Alex Rider: Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider: Secret Weapon is the newest book in the teenage spy series! Here's our review.

In theory, I don't believe that there are "boy books" and "girl books." Kids and teens should read whatever they like to read. There are no rules.

That being said, the reality is that in practice, there are books that are presented more like "boy books" or "girl books." I mean, I think that The Princess Academy series is absolutely wonderful for teen boys and girls - plenty of action, adventure, and just enough romance to satisfy everyone.

However, I can also see why the princess on the book cover might make it difficult for some boys to want to even give it a try - especially middle school aged boys.

And to add to the problem, there aren't a lot of YA books out there with male protagonists. This makes it even harder to keep tween and teen boys interested in reading.

But I know parents are trying to find books their teen boys will read because this post I wrote last year about Great Clean Reads for Teen Boys is currently the second most popular post here on Some the Wiser. That's why I'm always looking for great books for boys, especially books with male protagonists.

Today, I'm so happy to tell you about a brand new book that both your tween/teen boys AND girls can enjoy! Alex Rider is a fantastic character and his latest adventures in Alex Rider: Secret Weapon are so fun.

Alex Rider: Secret Weapon

The Alex Rider books are actually a 9 book series. The series begins with Alex Rider: Stormbreaker, in which 14 year old Alex is swept up into a secret spy agency in England developing Stormbreaker computers. From there, he goes undercover at an elite prep school to find an assassin, unites with the CIA to stop an international terrorist, and uncovers the secret machinations of a world famous pop star . . . and that's just the first three books!

Alex Rider: Secret Weapon is the latest installment in his adventures. This book is actually a stand alone book with Seven Untold Adventures - short stories that range from about 30 pages to 80 pages each.

Although Alex Rider has been fighting crime since 2000, we just recently discovered the series. Our first intro to it was the Secret Weapon book and the 7 short stories were a perfect way to jump in.

Now, of course, we're hooked and want to read through the whole series! Thank goodness summer break just began and we'll have plenty of time for all that reading.

Our Review

If you're already a fan of Alex Rider and his spy adventures, you'll be really pleased to see him back in action! But, even if you're brand new, Secret Weapon is a great starting point.

The espionage stories really are quite thrilling! Anthony Horowitz, the author, was even commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate to write the James Bond novel Trigger Mortis, incorporating never-before-published material from 007's creator. He clearly knows how to write a spy novel!

This is a fun, action packed book for teens 12 to 15. It's a clean read, though some of the stories are a little gritty. For example, one of the stories involves the takedown of a notorious drug dealer. But if you have a teen or tween that's looking for a fast paced story, this is the perfect thriller!

I especially liked the short story format of this one. It makes it a great summer read, easy to pick up and put down. It's also a great format if you're trying to coax a reluctant reader into a new book. Just give one story a try and they'll likely be hooked. I could also see these shorter stories being fun classroom read alouds for 5th to 7th grade.

We will definitely be reading a lot more Alex Rider after this one! In fact, the book jacket says that there is a major TV series currently underway. We can't wait to check that out!

Want to know what my almost 13 year old thought of Alex Rider: Secret Weapon? Check our Instagram Stories and see Esme's quick video review.

Find out more about the author, Anthony Horowitz, here.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher as part of the Kids Know Best Blogger Campaign. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.