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Code Red #6
Battleground
The brand new action-packed sixth Code Red adventure thriller for young readers
Fourteen-year-old Ben Tracy goes to Pakistan with his environmental-activist mother, who then travels across the border into Afghanistan, leaving Ben behind, where it’s safe. But Ben and his new friend, Aarya, are kidnapped and find themselves caught up in a terrifying planned Taliban attack that could destroy Southern Afghanistan killing thousands. And when Ben sees their kidnappers are carrying some sort of weapon that looks like a suitcase, he realizes that their lives are in serious danger.
Fourteen-year-old Ben Tracy goes to Pakistan with his environmental-activist mother, who then travels across the border into Afghanistan, leaving Ben behind, where it’s safe. But Ben and his new friend, Aarya, are kidnapped and find themselves caught up in a terrifying planned Taliban attack that could destroy Southern Afghanistan killing thousands. And when Ben sees their kidnappers are carrying some sort of weapon that looks like a suitcase, he realizes that their lives are in serious danger.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
15 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
345 books1,007 followersColin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 28, 2019
A teenage boy saw some soldier movies and decided to write a fan fiction and this book is the result... Wait, the author is former SAS member? WHAT?! No, just no, the plot is too naive and illogical, the story is full of clichés and characters are either forgettable or dumb (Ben, you do-gooder, so you're in Pakistan for the first time in your life, know nothing about the country, people, habits... but you just have to teach the local boys how to behave, okay. And Amir, you are such a buffoon that even the landmines don't care about you). Sorry, but not good.
Jelikož je autor bývalý člen britské vojenské speciální jednotky, nedokážu si vysvětlit přemíru naivity a nelogičností. Ben postižený nutkáním dělat dobrodiní rozjede příběh plný akce a napětí, který je ale zamořený klišé a nepochopitelným až přihlouplým chováním postav. Netuším, do jaké míry je to překladem, ale stylistika je strašlivá. Takže za mě nedostatečná.
Jelikož je autor bývalý člen britské vojenské speciální jednotky, nedokážu si vysvětlit přemíru naivity a nelogičností. Ben postižený nutkáním dělat dobrodiní rozjede příběh plný akce a napětí, který je ale zamořený klišé a nepochopitelným až přihlouplým chováním postav. Netuším, do jaké míry je to překladem, ale stylistika je strašlivá. Takže za mě nedostatečná.
August 2, 2025
I usually enjoy Chris Ryan’s books, but Battleground didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The action was there, as always, and the pace was fast — but the storyline felt a bit too far-fetched. The idea of a character visiting Pakistan for the first time and almost immediately being dragged into a high-level mission just didn’t feel believable. It lacked the grounded, true-to-life edge that normally makes Ryan’s work so compelling.
Still, there are flashes of his trademark realism and military insight, and fans of action thrillers might still enjoy the ride. For me though, it stretched credibility a bit too far to stay fully invested.
The action was there, as always, and the pace was fast — but the storyline felt a bit too far-fetched. The idea of a character visiting Pakistan for the first time and almost immediately being dragged into a high-level mission just didn’t feel believable. It lacked the grounded, true-to-life edge that normally makes Ryan’s work so compelling.
Still, there are flashes of his trademark realism and military insight, and fans of action thrillers might still enjoy the ride. For me though, it stretched credibility a bit too far to stay fully invested.
April 2, 2019
Read this easily in an afternoon and really enjoyed it. I'd quite like to see more of how Ben's life goes from here. I could kind of see where it was going, but thought it was nicely done. Maybe it was the particular subject matter, but I found myself getting emotionally involved in the story more than I would normally, so that was kind of a nice change too. I think it was because the subject matter was more realistic than the previous books in the series. Thumbs up from me.
Currently reading
March 17, 2022It is a great book as it explains what it is like to be a special forces cadet as they go on perilous mission to save lives and stop the crime in the world I enjoyed it because it teaches you the art of teamwork and coordination and then putting that to the test on missions.
June 29, 2022
Dobré se to čte, za to jedna hvězdička, ale ten nelogickej příběh, ach jo. Jako jednohubka, na pár minut zasytí, ale nenajite se z toho.
August 15, 2024
nostalgic but i wanted ed to get told off😠😠😠
December 15, 2021
This is an action-packed story. The pacing is good. The plot is decent. I just think that the antagonist should be intimidating, but he's not.
Still, I'm looking forward to read the other books in Code Red series.
This book was really exiting and I liked the adventure and excitement the book brought to me
I don’t really like reading but this writer Chris Ryan
I think there is a series but I don’t this you have to read it all in an order
This book has a gross scene at some points
I think all ages above 7 could read this
It’s about a 14 year old boy named Ben who goes to Pakistan for the school and he finds himself lost in the wrong place at the wrong time
Still, I'm looking forward to read the other books in Code Red series.
This book was really exiting and I liked the adventure and excitement the book brought to me
I don’t really like reading but this writer Chris Ryan
I think there is a series but I don’t this you have to read it all in an order
This book has a gross scene at some points
I think all ages above 7 could read this
It’s about a 14 year old boy named Ben who goes to Pakistan for the school and he finds himself lost in the wrong place at the wrong time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2012
‘Code Red: Battleground’ by Chris Ryan is an action-filled adventure which most readers will find completely engrossing.
The book focuses on the themes of modern warfare and so is recommended for those with a love for military based reads. The story’s main plot follows a fourteen year old teenager named Ben Tracy who was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Whilst taking part in a school organized exchange trip, he finds himself kidnapped and held hostage by a group of strange armed men. Worse still, when Ben finds out that the men are carrying a suitcase bomb he realises he may have stumbled on a sinister terrorist plot that is about to unfold.
One of the reasons this book is so addictive is because most of the story is seen from Ben’s point-of-view. The reader sees what Ben sees, and we only know what Ben has managed to find out. By using this clever technique, Chris Ryan repeatedly establishes a real bond between his character and the reader. We feel more involved in the plot and this makes the book much more enjoyable. Another reason is that this book is in actual fact very realistic. It might not seem that way at first, but the overall plot is something that COULD happen to this day and age. Chris Ryan has made sure to emphasise this fact by including the following information before the prologue in his book.
On 7 September 1997, former Soviet military commander Alexander Lebev claimed that 100 Russian-made suitcase sized nuclear bombs were currently ’not under Russian control’. The Russian Federation denied these claims, but they were backed up by Stanislav Lunev, the highest-ranking Soviet officer ever to defect from Russia. Lunev believed that some of these nuclear weapons had already been deployed. What was beyond doubt was that the Russians no longer knew where they were …
The book focuses on the themes of modern warfare and so is recommended for those with a love for military based reads. The story’s main plot follows a fourteen year old teenager named Ben Tracy who was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Whilst taking part in a school organized exchange trip, he finds himself kidnapped and held hostage by a group of strange armed men. Worse still, when Ben finds out that the men are carrying a suitcase bomb he realises he may have stumbled on a sinister terrorist plot that is about to unfold.
One of the reasons this book is so addictive is because most of the story is seen from Ben’s point-of-view. The reader sees what Ben sees, and we only know what Ben has managed to find out. By using this clever technique, Chris Ryan repeatedly establishes a real bond between his character and the reader. We feel more involved in the plot and this makes the book much more enjoyable. Another reason is that this book is in actual fact very realistic. It might not seem that way at first, but the overall plot is something that COULD happen to this day and age. Chris Ryan has made sure to emphasise this fact by including the following information before the prologue in his book.
On 7 September 1997, former Soviet military commander Alexander Lebev claimed that 100 Russian-made suitcase sized nuclear bombs were currently ’not under Russian control’. The Russian Federation denied these claims, but they were backed up by Stanislav Lunev, the highest-ranking Soviet officer ever to defect from Russia. Lunev believed that some of these nuclear weapons had already been deployed. What was beyond doubt was that the Russians no longer knew where they were …
June 12, 2013
I think Battleground by Chris Ryan is an amazing book. I loved it. I enjoyed it a lot. It is also one of my favorite books. It is so interesting I couldn't stop reading it once I started it, which is weird because I don't find many books that I enjoy and are interesting to me. But this book was one of the best I have read yet. I think everyone else should also read it.
September 6, 2021
This is an action-packed story. The pacing is good. The plot is decent. I just think that the antagonist should be intimidating, but he's not.
Still, I'm looking forward to read the other books in Code Red series.
Still, I'm looking forward to read the other books in Code Red series.
November 18, 2013
Was not that impressed with unrealistic plot, surely this author can do better.
April 2, 2015
This was a great read!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews