Revenge

Gr 5–8—This series fits the nonstop action and espionage mold of Anthony Horowitz's popular "Alex Rider" books. In this sequel to Fledgling (Sourcebooks, 2010), 12-year-old Jason Steed, a multilingual martial-arts expert with a pilot's license, is recruited by Scotland Yard to help gather information on the criminal organization the Triads, and he gets in much deeper than he expected. Through twists and turns, the body count climbs and the tension mounts, leading to the climactic showdown with the Triad leader. Steed seems like a young James Bond. The plot moves at breakneck pace, with all the clichés of the genre-hot pursuits, double-crosses, and "trust no one" moments. Things occasionally get bogged down in very detailed action descriptions. Overall, though, this is serviceable espionage fare. Fans of the genre will enjoy it, but it's unlikely to bring new readers into the action/adventure fold. It will appeal to the "plot first, ask questions later" crowd.—Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI