CROCODILE TEARS: An Alex Rider Novel
by
Anthony Horowitz
Puffin Books/Penguin Group for Young Readers
Hardcover: 9780399250569
Paperback: 9780142417195
Ages 10-14
352 pages
Crocodile tears: fake or hypocritical tears. From the belief that crocodiles will pretend to cry in order to attract their victims --- and will then cry for real as they devour them.
Alex Rider is just weeks away from his 15th birthday, and already he has experienced more broken bones, missed school days and psychotic adults than any teenager could fathom. He has found himself in numerous sticky situations, and while he is good at being a teenage spy --- really good in fact --- Alex would like nothing more than to leave the world of MI6 behind and return to a life of some normalcy. That normalcy includes hanging out with his housekeeper, Jack Starbright, and perhaps pursuing his latest crush, Sabina Pleasure. Of course, once MI6 has their hands on you, they have a difficult time letting go.
The holidays find Alex vacationing with journalist Edward Pleasure and his family in Scotland. Mr. Pleasure is on assignment visiting Reverend Desmond McCain after scoring an interview with McCain about his charity, First Aid. McCain is the usual rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story, and his charity has been gaining worldwide acclaim for arriving first on the scene of natural disasters. First Aid’s New Year’s party, held at Kilmore Castle, promises to thrill, delight and hopefully encourage some hefty donations. In fact, Alex manages to find himself face-to-face with McCain in an unexpected card game that only contributes to a startling turn of events when the clock strikes midnight.
After a harrowing and bone-chilling New Year’s Eve, Alex returns to London and is immediately faced with another dilemma: Harry Bulman, a freelance journalist, appears at his doorstep one night claiming he knows the truth about his involvement with MI6, and he’s threatening to blow the whistle on everything. If Alex refuses to cooperate, Harry is going to inform the press about his “extracurricular” activities. Alex has no choice but to return to Mr. Blunt and Mrs. Jones in the Special Operation Division of MI6 and ask for help. Shockingly, Mr. Blunt agrees to help Alex…for one small favor. Alex’s science class is heading on a field trip to Greenfields Research Laboratory to learn more about genetic engineering. All Alex has to do is download files from director Leonard Straik’s computer. Easy, right?
The task is simple enough, but Alex doesn’t count on Desmond McCain showing up out of the blue and complicating matters. It appears that the good reverend has a vested interest in genetically engineering some crops in Africa in order to benefit his money-swindling charity. Alex also doesn’t anticipate outrunning security guards, stumbling into a poisonous dome, or getting tangled in an international conspiracy yet again. In his most dangerous operation yet, perhaps Alex has finally met his match --- and some crocodiles!
Most 14-year-olds long to escape the everyday doldrums of school, homework and waking up early. Anthony Horowitz has always provided the perfect diversion with his unflappable hero. From the very first book, STORMBREAKER, to this current installment, Horowitz continues to thrill his audience. There aren’t too many series that continue to get better from book to book, but I know without a doubt that Alex Rider will only improve with age --- as long as he lives past 15.
--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche (bennyboche@hotmail.com)
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