Alex Rider: Ark Angel

 

For this outside of class reading project, I decided to read Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz. It was first copyrighted in 2006. It is about a 14 year old spy, Alex Rider, and it is the 2nd to last book in the Alex Rider series. Alex works for an agency, MI6, and when he saves a very wealthy business man's son from kidnappers, he instantly becomes friends with the child, Paul Drevin, and his father, Nikolei Drevin. He is invited to go on vacation with them to a private island, where the final touches to Nikolei Drevin's space hotel, Ark Angel, will be sent up in a rocket. Both of the Drevins, and Alex were all in for multiple shocks as they get to learn more about each other. The theme of the book is to trust your instincts, because they may save somebody, or something.

 

The story is told in 3rd person point of view. When Alex has himself kidnapped instead of the intended target of a wealthy business man's son, Alex comes face to face with one of the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world, Force Three. After he is rescued, Alex wants to find out more the Drevin's family, which brings shock after shock to the reader. The intended audience is probably teenage boys because there is a lot of fighting, high speed racing, and explosions. The book "Ark Angel" is a fictional-action book. The author keeps you interested by throwing in betrayals and unexpected deaths that make you want to find out what happened and why. The author's style is comical and serious. It does work for the intended audience.

 

The book made me think of what it would be like to have billions of dollars, almost getting kidnapped, and then betrayed by your only family and friends. I didn't change any ideas because of it. It fits in with my personal world view because it deals with terrorism, which is a real world threat, and rich people being mentally and physically attacked by enemies who wanted revenge and/or money. It reminds me of the other books in the series, and it also reminds me of James Bond because it deals with spies.

 

I love how Anthony Horowitz uses lots of different locations in the book, unexpected twists and turns, and the use of very creative gadgets that Alex uses in the book. I highly recommend reading this book to anybody 12 and up. I ended up reading the entire book in two and a half hours on a road trip because I couldn't put it down.

 

 

 

Nate Schrobilgen

12/18/13

RATING: **** 4.5/5