The General (CHERUB) by Robert Muchamore

James is trying to get evidence on an urban protestor who's looking dangerously likely to turn terrorist. Lauren et al are breaking into a new airport terminal, trying to expose security weaknesses. Once they've wrapped up these missions with the customary CHERUB panache (plus chases, plus explosions, plus slapstick), they're off to Camp Reagan in the Nevada desert. It's the world's largest urban warfare training facility and the CHERUB agents will be playing insurgents. And with volatile Ukrainian and CHERUB teacher Mr Kazakov in command, our junior secret agents can expect more than a few fireworks.

This is the tenth in Robert Muchamore's incredibly successful CHERUB series. It's sold more than a million copies so far, and this instalment doesn't lose the pace. It's as crash bang wallop as any junior action fan could want. There are chases, fights, explosions, and yes, even diarrhoea (a weapon of mass excretion in urban warfare circles, dontchaknow). You have to love it really - while it is exciting, high octane stuff, Muchamore's tongue makes regular journeys to his cheek, and this sense of humour is probably what makes his books so popular in such a crowded and often hackneyed market.

While many of its competitors are politically naive, following the usual Hollywood blockbuster formula, Muchamore has some more sophisticated political comment for his readers to ponder over. In this book, for instance, he's rather irreverent about the American military - that's why you lost the war in Iraq - and includes a scene where British police beat a suspect in the back of their van. It's not a political series though; the main thrust of the narrative is the action, and the backstory is all about teen interaction - the same stuff you'd find in any school-based novel for children.

It's light and easy to read. Teens will enjoy it, in particular reluctant readers. It's approachable by any keen reader of nine and up, but nervous parents should note that sex, alcohol and all the other no-nos get regular mentions. My fellow reviewer on Bookbag was distinctly unimpressed by them in his earlier review.

My thanks to the nice people at Hodder for sending the book.

They might also enjoy the lively and original Spray by Harry Edge.

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