Fledgling

August 1, 2010

How does a boy turn into a hero? Growing up in Hong Kong, Jason never thought about it. Having lost his mother at birth, been neglected by his father and raised by a succession of nannies, Jason is drawn to the discipline of the martial arts at an early age. He conquers them one by one, earning black belts in all. Looking for new challenges, it's not long before he's sneaking onto the nearby naval base to teach himself to fly on flight simulators. By the time his father relocates them to England, this 11-year-old is not like the other boys at school. But it isn't until he joins the Sea Cadets and goes on a training exercise off Jakarta that he has the opportunity to put all his training to good use. Well constructed, full of adolescent wish-fulfillment and almost believable, this is an undemanding page-turner in the spirit of Alex Rider and Co. that will appeal to parents as well as kids. Let the sequels begin. (Thriller. 12 & up)

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February 1, 2011

Gr 5-7-Set during the 1960s and 1970s, the novel follows Jason Steed from his birth, which caused his mother's death and created a rift between him and his father, to a critical mission he accidentally joins at age 11. Jason is almost superhuman: his martial arts skills across several styles are amazing, his linguistic ability incredible, and his tenacity and resolve, even at age five, are impressive. But despite his amazing skills and his knack for getting himself into places and organizations where he shouldn't be, Jason has normal emotions: he craves his father's love, he develops firm friendships, he takes a stand against bullies, and he mourns when he cannot prevent the deaths of his friends. The action is fast, and the spy and military aspects of the Sea Cadets, a British organization that trains youngsters for the military, seem designed to appeal to reluctant male readers. The novel is violent, particularly in Jason's final (and accidental) mission, and the deaths that impact him are handled with grace, even while physical injuries are graphically described. The writing is a little unpolished, and Jason's maturity and abilities are over the top, but the adventure is exactly on target for the intended audience.-Alana Joli Abbott, formerly at James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

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