en su trabajo que no sabemos siquiera su nombre) es un adolescente que es enviado a Nueva York con el objetivo de asesinar a alguien de alto perfil. En sus misiones anteriores, él siempre tuvo la libertad de llevar las cosas a su tiempo, pero esta vez su plazo es de cinco días y con reglas más estrictas. Y no solo eso, sino que también sentirá la inquietante certeza de que hay alguien que está siguiendo sus pasos de cerca.
PERSONAJES
Lo interesante de este libro es que la vida del protagonista es un misterio. No sabemos quién es, cuál es su historia, por qué está involucrado con esta agencia, entre muchas otras cosas. El autor hizo un buen trabajo al ir desvelando lentamente ciertas pistas o al narrarnos escenas que explicaban el origen de este personaje y sus motivaciones.
Este es uno de esos libros en los que los personajes secundarios no tienen un foco especial, o al menos es así la mayoría del tiempo. Sí aportan lo necesario a la trama y son importantes para que se cree un entorno y se presenten todas las situaciones, pero el claro centro de esta historia es el protagonista. La lucha por descubrir lo que le están ocultando y la simultánea realización de su trabajo son cosas que no dan mucho tiempo para realmente conocer al resto de los personajes de manera muy profunda. Sin embargo, lo poco que nos enteramos de ellos nos permite saber que no es necesario ser un agente para guardar secretos, y que todos tienen algo que esconder.
WORLD BUILDING
No tengo mucho que decir acerca de la construcción de este mundo porque en realidad no tengo una idea muy clara de qué está pasando más allá de lo que sabemos. Lo único que podría comentar es acerca de la organización secreta, pero es justamente secreta así que no sé nada de ella. Supongo que para poder formar una opinión acerca de este apartado va a ser necesario que lea las continuaciones.
ESCRITURA
La escritura en sí de Allen Zadoff no fue lo mejor que leí.
SIN EMBARGO, tengo que admitir que este libro pasa prácticamente solo. Los capítulos, a diferencia de los de ciertos otros autores (Te hablo a vos, Cassandra Clare), son super cortos y hacen que las páginas pasen volando. El ritmo está muy bien conseguido y creo que el autor supo establecer con éxito los tiempos para cada acontecimiento. Todo está ubicado de manera que el lector pueda ir comprendiendo y procesando de a poco cada aspecto de la historia, y mantuvo de manera constante el nivel de intriga que era necesario para seguir leyendo sin parar.
EXPECTATIVAS
Lo que espero de I Am the Mission es una continuación que me de las respuestas que necesito. Sé que nada es lo que parece y que falta mucho por descubrir, así que estoy listo para enterarme de todas esas cosas siempre y cuando el autor tenga la misma capacidad de sorprenderme que alcanzó en este primer libro.
CONCLUSIÓN
En definitiva, este libro es un gran secreto.
La forma en que está ambientado dentro de esta agencia me resultó muy emocionante y sobre todo me pareció algo fresco y nuevo que no había visto anteriormente en otros libros.
Creo que el autor fue capaz de crear a la perfección una historia impredecible, que te mantiene al borde del asiento y que impide que sueltes el libro por un segundo. Los misterios, la intriga y las revelaciones hacen que la lectura de Yo soy el arma sea una montaña rusa repleta no solo de las convencionales subidas y bajadas, sino también de túneles y giros que nunca habrías visto venir.
¿Espías? ¿Secretos? ¿Misiones? YES, PLEASE.
Apenas me enteré de que el autor de este libro vendrá a la Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires, no pude evitar correr a mis estanterías y sumergirme en esta historia. Déjenme decir que valió la pena.
SINOPSIS
En Yo soy el arma nos encontramos con una agencia que recluta a jóvenes para enviarlos de incógnito a misiones secretas. Nuestro protagonista (quien es tan bueno en su trabajo que no sabemos siquiera su nombre) es un adolescente que es enviado a Nueva York con el objetivo de asesinar a alguien de alto perfil. En sus misiones anteriores, él siempre tuvo la libertad de llevar las cosas a su tiempo, pero esta vez su plazo es de cinco días y con reglas más estrictas. Y no solo eso, sino que también sentirá la inquietante certeza de que hay alguien que está siguiendo sus pasos de cerca.
PERSONAJES
Lo interesante de este libro es que la vida del protagonista es un misterio. No sabemos quién es, cuál es su historia, por qué está involucrado con esta agencia, entre muchas otras cosas. El autor hizo un buen trabajo al ir desvelando lentamente ciertas pistas o al narrarnos escenas que explicaban el origen de este personaje y sus motivaciones.
Este es uno de esos libros en los que los personajes secundarios no tienen un foco especial, o al menos es así la mayoría del tiempo. Sí aportan lo necesario a la trama y son importantes para que se cree un entorno y se presenten todas las situaciones, pero el claro centro de esta historia es el protagonista. La lucha por descubrir lo que le están ocultando y la simultánea realización de su trabajo son cosas que no dan mucho tiempo para realmente conocer al resto de los personajes de manera muy profunda. Sin embargo, lo poco que nos enteramos de ellos nos permite saber que no es necesario ser un agente para guardar secretos, y que todos tienen algo que esconder.
WORLD BUILDING
No tengo mucho que decir acerca de la construcción de este mundo porque en realidad no tengo una idea muy clara de qué está pasando más allá de lo que sabemos. Lo único que podría comentar es acerca de la organización secreta, pero es justamente secreta así que no sé nada de ella. Supongo que para poder formar una opinión acerca de este apartado va a ser necesario que lea las continuaciones.
ESCRITURA
La escritura en sí de Allen Zadoff no fue lo mejor que leí.
SIN EMBARGO, tengo que admitir que este libro pasa prácticamente solo. Los capítulos, a diferencia de los de ciertos otros autores (Te hablo a vos, Cassandra Clare), son super cortos y hacen que las páginas pasen volando. El ritmo está muy bien conseguido y creo que el autor supo establecer con éxito los tiempos para cada acontecimiento. Todo está ubicado de manera que el lector pueda ir comprendiendo y procesando de a poco cada aspecto de la historia, y mantuvo de manera constante el nivel de intriga que era necesario para seguir leyendo sin parar.
EXPECTATIVAS
Lo que espero de I Am the Mission es una continuación que me de las respuestas que necesito. Sé que nada es lo que parece y que falta mucho por descubrir, así que estoy listo para enterarme de todas esas cosas siempre y cuando el autor tenga la misma capacidad de sorprenderme que alcanzó en este primer libro.
CONCLUSIÓN
En definitiva, este libro es un gran secreto.
La forma en que está ambientado dentro de esta agencia me resultó muy emocionante y sobre todo me pareció algo fresco y nuevo que no había visto anteriormente en otros libros.
Creo que el autor fue capaz de crear a la perfección una historia impredecible, que te mantiene al borde del asiento y que impide que sueltes el libro por un segundo. Los misterios, la intriga y las revelaciones hacen que la lectura de Yo soy el arma sea una montaña rusa repleta no solo de las convencionales subidas y bajadas, sino también de túneles y giros que nunca habrías visto venir.
September 1, 2015
Buddy read with the amazing Anna
Eventually people stop looking at me, stop meeting my eye.
There is nothing to meet.
There is nobody here.
So here's the thing-I've found out a lot about myself recently. 1. I like flawed heroes more than I do any other kind of hero. 2. I enjoy fucked up scenarios in which the main character might or might not be a serial killer or any other type of cool thing like that (Most recently an assassin (obviously ^^^)). 3. I love male main characters or POVs, if done correctly, almost more than female POVs and main characters. And, lastly, I quite enjoy not-so-happily-ever-afters...to an extent. I'm still a bleeding heart-I'll never lose that trait completely, I don't think.
I remember that day. That moment. The smile.
I felt it then.
This sensation.
Not a sensation, I realize now.
A feeling.
None of this is shocking, really, if you know me at all. But I don't think I knew, myself. No, most shocking to me is that I actually found this genre. I didn't simply stumble upon it by circumstance, but because a great friend who does break the mold a little chose to gush. That's all it took and I broke free of my safe little bubble and emerged on the other side victorious. I have found some truly astounding characters that will likely stay with me forever, and they are all male (Okay, so, clearly everyone knows I love my heroes but it's completely different when I'm 100% in the male's head the whole time, cut me a little slack). My point to all this?? I am so glad that I had a friend who read something that was so interesting and took the time to tell me about it so I would take my interest and actually put it to use, because now?? I have such a wide genre opened up to me that I would have never thought to look into before this moment and I am forever grateful that I chose to stalk this person's reviews of that earlier series because I've read some great, albeit fucked up, books in the last month.
There are too many things like this lately. Things I do without knowing why, motivations that I cannot fully comprehend.
Bold. Daring. And most of all...Surprisingly deep and heartfelt. It started off kinda clinical, ya know? I was enjoying it immensely, but I felt like I was a third party when really all I wanted was to be inside his head to the point where I felt what he felt. I wanted that intensity and that deep rooted connection, and for a while I didn't get that sensation...no, sorry, not a sensation, a feeling. ;). But then something happened. Benny boy's door started to get some action-a light knock here, a dull thud there, then someone started to pound on the door until it splintered and cracked and ultimately exploded wide open. We were suddenly in this guy's head. We had the inside track to what his weakness was, what made him human and not just some freaky assassin kid that doesn't have any emotion. And the minute we started to see who this kid really was?? That's when I just knew we were in for a ride-finally.
I had feelings once, too. I think I did. But that was a long time ago.
That was before.
Pulse-pounding, heart-throbbing, unpredictable and intense. I promise you-You won't see what's coming. You'll think you know, but honestly? You don't. The fast paced plot went straight to my bloodstream and made it impossible to breathe. I was so so happy to be back into a 'criminal-type' mind-It was like coming home, if I'm being honest. Even more truthfully, I've been looking for a guy that even halfway reminds me of Jazz...and it's hard. It's hard when you love a character so much and can't seem to find that connection anywhere else. It stunts your excitement of other books. It makes you crazy. And dear old 'Ben' wasn't quite Jazz and the stories are wholly different....but I can't say he wasn't close-In fact, he really touched me and made me think of Jazz more than once. That's all I can ask for.
You learn many things with a knife in your shoulder.
You learn how to save your life. Or how to die.
Dealing with what it means to feel, to be human, to fit in, Ben will touch your heart in more ways than one. Losing your humanity when everything has been taken from you can make you a drone-immobile, a robot. But what happens when someone breaks through your shell? Makes you feel, makes you think about right or wrong, fair and unfair. So, yes, I loved this book very much. Will it be for everyone? Most likely, not. But...for those of you looking for a fun way to switch things up? Take a chance, try something you would never have tried before...And you might just come out in love with a whole new genre.
Sam is in my arms now, her body warm against mine, her lips so close that we share a breath.
"You went away for a second," she says.
"I'm afraid to get close to you."
For more of my reviews, please visit:
********************************************
Because me and Anna NEED another sociopath dude like JAZZ. It's an obsession and a curse.
Mission: Find a disturbed and tortured boy like Jazz
Successes thus far: ZERO
Are we ready? FUCK YES
The search continues....
October 16, 2014
3.5 STARS
Right now, there are at least 2 or 3 books in my TBR shelf roughly with the same premise as this one. Probably five if I estimate on the side of indulgence and include high fantasy assassin stories. It’s my kryptonite.
Oh fine, it’s one among my many kryptonites. But the cold-blooded killers, honed as a weapon by a covert organization and implanted to assimilate into normal society with a mission to kill is a lure I willingly bite on at any given medium.
The success rate in high fantasy of this ploy has been hit-and-miss for the most part for me but YA-contemporary has been killing it so far (pun not intended but hey, I’m claiming it was).
The fact that this book is being re-released under a different title (it was previously published as Boy Nobody) as a lead-in to the release of its follow-up book I Am the Mission next month is pretty much a spoiler. Although I have to admit, making this into a Bourne Identity-esque young adult series isn’t the worst idea out there.
The Weapon is a sixteen year old boy, and a trained assassin of The Program. Through elaborately devised operations, his mission is to eliminate certain personalities with precise execution and covert means. His next target is the mayor of New York City and he has five days to carry out this task through assimilating himself in the high school where the current queen is the mayor’s daughter, Samara.
I found the story engaging enough though not entirely devoid of eye-roll worthy moments which I shall get into later on. For me, the biggest hurdle for these kinds of stories is being able to sell the protagonist. Heroes like this could either take the cocky, snarky route or the sociopath with a sad past, which doesn’t really make that much of a difference for me because done properly, I kinda like both. The Weapon was a bit more of the latter though with his evident confidence in his skills can sometimes make him seem like the former.
I thought Zadoff did a pretty impressive job in making him believably lethal with his obvious dexterity and willingness to make use of the other tools in his arsenal to carry out the mission. I found the sterile narrative brilliant an added dimension to The Weapon’s character. It was his astute observations on human behaviour, the calculating thought process carried out into action and the healthy dose of humor cleverly paced with tension and grit made this a pretty enjoyable ride.
Okay, mostly enjoyable.
Because soon as Samara’s character was introduced, I found my attention drifting. It’s just I’ve seen this plot device far too many times and without telling you what happens, you can pretty much write out the entire second half of this book ahead of reading it. At first I thought it was her obvious perfection that was putting me off but on further reflection I think it was the way her character was eased in the story that didn’t sit well with me. It was too in-your-face obvious how she fits in the story and their chemistry together just felt flat, their dialogue cloyingly cheesy.
Egads.
I found The Weapon as a striking enough character and I should see the way Samara brought out conflict from him, by making him remember his past life, an effective tool to his evolution as a person. Except I liked the sociopathic killer better and the alternative being offered by the perfect girl wasn’t interesting me that much. So it started to feel like this entitled bitch was taking the nasty, badass hero from me.
I was actually rooting for Erica but soon as the length of her skirt was pointed out, I knew it was a lost cause. The (implied) slutty ones almost always never gets the guy in these kinds of books.
There were also awkward transitions to philosophical discussions with obvious subtext and allusions to the bigger plot. It wouldn’t have bothered me if it was one conversation, but done repeatedly with different variations in the context and characters involved, it loses its intended impact and just comes across contrived (an honestly a little too soapboxy). It takes the reader out of the reality distortion field you have painstakingly built.
You know what else distorts the reality distortion field? It’s when a badass, stone-cold assassin sees the pretty heroine in a dress and his thoughts go to her looking ‘fabulous’, and my thoughts go...
It’s a small, personal nitpick of mine and it might be quite naive and maybe sexist but I’m having a hard time computing the image of a badass, stone-cold assassin saying ‘fabulous’. Or ‘ecru’. Or ‘pizzazz’. Or ‘chai tea latte’.
I’d have easily rounded this down to a 3 but found Howard the token, non-Asian (props for not succumbing to that stereotype by the way) funny nerd too funny to ignore.
And that wasn’t even the best part about that incident.
Knowing how things ended here, I felt, as a whole, I Am The Weapon did a pretty good job in making me interested enough to look forward to the outcome of this story as a series. It was fun but not without substance and with enough potential for originality to make me look forward to the next instalment.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
Also on Booklikes.
Asking questions is not what I do. I’m given an assignment, and I carry it out.
Right now, there are at least 2 or 3 books in my TBR shelf roughly with the same premise as this one. Probably five if I estimate on the side of indulgence and include high fantasy assassin stories. It’s my kryptonite.
Oh fine, it’s one among my many kryptonites. But the cold-blooded killers, honed as a weapon by a covert organization and implanted to assimilate into normal society with a mission to kill is a lure I willingly bite on at any given medium.
The success rate in high fantasy of this ploy has been hit-and-miss for the most part for me but YA-contemporary has been killing it so far (pun not intended but hey, I’m claiming it was).
The fact that this book is being re-released under a different title (it was previously published as Boy Nobody) as a lead-in to the release of its follow-up book I Am the Mission next month is pretty much a spoiler. Although I have to admit, making this into a Bourne Identity-esque young adult series isn’t the worst idea out there.
The Weapon is a sixteen year old boy, and a trained assassin of The Program. Through elaborately devised operations, his mission is to eliminate certain personalities with precise execution and covert means. His next target is the mayor of New York City and he has five days to carry out this task through assimilating himself in the high school where the current queen is the mayor’s daughter, Samara.
I found the story engaging enough though not entirely devoid of eye-roll worthy moments which I shall get into later on. For me, the biggest hurdle for these kinds of stories is being able to sell the protagonist. Heroes like this could either take the cocky, snarky route or the sociopath with a sad past, which doesn’t really make that much of a difference for me because done properly, I kinda like both. The Weapon was a bit more of the latter though with his evident confidence in his skills can sometimes make him seem like the former.
I thought Zadoff did a pretty impressive job in making him believably lethal with his obvious dexterity and willingness to make use of the other tools in his arsenal to carry out the mission. I found the sterile narrative brilliant an added dimension to The Weapon’s character. It was his astute observations on human behaviour, the calculating thought process carried out into action and the healthy dose of humor cleverly paced with tension and grit made this a pretty enjoyable ride.
Okay, mostly enjoyable.
Because soon as Samara’s character was introduced, I found my attention drifting. It’s just I’ve seen this plot device far too many times and without telling you what happens, you can pretty much write out the entire second half of this book ahead of reading it. At first I thought it was her obvious perfection that was putting me off but on further reflection I think it was the way her character was eased in the story that didn’t sit well with me. It was too in-your-face obvious how she fits in the story and their chemistry together just felt flat, their dialogue cloyingly cheesy.
”I think you’re tough outside, but you’re soft inside.”
“And you?”
“I’m soft everywhere,” she says.
Egads.
I found The Weapon as a striking enough character and I should see the way Samara brought out conflict from him, by making him remember his past life, an effective tool to his evolution as a person. Except I liked the sociopathic killer better and the alternative being offered by the perfect girl wasn’t interesting me that much. So it started to feel like this entitled bitch was taking the nasty, badass hero from me.
I was actually rooting for Erica but soon as the length of her skirt was pointed out, I knew it was a lost cause. The (implied) slutty ones almost always never gets the guy in these kinds of books.
There were also awkward transitions to philosophical discussions with obvious subtext and allusions to the bigger plot. It wouldn’t have bothered me if it was one conversation, but done repeatedly with different variations in the context and characters involved, it loses its intended impact and just comes across contrived (an honestly a little too soapboxy). It takes the reader out of the reality distortion field you have painstakingly built.
You know what else distorts the reality distortion field? It’s when a badass, stone-cold assassin sees the pretty heroine in a dress and his thoughts go to her looking ‘fabulous’, and my thoughts go...
It’s a small, personal nitpick of mine and it might be quite naive and maybe sexist but I’m having a hard time computing the image of a badass, stone-cold assassin saying ‘fabulous’. Or ‘ecru’. Or ‘pizzazz’. Or ‘chai tea latte’.
I’d have easily rounded this down to a 3 but found Howard the token, non-Asian (props for not succumbing to that stereotype by the way) funny nerd too funny to ignore.
”What did you do, Howard?”
“I was playing with myself, okay? In the library. Back in the ninth grade.”
He looks at the ground.
“That’s embarrassing,” I say, “but you can’t be the first guy to look for a happy ending in the library.”
And that wasn’t even the best part about that incident.
Knowing how things ended here, I felt, as a whole, I Am The Weapon did a pretty good job in making me interested enough to look forward to the outcome of this story as a series. It was fun but not without substance and with enough potential for originality to make me look forward to the next instalment.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
Also on Booklikes.
June 16, 2013
Read this and my other reviews at The Social Potato!
Boy Nobody took me by surprise. I saw this yesterday at the bookstore and decided to buy it, but I didn't expect to be absolutely intrigued and to finish it all in one sitting. Imagine, it took me only less than three hours to devour all of it. It even has that kind of prose that I usually hate, but this one made it work in a stunning, exceptional way. I couldn't help but turn page after page, eager to know more about our main character and what else fate has in store for him.
As other reviews have already stated, I won't be indulging the rest of you of what the story is all about in a long-winded paragraph. In a nutshell, it's a story of Benjamin (or "Ben", for short), who is a well-trained, competent, and meticulous assassin. Since the age of twelve, he's been serving The Program, where his mission is to kill a particular target deemed dangerous and suspicious. How, you ask? By blending in with society and getting close to a relative of the marked person. He always finishes his missions. He's terribly good at it. This new one wouldn't be any different... or will it?
I really like Ben. He tells us his story in a detached, cool tone, like what you would expect from spies and assassins. He's very careful and efficient; he adjusts his personality and façade in order to fit the situation. He enters peoples lives effortlessly, becomes their friend with a smile or two, and once he's finished with his mission, he exits without a trace, leaving the son or daughter or whoever relative of the killed target he became close to heartbroken in his wake. He's the kind of person who knows what needs to be done and does it while also knowing and minding the consequences. He seems to be proud of his skills, but as readers, we also get the feeling he's terribly lonely, too, and we can't help but feel for him despite the fact he has bloodied his hands several times. I like that even though he's a certified and well-organized killer, he's not ruthless; he doesn't take lives meaninglessly, only if it's necessary. I don't know why, but this particular protagonist (or should I say anti-hero?) is just so oddly intriguing.
But what I really liked about him is that even though he knows his actions are questionable, he doesn't try to pretend to be self-righteous or self-loathing about it. Usually when I see a premise like this, the character would have a moment of epiphany and would go, "Killing is wrong, even if they're bad guys. From now on, I would only use honest and fair means!" and that bloody sucks. I for one believe that there are times when we have to get dirty too in order to fight for a greater cause. The reality is, in the real world, in the grander scheme of things, you don't fight evil with rainbows and butterflies... you fight fire with fire, get dirty if you need to; be dishonest if the situation calls for it; cheat; kill; steal. It's a sad reality, something I'm not proud to admit, but 'tis the truth, and I appreciate that Ben sees it that way, too. He doesn't try to justify, doesn't try to make excuses, doesn't try to redeem himself by going the other way. He gets the shit done, and that's that. And I like it that way.
There was something that made me raise my eyebrow, though. When Ben got his latest mission, he was troubled by the fact that he had to get closer to a girl. Because they're troublesome and so emotional and so difficult to please yada yada yada. I couldn't help but roll my eyes on that one, because this kind of thing is so cliché now. "OWMAYGADS, A GIRL! NOW OUR MISSION WILL SURELY BE DOOMED!" because, you know, girls get in the way. Always. *facepalm*
There was also this one where Ben felt someone pursuing him. The Presence, he was called. But throughout the story, I thought it was pretty obvious who The Presence was, and it kinda shocked me that being the brilliant spy and assassin that he was, it took him till near the ending to figure it all out.
But other than that, it was absolutely fantastic. The development of the story, the unexpected twists near the ending, the choices he had to make, and the new information that willed him to possibly deviate from The Program in the future - all of it was astounding. He's a spectacular character, and his presence alone was enough to fuel and drive the novel. I'll definitely look forward to the succeeding books!
Boy Nobody took me by surprise. I saw this yesterday at the bookstore and decided to buy it, but I didn't expect to be absolutely intrigued and to finish it all in one sitting. Imagine, it took me only less than three hours to devour all of it. It even has that kind of prose that I usually hate, but this one made it work in a stunning, exceptional way. I couldn't help but turn page after page, eager to know more about our main character and what else fate has in store for him.
As other reviews have already stated, I won't be indulging the rest of you of what the story is all about in a long-winded paragraph. In a nutshell, it's a story of Benjamin (or "Ben", for short), who is a well-trained, competent, and meticulous assassin. Since the age of twelve, he's been serving The Program, where his mission is to kill a particular target deemed dangerous and suspicious. How, you ask? By blending in with society and getting close to a relative of the marked person. He always finishes his missions. He's terribly good at it. This new one wouldn't be any different... or will it?
I really like Ben. He tells us his story in a detached, cool tone, like what you would expect from spies and assassins. He's very careful and efficient; he adjusts his personality and façade in order to fit the situation. He enters peoples lives effortlessly, becomes their friend with a smile or two, and once he's finished with his mission, he exits without a trace, leaving the son or daughter or whoever relative of the killed target he became close to heartbroken in his wake. He's the kind of person who knows what needs to be done and does it while also knowing and minding the consequences. He seems to be proud of his skills, but as readers, we also get the feeling he's terribly lonely, too, and we can't help but feel for him despite the fact he has bloodied his hands several times. I like that even though he's a certified and well-organized killer, he's not ruthless; he doesn't take lives meaninglessly, only if it's necessary. I don't know why, but this particular protagonist (or should I say anti-hero?) is just so oddly intriguing.
But what I really liked about him is that even though he knows his actions are questionable, he doesn't try to pretend to be self-righteous or self-loathing about it. Usually when I see a premise like this, the character would have a moment of epiphany and would go, "Killing is wrong, even if they're bad guys. From now on, I would only use honest and fair means!" and that bloody sucks. I for one believe that there are times when we have to get dirty too in order to fight for a greater cause. The reality is, in the real world, in the grander scheme of things, you don't fight evil with rainbows and butterflies... you fight fire with fire, get dirty if you need to; be dishonest if the situation calls for it; cheat; kill; steal. It's a sad reality, something I'm not proud to admit, but 'tis the truth, and I appreciate that Ben sees it that way, too. He doesn't try to justify, doesn't try to make excuses, doesn't try to redeem himself by going the other way. He gets the shit done, and that's that. And I like it that way.
There was something that made me raise my eyebrow, though. When Ben got his latest mission, he was troubled by the fact that he had to get closer to a girl. Because they're troublesome and so emotional and so difficult to please yada yada yada. I couldn't help but roll my eyes on that one, because this kind of thing is so cliché now. "OWMAYGADS, A GIRL! NOW OUR MISSION WILL SURELY BE DOOMED!" because, you know, girls get in the way. Always. *facepalm*
There was also this one where Ben felt someone pursuing him. The Presence, he was called. But throughout the story, I thought it was pretty obvious who The Presence was, and it kinda shocked me that being the brilliant spy and assassin that he was, it took him till near the ending to figure it all out.
But other than that, it was absolutely fantastic. The development of the story, the unexpected twists near the ending, the choices he had to make, and the new information that willed him to possibly deviate from The Program in the future - all of it was astounding. He's a spectacular character, and his presence alone was enough to fuel and drive the novel. I'll definitely look forward to the succeeding books!
June 9, 2016
I do not need these things, only the lesson they have taught me. What is the lesson?
"Are you okay, Ben?"
What is the lesson? Survive. No matter what happens to you, no matter the circumstances, no matter what life tosses at you - the losses, the pain. You must survive.
"I'm fine."
Boy Nobody was so much fun. I read this book basically in one sitting, and while it wasn't exactly what I expected it to be, it was a bit like those exciting and borderline trashy action movies that we all secretly love.
At first I felt slightly taken aback, because I expected something more à la The Curse Workers and something less like The Bourne Identity, but after putting my reservations aside, I could not help but enjoy this book immensely. While I wasn't crazy about the writing style - it was often too simplistic and cold, even though that was still quite appropriate given how emotionless the main character was - the pacing was fast and exciting, and I simply could not stop reading.
Boy Nobody is the story of a boy who is David one day, then Matt, then Ben, and then disappears altogether. He is an assassin, and his job is to get close to the target's family, kill his target and then leave. This is what he's trained to do. This is who he is. Until one day, The Program gives him a different assignment, and he finds himself having to deal with unexpected consequences.
It was impossible to connect with Ben (which is not his real name, by the way.) As much as I love me a sociopath and an antihero, his absolute lack of either disgust or enjoyment for what he did prevented me from fully enjoying him as a main character. I like my villains to revel in what they do, but Ben was simply... efficient. His abilities were a little unrealistic for a sixteen-year-old boy, as was the crazy technology that was displayed, and I needed some more struggling, more conflict about what he was doing. Yes, he did have doubts, but the only times he wavered were when he was with Sam - the girl he slowly came to care about - while with everybody else, his emotions were still MIA 100% of the time. This kind of behavior did show quite effectively just how much The Program had brainwashed him, but I never cared for him the way I care about other literary antiheroes.
The other characters were just as underdeveloped. This is clearly a book more about action and excitement than character development - which is what I expect from a spy story, after all - but still, I need my characters more realistic and well-rounded. While Sam did manage to surprise me in the end, the only character I actually cared about was Erica, Sam's best friend - the one that was portrayed as the party girl who never thinks about the morning after. There was something undeniably sad about her, and that melancholy fascinated me a lot.
Despite my issues with the characters, Boy Nobody was still a very entertaining book. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the time, and the ending was definitely unexpected; I like it when an author manages to surprise me. Ben is still a spy, after all, still an assassin. A mere five days cannot erase years of training and brainwashing.
I look forward to reading the next installment, and I hope I'll grow to feel more attached to Ben (yep, still not telling you his real name!) during the second book because, as of now, I cannot bring myself to care about him.
February 3, 2015
**4.5 badass assassin stars!!**
Where to begin? This has got to be my favorite assassin book based in modern times. The author did an amazing job at creating the male lead. I won't reveal his real name in this review since you don't find it out until later on so I'll call him by his cover-story name -- Ben. Benji. Benjamin! Ben is part of The Program. They're an organization tasked with protecting the country against those who threaten the satefy of it.
He is the new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.
The story starts off right in the middle of a mission and we get to see what "Ben" is capable of straight away. He's very analytical and strong but his past and his memories make him vulnerable and human -- despite all his training from The Program. I really loved Ben's character, it was interesting to be in his head throughout the book, since he's at war with himself. A part of him was MADE to follow orders, not question anything and just keep moving -- target to target, assignment after assignment. But when his memories start coming back on his current mission it threatens everything.
The book was really easy to get through, it had a good flow, perfect plot progression and build up to the story's climax. I would've read it in one sitting had I not wanted the book to end. Because, trust me, it was fan-freaking-tastic! It was different aswell... Had a very unique feel to it. I can't explain it but do you know when you read a book and you get a feel of what it's going to be like since it reminds you of other books? Yeah, it didn't happen with this book. It was a breath of fresh air, something new and intriguing.
I HAD BEEN SPOILED ABOUT THE END BUT it was still enjoyable to read and didn't take away any of the fun. The book had other twists so I was still surprised by the end. Also I thought the writing was great. It took me right there, in the middle of Ben's mission, with the way the author wrote Ben's POV it felt I was on the assignment along with him.
The only thing I didn't like was the lack of development between Ben and Sam's character, I mean I understand that they have to be friends and he has to get close.. but it happened too unrealistic and instantly.
Boy Nobody is possibly my favorite read of 2015 -- so far! ;)
I'd definitely recommend this to everyone! Read the book!
Where to begin? This has got to be my favorite assassin book based in modern times. The author did an amazing job at creating the male lead. I won't reveal his real name in this review since you don't find it out until later on so I'll call him by his cover-story name -- Ben. Benji. Benjamin! Ben is part of The Program. They're an organization tasked with protecting the country against those who threaten the satefy of it.
He is the new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.
The story starts off right in the middle of a mission and we get to see what "Ben" is capable of straight away. He's very analytical and strong but his past and his memories make him vulnerable and human -- despite all his training from The Program. I really loved Ben's character, it was interesting to be in his head throughout the book, since he's at war with himself. A part of him was MADE to follow orders, not question anything and just keep moving -- target to target, assignment after assignment. But when his memories start coming back on his current mission it threatens everything.
The book was really easy to get through, it had a good flow, perfect plot progression and build up to the story's climax. I would've read it in one sitting had I not wanted the book to end. Because, trust me, it was fan-freaking-tastic! It was different aswell... Had a very unique feel to it. I can't explain it but do you know when you read a book and you get a feel of what it's going to be like since it reminds you of other books? Yeah, it didn't happen with this book. It was a breath of fresh air, something new and intriguing.
I HAD BEEN SPOILED ABOUT THE END BUT it was still enjoyable to read and didn't take away any of the fun. The book had other twists so I was still surprised by the end. Also I thought the writing was great. It took me right there, in the middle of Ben's mission, with the way the author wrote Ben's POV it felt I was on the assignment along with him.
The only thing I didn't like was the lack of development between Ben and Sam's character, I mean I understand that they have to be friends and he has to get close.. but it happened too unrealistic and instantly.
Boy Nobody is possibly my favorite read of 2015 -- so far! ;)
I'd definitely recommend this to everyone! Read the book!
September 12, 2015
Rating, 4 stars, for our teenage hitman.
One thing is sure..... there wasn't a boring moment in this book. The writing style ... short sentences, first person POV, the detached way of thinking of the protagonist, the mysterious Program, made this a thrilling ride.
"Two punches on the arm. A way of asserting dominance.
Dominance is a threat. It must be dealt with.
I run a checklist in my mind:
I can let him punch me. Choose a lower status.
I can retaliate in equal measure, with equal force.
I can escalate. Assert my dominance
Which should I choose?
Jack is supposed to be my friend. A teenage friend would punch a buddy the way he punched me. When in doubt, emulate. That’s what I’ve been taught.
So it’s option two
I give Jack a light punch on the shoulder.
“Ow!” he cries in mock pain. “Take it easy on me.”
This entire transaction takes no more than two seconds."
Our protagonist, lets call him Boy Nobody is a teenager recruited and trained as agent/assassin in the
service of The Program. His father was eliminated by the same organization ... he was given a second chance, a new "family"
"I chose death.
Call it loyalty. Call it naïveté.
I wanted to be with my parents, even if it meant dying.
So this is what I told her:
“Kill me.”
Ironically, it was what they were looking for. It showed them the level of character they were seeking, the list of personality characteristics appropriate to a potential soldier.
Intensity.
Black-or-white thinking.
Stubbornness.
Allegiance without regard to consequence.
All useful qualities from their perspective. They took my allegiance and transformed it into something that would serve them.
Serve The Program.
Mother promised me a new life.
That’s what I got."
His job is to go undercover, approach a person close to his target, get his/her trust, find the most efficient way to dodge his well protected target's security and ...
...Bang! Bang!... job done ... get out....next job. No questions asked. He is a killing machine.
Bare hands, knives, guns .... even a ball pen (his fave) will do.
“Please tell me your name,” she says.
“Why?”
“I want to know who you really are.”
“I’m nobody,” I say.
And I lean over and press the point of the pen into the side of her neck.
It takes three seconds, no more. Her eyes flutter and close.
And it’s done."
A quick stab in the neck ....one click, death ....two clicks, temporary coma. He is efficient, he doesn't enjoy his job, he just does it, no questions asked, no emotions involved. Go in, approach the target, do the hit, get out, next mission .... until ....
A new mission ... something out of the ordinary. Boy Nobody is given five days to complete the next assignment .... never so little time at his disposal. The mark ... as usual someone his age, Sam Goldberg.... so, new identity, new school ... and a very high profile target.... Sam's dad, the mayor of New York. It should be just another assignment, even with the short time required to get the job done ... but then for the first time he gets involved, and starts to question himself and The Program.
After so many years, Boy Nobody remembers his childhood. Watching closely Sam's interactions with her dad, brings up memories of his father ... and he finds excuses to postpone the hit day after day .... but, you cannot fool or escape The Program. If you are not with them....
Could he have his life back ... is The Program wrong?
This book was not without faults, maybe you don't think much of it while reading it ..... but by the end sticks to you like gum. I'll be reading the next one.
P.S.
Thanks, Howard for reminding me why I don't read library books in bed and why I wash my hands after I put them down. It will take time till I get the courage to borrow one again.
May 5, 2014
Boy Nobody, the start of a YA thriller series is here from Little Brown. The name is changing for the paperback in the U.S. It's called I AM THE WEAPON and it's coming May 2014. Book 2 will be called I AM THE MISSION, and it will be released on June 17, 2014. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
June 20, 2013
I was dazzled. Dazzled!
+ the hero
The book was told exclusively in 1st person POV from the hero’s POV, and I loved it because watching Ben’s mind calculate as he gauged people and situations thrilled me. Ben was believable as an assassin without a trace of doubt! He was competent. He was collected. He was peerlessly cool. When unpredicted hurdles arose and things went out of control, he adjusted to the situations and moved towards his goals. Despite the great potential for Stockholm Syndrome and attempts at brainwashing, he never succumbed to blind loyalty like a fool.
The intentional lack of development of the hero’s identity didn’t bother me whereas in other books it would have. I was so engrossed with the book that only after I finished it did I realize that Ben was rarely referred to by his name, which was fake of course, and that his real name slipped by me, only with a re-read did I learn what it was. Talk about being a Boy Nobody; the book took its title to heart.
+ the plot
The writing read like liquid running through a pipe, straightforward and fast. Chapters were short and smartly divided, every scene punctual. The book was one of those books where everything seemed so simple and effortless but you know in reality it’s to the contrary.
The plot retained the complexity and the relevancy of current events like an adult thriller. There was corruption, espionage, inter- and intra-national conflicts. Just because certain groups had the same nationality and nationalism didn’t mean they had the same goals, and your worst enemies could also be your compatriots.
The plot also had romance, which I wasn’t a big fan of to be honest but mostly in principle because of how ludicrous romance in YA can be. The romance in the book was a few shades of cliché because an intriguing girl was the push the hero needed to start reaching for independence. However, I strongly appreciated that the romance tried to do something different, hence the few shades of cliché and not outright cliché. The romance did include a love triangle but it was more for the plot’s sake than for the romance’s. The second love interest never held any serious competition; all the parties involved knew what was going on, who really liked whom. Jealousy never arose as a real issue and meanness never dictated the characters’ actions. Best of all, stupidity never affected their judgement, which I loved so much that it bears repeating: stupidity never affected their judgement! The romance worked in synergy with the plot rather against it, unlike in countless YA.
And the twist! I loved that the twist wasn’t afraid to skewer the romance. The way things resolved was realistic and in accordance with a spy novel: trust no one.
+ the issues
Where I really took issue was with the world building and a secondary character who was a bad stereotype. I understood that things were supposed to be mysterious but I wished for more answers. Putting aside the hero’s lack of identity, very little was revealed about who the hero worked for or why he was kidnapped and pressed into spy service.
Howard was a nerd, an outcast, and a favorite target of bullies. I didn’t like how he came to serve as the convenient hacker for the hero towards the end. I didn’t like how being the hero’s stooge was the only role he had in the book and the only reason why he wasn’t sleeping with the fishes. I found his character development demeaning and a tad offensive.
In Conclusion
I rate Boy Nobody 3-stars for I liked it. The book had romance but this shouldn’t deter readers who prefer non-romantic YA because the book read firmly like a thriller. Readers who like Game by Barry Lyga should check out the book. Readers who didn’t like Impostor by Susanne Winnacker should also check out this book because this was the competent spy the main character should have been.
+ the hero
The book was told exclusively in 1st person POV from the hero’s POV, and I loved it because watching Ben’s mind calculate as he gauged people and situations thrilled me. Ben was believable as an assassin without a trace of doubt! He was competent. He was collected. He was peerlessly cool. When unpredicted hurdles arose and things went out of control, he adjusted to the situations and moved towards his goals. Despite the great potential for Stockholm Syndrome and attempts at brainwashing, he never succumbed to blind loyalty like a fool.
The intentional lack of development of the hero’s identity didn’t bother me whereas in other books it would have. I was so engrossed with the book that only after I finished it did I realize that Ben was rarely referred to by his name, which was fake of course, and that his real name slipped by me, only with a re-read did I learn what it was. Talk about being a Boy Nobody; the book took its title to heart.
+ the plot
The writing read like liquid running through a pipe, straightforward and fast. Chapters were short and smartly divided, every scene punctual. The book was one of those books where everything seemed so simple and effortless but you know in reality it’s to the contrary.
The plot retained the complexity and the relevancy of current events like an adult thriller. There was corruption, espionage, inter- and intra-national conflicts. Just because certain groups had the same nationality and nationalism didn’t mean they had the same goals, and your worst enemies could also be your compatriots.
The plot also had romance, which I wasn’t a big fan of to be honest but mostly in principle because of how ludicrous romance in YA can be. The romance in the book was a few shades of cliché because an intriguing girl was the push the hero needed to start reaching for independence. However, I strongly appreciated that the romance tried to do something different, hence the few shades of cliché and not outright cliché. The romance did include a love triangle but it was more for the plot’s sake than for the romance’s. The second love interest never held any serious competition; all the parties involved knew what was going on, who really liked whom. Jealousy never arose as a real issue and meanness never dictated the characters’ actions. Best of all, stupidity never affected their judgement, which I loved so much that it bears repeating: stupidity never affected their judgement! The romance worked in synergy with the plot rather against it, unlike in countless YA.
And the twist! I loved that the twist wasn’t afraid to skewer the romance. The way things resolved was realistic and in accordance with a spy novel: trust no one.
+ the issues
Where I really took issue was with the world building and a secondary character who was a bad stereotype. I understood that things were supposed to be mysterious but I wished for more answers. Putting aside the hero’s lack of identity, very little was revealed about who the hero worked for or why he was kidnapped and pressed into spy service.
Howard was a nerd, an outcast, and a favorite target of bullies. I didn’t like how he came to serve as the convenient hacker for the hero towards the end. I didn’t like how being the hero’s stooge was the only role he had in the book and the only reason why he wasn’t sleeping with the fishes. I found his character development demeaning and a tad offensive.
In Conclusion
I rate Boy Nobody 3-stars for I liked it. The book had romance but this shouldn’t deter readers who prefer non-romantic YA because the book read firmly like a thriller. Readers who like Game by Barry Lyga should check out the book. Readers who didn’t like Impostor by Susanne Winnacker should also check out this book because this was the competent spy the main character should have been.
July 3, 2014
Wow. It's easy to see how this book was selected as a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers in 2014. If this book doesn't hold your interest, I think you may have made up your mind before cracking the cover...but even the cover is awesome!
This book is full of action and great characters. The protagonist has learned the mentality of "carry out the mission, no matter the consequences," and this makes him somewhat hard to love and nearly impossible to hate. The other characters are varied, complex, and not very predictable...including a strong (for real!) female character that throws a wrench into the perfect plan. Then things really get interesting...
I am looking forward to Book 2 in The Unknown Assassin series, I Am the Mission or "The Mission" due out next month!
*This book was previously published under the title Boy Nobody.
**Update (7/3/14) This book is also being released under the title "The Hit." I love the look of the updated cover, but I'm confused as to why one book is being released under three different titles. It's very confusing. Just be sure before picking up a "new" one of these books that it isn't a book you have already read being released under a new title.
***Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy.
This book is full of action and great characters. The protagonist has learned the mentality of "carry out the mission, no matter the consequences," and this makes him somewhat hard to love and nearly impossible to hate. The other characters are varied, complex, and not very predictable...including a strong (for real!) female character that throws a wrench into the perfect plan. Then things really get interesting...
I am looking forward to Book 2 in The Unknown Assassin series, I Am the Mission or "The Mission" due out next month!
*This book was previously published under the title Boy Nobody.
**Update (7/3/14) This book is also being released under the title "The Hit." I love the look of the updated cover, but I'm confused as to why one book is being released under three different titles. It's very confusing. Just be sure before picking up a "new" one of these books that it isn't a book you have already read being released under a new title.
***Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy.
April 16, 2017
Este libro se lee en un pique. Es súper rapidísimo de leer.
El argumento te mantiene re enganchado, es casi imposible de soltar. No le sorprendería que algunos lo terminen en un día.
Estuvo muy bueno, hubo un par de cositas que me parece que podrían haberse hecho mejor o que el editor de Allen podría haber pedido que mejore
Reseña próximamente
El argumento te mantiene re enganchado, es casi imposible de soltar. No le sorprendería que algunos lo terminen en un día.
Estuvo muy bueno, hubo un par de cositas que me parece que podrían haberse hecho mejor o que el editor de Allen podría haber pedido que mejore
Reseña próximamente
June 17, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. I mostly read romance centered YA, in various genres, but this--this was something different. There were romantic elements, but it was all apart of a much bigger mystery, and I have to admit, I liked it.
Our main character is Boy Nobody. He is a 16-year-old assassin who has no idea who he is working for. He has no feelings, no relationships, and no life outside of his assignments. The only people he gets close to are those he intends to betray when he kills either them or someone they love in order to complete a job, and Boy Nobody is very good at his job.
Usually when a character is presented as having no feelings, it comes across as insincere. I mean, everyone feels something, and a character without feelings would be boring anyway. Boy Nobody in not an exception to this rule, but he is the closest I have found.
He was kidnapped by the Organization at thirteen years old and trained to be an assassin. I have no idea what the Organization is. I don’t know who runs it or if they are the good or bad guys, and neither does Boy Nobody.
He really doesn’t think twice about killing someone when he feels it is necessary, and it is necessary several times during this book. He also doesn’t waste time feeling things like remorse and guilt. What is also clear, is that instead of truly not feeling, he is simply suppressing his emotions because if he didn’t, he would end up dead or insane.
He doesn’t have family or friends to care for so survival is all he has, and the only way for him to survive is to do what he is told.
Of course everything goes to pot when he is ordered to get close to a pretty girl and kill her father. I can’t go too deeply into the plot because that would ruin the book for you, but I will say the the espionage and mystery very well handled. I figured out some major plot points, but that didn’t subtract from my enjoyment. Knowing that I couldn’t fully trust certain people kept me from becoming too attached to them. And I have to warn you, you do not want to become attached to anyone in this book.
Sam isn’t the only person that Boy Nobody connected with during this mission. He also gets close to Sam’s dad and Howard, the school nerd.
Howard was one of my favorite characters because he was the only thing close to comical relief, but he was also a realistic reminder of how bad of an epidemic bullying is in our schools. Howard was a funny, smart, and wonderfully strange, but because of the way he was tortured in school, he was also somewhat suicidal. I applaud the author for the way he handled such a sensitive subject without allowing it to distract from the overall story line.
One minor complaint I have is the simplicity of what it took in order to have such a significant effect the main character. I know that if anything could cause a teenage boy to question his life, it would be a pretty girl, but it would have been nice if the author had chosen another catalyst for his change of heart. He was a hardened assassin, but in the face of an intelligent young woman with a nice shape, he decided to risk everything including his life? Yeah, not buying it.
I also would have liked it if instead of the book taking place over the course of a week, things had taken more time to progress. The level of affection that he felt towards Sam, Sam’s dad, and Howard would have made more sense if he had known them for a few months instead of a few days. Not sure why the author felt the need to rush things.
Those are minor complaints about what was otherwise an excellent book. It was smart, fast paced, and thought provoking. I grew to really care about the main character and root for him to finally break free of those who control him. He will never get back the life that they stole from him, but with his skills, he may be able to become his own hero instead of their weapon.
I am very anxious to continue the series and found out if Boy Nobody finally escapes his handlers.
Because of violence, language, and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.This review was originally posted on Kookie Krysp Reads
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. I mostly read romance centered YA, in various genres, but this--this was something different. There were romantic elements, but it was all apart of a much bigger mystery, and I have to admit, I liked it.
Our main character is Boy Nobody. He is a 16-year-old assassin who has no idea who he is working for. He has no feelings, no relationships, and no life outside of his assignments. The only people he gets close to are those he intends to betray when he kills either them or someone they love in order to complete a job, and Boy Nobody is very good at his job.
Usually when a character is presented as having no feelings, it comes across as insincere. I mean, everyone feels something, and a character without feelings would be boring anyway. Boy Nobody in not an exception to this rule, but he is the closest I have found.
He was kidnapped by the Organization at thirteen years old and trained to be an assassin. I have no idea what the Organization is. I don’t know who runs it or if they are the good or bad guys, and neither does Boy Nobody.
He really doesn’t think twice about killing someone when he feels it is necessary, and it is necessary several times during this book. He also doesn’t waste time feeling things like remorse and guilt. What is also clear, is that instead of truly not feeling, he is simply suppressing his emotions because if he didn’t, he would end up dead or insane.
He doesn’t have family or friends to care for so survival is all he has, and the only way for him to survive is to do what he is told.
Of course everything goes to pot when he is ordered to get close to a pretty girl and kill her father. I can’t go too deeply into the plot because that would ruin the book for you, but I will say the the espionage and mystery very well handled. I figured out some major plot points, but that didn’t subtract from my enjoyment. Knowing that I couldn’t fully trust certain people kept me from becoming too attached to them. And I have to warn you, you do not want to become attached to anyone in this book.
Sam isn’t the only person that Boy Nobody connected with during this mission. He also gets close to Sam’s dad and Howard, the school nerd.
Howard was one of my favorite characters because he was the only thing close to comical relief, but he was also a realistic reminder of how bad of an epidemic bullying is in our schools. Howard was a funny, smart, and wonderfully strange, but because of the way he was tortured in school, he was also somewhat suicidal. I applaud the author for the way he handled such a sensitive subject without allowing it to distract from the overall story line.
One minor complaint I have is the simplicity of what it took in order to have such a significant effect the main character. I know that if anything could cause a teenage boy to question his life, it would be a pretty girl, but it would have been nice if the author had chosen another catalyst for his change of heart. He was a hardened assassin, but in the face of an intelligent young woman with a nice shape, he decided to risk everything including his life? Yeah, not buying it.
I also would have liked it if instead of the book taking place over the course of a week, things had taken more time to progress. The level of affection that he felt towards Sam, Sam’s dad, and Howard would have made more sense if he had known them for a few months instead of a few days. Not sure why the author felt the need to rush things.
Those are minor complaints about what was otherwise an excellent book. It was smart, fast paced, and thought provoking. I grew to really care about the main character and root for him to finally break free of those who control him. He will never get back the life that they stole from him, but with his skills, he may be able to become his own hero instead of their weapon.
I am very anxious to continue the series and found out if Boy Nobody finally escapes his handlers.
Because of violence, language, and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.This review was originally posted on Kookie Krysp Reads
June 17, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. I mostly read romance centered YA, in various genres, but this--this was something different. There were romantic elements, but it was all apart of a much bigger mystery, and I have to admit, I liked it.
Our main character is Boy Nobody. He is a 16-year-old assassin who has no idea who he is working for. He has no feelings, no relationships, and no life outside of his assignments. The only people he gets close to are those he intends to betray when he kills either them or someone they love in order to complete a job, and Boy Nobody is very good at his job.
Usually when a character is presented as having no feelings, it comes across as insincere. I mean, everyone feels something, and a character without feelings would be boring anyway. Boy Nobody in not an exception to this rule, but he is the closest I have found.
He was kidnapped by the Organization at thirteen years old and trained to be an assassin. I have no idea what the Organization is. I don’t know who runs it or if they are the good or bad guys, and neither does Boy Nobody.
He really doesn’t think twice about killing someone when he feels it is necessary, and it is necessary several times during this book. He also doesn’t waste time feeling things like remorse and guilt. What is also clear, is that instead of truly not feeling, he is simply suppressing his emotions because if he didn’t, he would end up dead or insane.
He doesn’t have family or friends to care for so survival is all he has, and the only way for him to survive is to do what he is told.
Of course everything goes to pot when he is ordered to get close to a pretty girl and kill her father. I can’t go too deeply into the plot because that would ruin the book for you, but I will say the the espionage and mystery very well handled. I figured out some major plot points, but that didn’t subtract from my enjoyment. Knowing that I couldn’t fully trust certain people kept me from becoming too attached to them. And I have to warn you, you do not want to become attached to anyone in this book.
Sam isn’t the only person that Boy Nobody connected with during this mission. He also gets close to Sam’s dad and Howard, the school nerd.
Howard was one of my favorite characters because he was the only thing close to comical relief, but he was also a realistic reminder of how bad of an epidemic bullying is in our schools. Howard was a funny, smart, and wonderfully strange, but because of the way he was tortured in school, he was also somewhat suicidal. I applaud the author for the way he handled such a sensitive subject without allowing it to distract from the overall story line.
One minor complaint I have is the simplicity of what it took in order to have such a significant effect the main character. I know that if anything could cause a teenage boy to question his life, it would be a pretty girl, but it would have been nice if the author had chosen another catalyst for his change of heart. He was a hardened assassin, but in the face of an intelligent young woman with a nice shape, he decided to risk everything including his life? Yeah, not buying it.
I also would have liked it if instead of the book taking place over the course of a week, things had taken more time to progress. The level of affection that he felt towards Sam, Sam’s dad, and Howard would have made more sense if he had known them for a few months instead of a few days. Not sure why the author felt the need to rush things.
Those are minor complaints about what was otherwise an excellent book. It was smart, fast paced, and thought provoking. I grew to really care about the main character and root for him to finally break free of those who control him. He will never get back the life that they stole from him, but with his skills, he may be able to become his own hero instead of their weapon.
I am very anxious to continue the series and found out if Boy Nobody finally escapes his handlers.
Because of violence, language, and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.This review was originally posted on Kookie Krysp Reads
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. I mostly read romance centered YA, in various genres, but this--this was something different. There were romantic elements, but it was all apart of a much bigger mystery, and I have to admit, I liked it.
Our main character is Boy Nobody. He is a 16-year-old assassin who has no idea who he is working for. He has no feelings, no relationships, and no life outside of his assignments. The only people he gets close to are those he intends to betray when he kills either them or someone they love in order to complete a job, and Boy Nobody is very good at his job.
Usually when a character is presented as having no feelings, it comes across as insincere. I mean, everyone feels something, and a character without feelings would be boring anyway. Boy Nobody in not an exception to this rule, but he is the closest I have found.
He was kidnapped by the Organization at thirteen years old and trained to be an assassin. I have no idea what the Organization is. I don’t know who runs it or if they are the good or bad guys, and neither does Boy Nobody.
He really doesn’t think twice about killing someone when he feels it is necessary, and it is necessary several times during this book. He also doesn’t waste time feeling things like remorse and guilt. What is also clear, is that instead of truly not feeling, he is simply suppressing his emotions because if he didn’t, he would end up dead or insane.
He doesn’t have family or friends to care for so survival is all he has, and the only way for him to survive is to do what he is told.
Of course everything goes to pot when he is ordered to get close to a pretty girl and kill her father. I can’t go too deeply into the plot because that would ruin the book for you, but I will say the the espionage and mystery very well handled. I figured out some major plot points, but that didn’t subtract from my enjoyment. Knowing that I couldn’t fully trust certain people kept me from becoming too attached to them. And I have to warn you, you do not want to become attached to anyone in this book.
Sam isn’t the only person that Boy Nobody connected with during this mission. He also gets close to Sam’s dad and Howard, the school nerd.
Howard was one of my favorite characters because he was the only thing close to comical relief, but he was also a realistic reminder of how bad of an epidemic bullying is in our schools. Howard was a funny, smart, and wonderfully strange, but because of the way he was tortured in school, he was also somewhat suicidal. I applaud the author for the way he handled such a sensitive subject without allowing it to distract from the overall story line.
One minor complaint I have is the simplicity of what it took in order to have such a significant effect the main character. I know that if anything could cause a teenage boy to question his life, it would be a pretty girl, but it would have been nice if the author had chosen another catalyst for his change of heart. He was a hardened assassin, but in the face of an intelligent young woman with a nice shape, he decided to risk everything including his life? Yeah, not buying it.
I also would have liked it if instead of the book taking place over the course of a week, things had taken more time to progress. The level of affection that he felt towards Sam, Sam’s dad, and Howard would have made more sense if he had known them for a few months instead of a few days. Not sure why the author felt the need to rush things.
Those are minor complaints about what was otherwise an excellent book. It was smart, fast paced, and thought provoking. I grew to really care about the main character and root for him to finally break free of those who control him. He will never get back the life that they stole from him, but with his skills, he may be able to become his own hero instead of their weapon.
I am very anxious to continue the series and found out if Boy Nobody finally escapes his handlers.
Because of violence, language, and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.This review was originally posted on Kookie Krysp Reads
May 27, 2016
I first found out about this book under the name "Boy Nobody" (I also love the cover for that edition, but that is beside the point here), the fact is.. this was a lovely surprise.
I like stories that are not what I think they are supposed to be. I like characters that evolve (not necessarily the main character, or not only) and I like to get to the last page in a book and feel the sudden need to read the next book... A.S.A.P.
I read this book on a train that seemed to take FOREVER to get me home, but I actually didn't mind it much because I was in great company (oh well, that's not accurately true.. I did mind it and much, but only after I finished reading this lovely book).
I will have a full review up soon but until then just keep in mind that if you like action and mystery and you'd be up for a hit that should be easy but goes wrong more than not.. well this book is for you. It has also a bit of romance, some turnarounds, a dose of suspense and an ending that makes you want to read more.
Full review coming...
I like stories that are not what I think they are supposed to be. I like characters that evolve (not necessarily the main character, or not only) and I like to get to the last page in a book and feel the sudden need to read the next book... A.S.A.P.
I read this book on a train that seemed to take FOREVER to get me home, but I actually didn't mind it much because I was in great company (oh well, that's not accurately true.. I did mind it and much, but only after I finished reading this lovely book).
I will have a full review up soon but until then just keep in mind that if you like action and mystery and you'd be up for a hit that should be easy but goes wrong more than not.. well this book is for you. It has also a bit of romance, some turnarounds, a dose of suspense and an ending that makes you want to read more.
Full review coming...
March 26, 2017
Son 3.5
Me gustó, muy dinámico y adictivo. Algunas salidas son un poco simples, pero en general está bueno y es atrapante.
Me gustó, muy dinámico y adictivo. Algunas salidas son un poco simples, pero en general está bueno y es atrapante.
October 28, 2023
I love a good assassin book.
March 18, 2016
If an autopsy is done, it will show nothing at all.
Natural causes.
That's my specialty. People die around me, but it never seems like my fault. It seems like bad luck following good.
Good luck: You meet a great new friend at school.
Bad luck: A tragedy befalls your family.
The two don't ever seem connected, but they are.
I picked this up to fulfill a challenge requirement, but I didn't have high hopes for a YA book in the assassin genre, especially based on the GR description, which makes it sound like instant romance takes down shadowy government agency against all odds, with high school drama on the side. But I figured I could choke down a book about an assassin.
Imagine my delight when it turned out so much better than I expected. I'm in a little bit of a bind, though; I can't tell you exactly why it's so much better without spoiling it. Maybe I can walk around the perimeter.
There is indeed a shadowy government agency, but it is not the focus here. Our assassin and his mission stay firmly in the foreground. And our assassin is a very well drawn character, restless and unsettled from the beginning. His point of view is very rapid, cold, and immediate; he is hyper-aware of his own mind trying to tell him something. A sixteen year old with two years of training in the Program, he is believably damaged rather than heartless.
His target is the Mayor of New York; his path to the Mayor is the man's daughter, Sam. Sam herself is strong and quick on her feet, and does not suffer fools gladly. The high school drama is kept to a minimum; most of the students are not the focus here. The people who are remain in the shadows to great effect; the assassin 'family,' the terrorists. They are very convincing when they are glimpsed.
The writing itself is effective. The chapters and sentences are very short, giving the book a speedy, rushing effect as it plunges into the action. Some of the MC's musings are a little over the top, but even then he is fascinating enough to carry them.
I feel I am not expressing this very well. I reserve the right to rewrite. This is a promising book. I will definitely be picking up the the next in the series.
(In some places, this has been retitled I Am the Weapon, in others, The Hit.)
**Initial reaction**
That didn't go where I thought it was going. Review to come.
Natural causes.
That's my specialty. People die around me, but it never seems like my fault. It seems like bad luck following good.
Good luck: You meet a great new friend at school.
Bad luck: A tragedy befalls your family.
The two don't ever seem connected, but they are.
I picked this up to fulfill a challenge requirement, but I didn't have high hopes for a YA book in the assassin genre, especially based on the GR description, which makes it sound like instant romance takes down shadowy government agency against all odds, with high school drama on the side. But I figured I could choke down a book about an assassin.
Imagine my delight when it turned out so much better than I expected. I'm in a little bit of a bind, though; I can't tell you exactly why it's so much better without spoiling it. Maybe I can walk around the perimeter.
There is indeed a shadowy government agency, but it is not the focus here. Our assassin and his mission stay firmly in the foreground. And our assassin is a very well drawn character, restless and unsettled from the beginning. His point of view is very rapid, cold, and immediate; he is hyper-aware of his own mind trying to tell him something. A sixteen year old with two years of training in the Program, he is believably damaged rather than heartless.
His target is the Mayor of New York; his path to the Mayor is the man's daughter, Sam. Sam herself is strong and quick on her feet, and does not suffer fools gladly. The high school drama is kept to a minimum; most of the students are not the focus here. The people who are remain in the shadows to great effect; the assassin 'family,' the terrorists. They are very convincing when they are glimpsed.
The writing itself is effective. The chapters and sentences are very short, giving the book a speedy, rushing effect as it plunges into the action. Some of the MC's musings are a little over the top, but even then he is fascinating enough to carry them.
I feel I am not expressing this very well. I reserve the right to rewrite. This is a promising book. I will definitely be picking up the the next in the series.
(In some places, this has been retitled I Am the Weapon, in others, The Hit.)
**Initial reaction**
That didn't go where I thought it was going. Review to come.
May 27, 2014
For a full and edited review go to Blame it on the Books
“Sam is the mark, the mayor of New York is the target, and five days is my timeline. That is my new assignment.”
This book made me feel like a Weapon, it was so intense I can’t think of a single word that describes it. I’m not a huge fan of thrillers and it takes me 3 tries to watch any of the Bourne movies but the blurb for this looked interesting and I gave it a try.
Unlike most thrillers this doesn’t have insane killing
“Death is a tool I use for my work. It’s not something I do lightly.”
Our MC was not humble, he mentions how great he is at everything, only once did he ever mess up and it haunts him forever. He is also very, very dramatic…
“I feel cold, I feel hungry, I feel the faborc of a new shirt rubbing against my skin, and I feel gravel benath my feet. But those are sensations, not feelings. I had feelings once.”
“I never did see that movie. I was to busy fighting for my life.”
There were a few points when I got tired of hearing about his sad childhood but then I’d probably react the same way if I was kidnapped and turned into an assassin.
I was a bit sketchy when we find out that he has only 5 days to eliminate the Mayor and get close to his Daughter, Sam. What normal girl trust a guy after just one or two days? Especially one who has been trained to keep people from knowing the truth? Yet even though we only have 5 days we got to see a lot of Sam. She wasn’t just a shallow character or a Femme Fatale, she was fun and deep.
The only other character we really get to see is Howard, who serves as the comic relief in a way. His backstory is probably my favorite thing in the entire book.
Even though we had a back story for our nameless MC, most If it was kept a secret and by the end we're still not sure whether his father was a bad or good guy. I was getting a Spider man vibe from it but since we still don’t know how it ends it didn’t bother me.
“I know my father was not the great dad I thought he was, or the man he pretended to be to the world. The program tells me one thing, but my memories tell me another.”
Another thing I loved about I am the weapon (and books in general) Is when they’re highly unpredictable. There were so many parts where I had no idea what was going on and there was a lot of gasping and nail biting involved.
Overall it’s an amazing read and anyone who is looking for a heart racing read and a great time. I cannot wait to read the second book, I’ll be sleepless until the release date! I also found out while writing this review that it has been optioned for a film and im crossing my fingers and hoping it does turn into a movie!
“Sam is the mark, the mayor of New York is the target, and five days is my timeline. That is my new assignment.”
This book made me feel like a Weapon, it was so intense I can’t think of a single word that describes it. I’m not a huge fan of thrillers and it takes me 3 tries to watch any of the Bourne movies but the blurb for this looked interesting and I gave it a try.
Unlike most thrillers this doesn’t have insane killing
“Death is a tool I use for my work. It’s not something I do lightly.”
Our MC was not humble, he mentions how great he is at everything, only once did he ever mess up and it haunts him forever. He is also very, very dramatic…
“I feel cold, I feel hungry, I feel the faborc of a new shirt rubbing against my skin, and I feel gravel benath my feet. But those are sensations, not feelings. I had feelings once.”
“I never did see that movie. I was to busy fighting for my life.”
There were a few points when I got tired of hearing about his sad childhood but then I’d probably react the same way if I was kidnapped and turned into an assassin.
I was a bit sketchy when we find out that he has only 5 days to eliminate the Mayor and get close to his Daughter, Sam. What normal girl trust a guy after just one or two days? Especially one who has been trained to keep people from knowing the truth? Yet even though we only have 5 days we got to see a lot of Sam. She wasn’t just a shallow character or a Femme Fatale, she was fun and deep.
The only other character we really get to see is Howard, who serves as the comic relief in a way. His backstory is probably my favorite thing in the entire book.
Even though we had a back story for our nameless MC, most If it was kept a secret and by the end we're still not sure whether his father was a bad or good guy. I was getting a Spider man vibe from it but since we still don’t know how it ends it didn’t bother me.
“I know my father was not the great dad I thought he was, or the man he pretended to be to the world. The program tells me one thing, but my memories tell me another.”
Another thing I loved about I am the weapon (and books in general) Is when they’re highly unpredictable. There were so many parts where I had no idea what was going on and there was a lot of gasping and nail biting involved.
Overall it’s an amazing read and anyone who is looking for a heart racing read and a great time. I cannot wait to read the second book, I’ll be sleepless until the release date! I also found out while writing this review that it has been optioned for a film and im crossing my fingers and hoping it does turn into a movie!
November 13, 2016
For me an okay read…for someone else it could be just what they desire…
Book Title: I Am The Weapon
Author: Allen Zadoff
Narration: John Salwin
Series: The Unknown Assassin
Genre: Thriller, YA
Source: Audiobook (Library)
♫ I Am Machine by Three Days Grace --Boy nobody is kind of a machine, but maybe he's developing some feelings along the way.♫
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot:. 3.7/5
Characters: 3/5
The Feels: 3/5
Addictiveness: 3/5
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 4/5
Backdrop (World Building): 3/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Narration: 5/5
Ending: 3.5/5 Cliffhanger: Not really…
Will I continue this series? ???Maybe
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 3.5/5 STARS ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
⇝My Thoughts⇜
Apparently this was once called Boy Nobody, I think that title is a better fit, but then I wouldn't have been able to use if for an I title in a reading challenge. So…I Am The Weapon works too. The "I" title is what initially drew me to this, anyway.
This first person pov was a little hard to get into for me. Despite being realistically well done for being in the head of a teenage boy, it was a bit unusual, although easily comprehended. It was definitely unique way of writing. I think it just left me feeling distanced from the story overall.
⇝Sex Factor⇜ …yes, there is, although not explicit but this kind of threw everything off for me.
Book Title: I Am The Weapon
Author: Allen Zadoff
Narration: John Salwin
Series: The Unknown Assassin
Genre: Thriller, YA
Source: Audiobook (Library)
♫ I Am Machine by Three Days Grace --Boy nobody is kind of a machine, but maybe he's developing some feelings along the way.♫⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot:. 3.7/5
Characters: 3/5
The Feels: 3/5
Addictiveness: 3/5
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 4/5
Backdrop (World Building): 3/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Narration: 5/5
Ending: 3.5/5 Cliffhanger: Not really…
Will I continue this series? ???Maybe
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 3.5/5 STARS ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
⇝My Thoughts⇜
Apparently this was once called Boy Nobody, I think that title is a better fit, but then I wouldn't have been able to use if for an I title in a reading challenge. So…I Am The Weapon works too. The "I" title is what initially drew me to this, anyway.
This first person pov was a little hard to get into for me. Despite being realistically well done for being in the head of a teenage boy, it was a bit unusual, although easily comprehended. It was definitely unique way of writing. I think it just left me feeling distanced from the story overall.⇝Sex Factor⇜ …yes, there is, although not explicit but this kind of threw everything off for me.
June 24, 2013
Chapter One introduces us to Boy Nobody. He has experience of the Fortune 500 circles and we know he is an experienced assassin by the fact that he knows he needs 15 seconds in total – 6 to lay his victim down, 5 to put away his innocuous equipment and 4 to let the chemical reaction to run its course.
He’s trained to listen to his intuition, notice the small changes in his environment and predict outcomes. He never knows why he’s been given an assignment but it’s all connected to what lies beneath – successful businessmen on the surface but involved in illegal activities. I must admit this did go some way to change my mind about the Program!
The technology employed by the Program blew me away. I have no idea if this could be used in practicality but I am guessing that it is possible!
For his new assignment, Boy Nobody attends a famous private school on the Upper West Side. He feels physical sensations but not emotions. Although he does sometimes have memories after an assignment but never during, that is until he meets the daughter of the assignment that carries us through this story.
The knowledge the author has of social groups and what makes people tick, the psychology behind our subconscious reactions, is amazing! Zadoff must have personal experience of martial arts because the discipline and understanding the ‘energy’ is one of Boy Nobody’s characteristics employed to its optimum level.
All the characters are believable and carry you along on the journey. This is one of those books that become your reality while you’re reading. I had no idea what was underlying the assignment and changes that ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ made during the story until quite near the end.
Boy Nobody is action packed, fast paced, engrossing and totally believable. The first in a trilogy, I can’t wait to get my hands on the second! I’m sure ‘Mike’ has a part to play but I have no idea where Boy Nobody’s emotions that are coming to life will take him.
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
He’s trained to listen to his intuition, notice the small changes in his environment and predict outcomes. He never knows why he’s been given an assignment but it’s all connected to what lies beneath – successful businessmen on the surface but involved in illegal activities. I must admit this did go some way to change my mind about the Program!
The technology employed by the Program blew me away. I have no idea if this could be used in practicality but I am guessing that it is possible!
For his new assignment, Boy Nobody attends a famous private school on the Upper West Side. He feels physical sensations but not emotions. Although he does sometimes have memories after an assignment but never during, that is until he meets the daughter of the assignment that carries us through this story.
The knowledge the author has of social groups and what makes people tick, the psychology behind our subconscious reactions, is amazing! Zadoff must have personal experience of martial arts because the discipline and understanding the ‘energy’ is one of Boy Nobody’s characteristics employed to its optimum level.
All the characters are believable and carry you along on the journey. This is one of those books that become your reality while you’re reading. I had no idea what was underlying the assignment and changes that ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ made during the story until quite near the end.
Boy Nobody is action packed, fast paced, engrossing and totally believable. The first in a trilogy, I can’t wait to get my hands on the second! I’m sure ‘Mike’ has a part to play but I have no idea where Boy Nobody’s emotions that are coming to life will take him.
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2013
Full review originally over at Fantasy Book Critic
Overall rating = 4 & 1/2 Stars
ANALYSIS: Boy Nobody came on to my radar courtesy of Maja over at The Nocturnal Library. It was her scintillating review that got me to buy this book straight away and I dove in to it with very high expectations. The book’s blurb details a story about a boy assassin who transforms himself every time for a mission and is now trying to figure out what happened to him in the past. This was an interesting take on the child soldier/spy phenomenon and I wanted to see how the author handled it within the confines of the YA genre.
First things first, even though this book is a YA one, the violence and action are way outside’s the usual parameters of the genre. However it never seems over the top or even corny in any manner. Secondly I was certainly wowed by the main plot and its main character let me explain why. This book very strongly explores the horrendous phenomenon of child soldiers and in this case extrapolates this scary fact into an assassin story. By the means of this story, the author carefully shines a light on the concept of child (teenage) soldiers. Now this is a horrendous situation that has been the focus of many non-fiction books (A Long Way Gone) and movies (Blood Diamond) What I thought was brilliant was that the way the author showed psychological manipulation that has resulted in creation of Boy Nobody. The fact that the main protagonist and all of his handlers never call him by his original name thereby showing the focus in erasing his past identity. I thought this was a very good way to highlight these manipulative efforts and the effect they had on the subject. There’s some more stuff revealed about the protagonist’s past but that falls into the plot spoiler category so I’ll be refraining from talking about it.
In regards to characterization, the author very crucially shows the story happening through a first-person narrative lens and we get to see all of it via our unnamed boy assassin. The author absolutely nails down the characterization as we get a teenage viewpoint but without the teenage angst or the hormonal imbalance. The unnamed narrator of story is trained to be an assassin and behaves in line with his training entirely. The book is about a mission that the protagonist gets and he’s supposed to target a politician while getting close to his progeny. I loved how the author made this premise so believable and of course to back it up provided a reasonable explanation as to how the main character goes about trying to accomplish his mission.
Plus there’s the story background, which is slowly revealed and there’s a lot left in the story to be illuminated. The author has also planned some twists that come out of the left field and make the story that much more interesting. This story operates at a breakneck pace and from the start of the story absolutely refuses to let go of the accelerator pedal. While it opens up with a mission, it quickly morphs into something else entirely and then there are the plot twists that keep the readers from getting bored. I thought some of the twists while seemingly predictable end up being quite interesting. The climax absolutely is a blast in regards to character revelations and sets up the series quite fabulously. I absolutely can’t wait for the author to write and release the next book, as I want to learn more about Boy Nobody’s past and how he deals with it in the present.
So with so many superlatives about this book, are there any drawbacks to this book? In my opinion, there are almost next to none. Some YA readers might not be too enamored by the gray morality espoused by the protagonist but it is very much line with his training and the scope of the book. I was quite enamored by this story and therefore I couldn’t find much to complain about it.
CONCLUSION: Boy Nobody is an absolute thriller gem, it has all the characteristics needed such as quick pace, terrific protagonist, intriguing plot & a twisted climax. As far as thriller’s go, this tale hits the bull’s eye in almost every category. Allen Zadoff has given us a series that promises a lot and I’ll be sure to read all the rest of the books to see how he fulfills the promises laced within this book. Boy Nobody is a gem plain and simple, DO NOT MISS IT!
May 4, 2014
A young boy’s family is murdered and his best friend assures that he is taken in by a secret organization known as the Program. Trained and brainwashed into becoming the perfect, emotionless “soldier” who performs secret assassinations he becomes a nearly perfect killing machine in the tradition of a teenaged Jason Bourne. The Program has trained this young man to fore go emotion in favor of highly honed senses, combat skills and intelligence, which serve him well until he receives his latest mission, to kill the mayor of New York. What he wasn’t counting on was the mayor’s beautiful daughter and how he would react to her. His surprising emotions are stirring long forgotten memories of what his life was like before the Program, before he became a ghost that passed in and out of others’ lives like a puff of smoke.
There is something that is just off about this assignment, his time table has been moved up and the clock is ticking. Do the Program handlers suspect he is going rogue or that he cannot complete the job? Has he found the conscience that has been trained out of him? Why is it so difficult to complete this mission? Unknown threats are all around him, will he survive? Is it friend or foe who is tracking his every movement? There is more to fear than meets the eye in this intriguing web of murder, mystery and secret agendas where every life is expendable.
Told in the voice of this young assassin I Am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff is a dark and gritty tale of a young man who questions his existence, and his place in the world as he tastes the delicate flavor of emotions long dead. Mr. Zadoff has created a frighteningly realistic view of teens forced to grow up too fast in the world of power and privilege, leaving them vulnerable to suggestion and unable to fully process the ramifications of their actions. With attention to world building and fast paced action, Mr. Zadoff fills each page with intrigue and suspense while our “anti-hero” struggles to make sense of what is happening to and around him. There is no way to dislike this young man, who is willing to risk his own life as he commits a “sin” against the Program by questioning “why” he has been brought in. How cold to not even have a name, only a temporary alias, yet how brilliant of the author to take such a bold step, ratcheting up the tension while garnering sympathy for this killing machine.
Written to appeal to early teens on up, there is nothing not to like, accept maybe that this young man was ever put in the position he finds himself. Based on the foundation set here, the series promises to be magnetic for all ages. I was completely taken in, I was in this teen’s mind, watching and marveling at his mental acuity while hating what has happened to him. I ran the gamut of emotions at least twice through, but for the imaginations of younger readers, Mr. Zadoff knows how to make readers out of even the most reluctant teen and I applaud him!
I received an ARC edition from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Unknown Assassin - Book 1
Publication Date: May 13, 2014 (Re-print edition)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316199674
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Teens & YA
Print Length: 368 pages
Available From: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
There is something that is just off about this assignment, his time table has been moved up and the clock is ticking. Do the Program handlers suspect he is going rogue or that he cannot complete the job? Has he found the conscience that has been trained out of him? Why is it so difficult to complete this mission? Unknown threats are all around him, will he survive? Is it friend or foe who is tracking his every movement? There is more to fear than meets the eye in this intriguing web of murder, mystery and secret agendas where every life is expendable.
Told in the voice of this young assassin I Am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff is a dark and gritty tale of a young man who questions his existence, and his place in the world as he tastes the delicate flavor of emotions long dead. Mr. Zadoff has created a frighteningly realistic view of teens forced to grow up too fast in the world of power and privilege, leaving them vulnerable to suggestion and unable to fully process the ramifications of their actions. With attention to world building and fast paced action, Mr. Zadoff fills each page with intrigue and suspense while our “anti-hero” struggles to make sense of what is happening to and around him. There is no way to dislike this young man, who is willing to risk his own life as he commits a “sin” against the Program by questioning “why” he has been brought in. How cold to not even have a name, only a temporary alias, yet how brilliant of the author to take such a bold step, ratcheting up the tension while garnering sympathy for this killing machine.
Written to appeal to early teens on up, there is nothing not to like, accept maybe that this young man was ever put in the position he finds himself. Based on the foundation set here, the series promises to be magnetic for all ages. I was completely taken in, I was in this teen’s mind, watching and marveling at his mental acuity while hating what has happened to him. I ran the gamut of emotions at least twice through, but for the imaginations of younger readers, Mr. Zadoff knows how to make readers out of even the most reluctant teen and I applaud him!
I received an ARC edition from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Unknown Assassin - Book 1
Publication Date: May 13, 2014 (Re-print edition)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316199674
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Teens & YA
Print Length: 368 pages
Available From: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
July 27, 2015
5 stars.
My full review and our out our dreamcast, favorite quotes, and more on Swoony Boys Podcast .
I put Boy Nobody on my TBR list back in December after reading the summary and thinking it sounded exciting, but not really something I was dying to get my hands on. I was so, so wrong. I am so thankful that we were asked to participate in the tour for this book, otherwise I might have put off reading and would have missed out on what is one of my favorite books, ever.
The story starts off with Boy Nobody on his current assignment: to assassinate his “friend’s” father. He carries out his mission and gets his next assignment: to kill the Mayor of New York City. After entering his new elite school under his newest alias (Ben), he quickly befriends the mayor’s beautiful daughter, Samara (Sam). The stakes have never been higher when getting close to the girl causes Ben to question everything he’s been taught to believe in. He's never been under this much pressure before, and failure is not an option.
I can't really tell you what happens in this book without giving it away. I loved the characters and how real they were (I ♥ Ben). "Complicated" comes to mind when trying to describe Sam. I loved the storyline and well Zadoff wove Ben's history in with his present. I loved the gadgets and how cool (and believable) it all is. I just loved everything, and I believe this will make an amazing movie. Though there will be more to this story, it could undoubtedly stand on its own.
Boy Nobody is perfect for every reader–-there’s the perfect balance of swoon for the reluctant boys who don’t want too much and for the girls who have to have it *raises hand*. It’s great for tech geeks without being overbearing and too complicated. And gah: the end!!! I was shocked and literally sitting on the edge of my seat, all the way up to the end. It’s nothing short of heart-pounding-spectacularness.
I loved this book. I told pretty much everyone I came in contact with at BEA that they have to read it. It’s one of my favorites, and I will be checking out everything that Allen Zadoff has written.
My full review and our out our dreamcast, favorite quotes, and more on Swoony Boys Podcast .
I put Boy Nobody on my TBR list back in December after reading the summary and thinking it sounded exciting, but not really something I was dying to get my hands on. I was so, so wrong. I am so thankful that we were asked to participate in the tour for this book, otherwise I might have put off reading and would have missed out on what is one of my favorite books, ever.
The story starts off with Boy Nobody on his current assignment: to assassinate his “friend’s” father. He carries out his mission and gets his next assignment: to kill the Mayor of New York City. After entering his new elite school under his newest alias (Ben), he quickly befriends the mayor’s beautiful daughter, Samara (Sam). The stakes have never been higher when getting close to the girl causes Ben to question everything he’s been taught to believe in. He's never been under this much pressure before, and failure is not an option.
I can't really tell you what happens in this book without giving it away. I loved the characters and how real they were (I ♥ Ben). "Complicated" comes to mind when trying to describe Sam. I loved the storyline and well Zadoff wove Ben's history in with his present. I loved the gadgets and how cool (and believable) it all is. I just loved everything, and I believe this will make an amazing movie. Though there will be more to this story, it could undoubtedly stand on its own.
Boy Nobody is perfect for every reader–-there’s the perfect balance of swoon for the reluctant boys who don’t want too much and for the girls who have to have it *raises hand*. It’s great for tech geeks without being overbearing and too complicated. And gah: the end!!! I was shocked and literally sitting on the edge of my seat, all the way up to the end. It’s nothing short of heart-pounding-spectacularness.
I loved this book. I told pretty much everyone I came in contact with at BEA that they have to read it. It’s one of my favorites, and I will be checking out everything that Allen Zadoff has written.
November 29, 2014
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Overall a good book for fans of spy thrillers. I was a little disappointed by the ending (no spoilers, but it was kinda sad), but other than that, I enjoyed Boy Nobody and recommend.
Overall a good book for fans of spy thrillers. I was a little disappointed by the ending (no spoilers, but it was kinda sad), but other than that, I enjoyed Boy Nobody and recommend.
Read
October 2, 2024Dnf. It's been too long to specifically remember what all was in here, but too much cussing and sexual content for me.
May 31, 2024
3.5 star rounded up
This is a promising start to a trilogy about a teen assassin that was originally titled Boy Nobody. He's been doing this for a couple of years and to find out how and why, there is some backstory given a bit at a time in little chapters throughout the book. What makes this story work is that in this book he starts to question what he's doing and why. As the blurb says, deep down he's still the boy he used to be. There are some good twists in this book--some you can see coming, of course, but there are still a few surprises you don't. I plan to read the sequel.
This is a promising start to a trilogy about a teen assassin that was originally titled Boy Nobody. He's been doing this for a couple of years and to find out how and why, there is some backstory given a bit at a time in little chapters throughout the book. What makes this story work is that in this book he starts to question what he's doing and why. As the blurb says, deep down he's still the boy he used to be. There are some good twists in this book--some you can see coming, of course, but there are still a few surprises you don't. I plan to read the sequel.
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