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Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

Ark Angel

The Alex Rider Series
Anthony Horowitz

Puffin (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-14-240738-0 (0142407380)
ISBN-13: 978-0-14-240738-7 (9780142407387)
Publication Date: April 2007
List Price: $7.99

Review: Espionage, murder, and terrorism all intertwine as Alex Rider returns in the 6th installment of the "Alex Rider" series. In Ark Angel, written by the compelling author Anthony Horowitz, Rider once again has to outsmart and outlive his enemy, Force Three, as they terrorize the world.

While Alex is recuperating from the sniper's bullet at St. Dominics Hospital in London, four gigantic armed men come with only one mission, to kidnap the boy in the room next to his. The boy's name is Paul Drevin. The four men were coming for Paul and they needed him badly. Alex's attempt at saving Paul put him into the middle of an action packed thriller involving a war between Force Three - an insane group of environmentalists who will do anything, even murder just to save the environment, and Nikolai Drevin - one of the richest men on the planet and the creator of the project Ark Angel, the very first hotel in space. Will Alex Rider be able to save Ark Angel and stop Force Three from destroying Drevin's greatest accomplishment ever? Nothing is what it seems.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I feel that this book truly shouldn't be considered a mystery. There wasn't a mystery style in the writing, but instead it was much more like an action or thriller genre. Anybody who is picking up this book expecting a traditional mystery will be disappointed. I personally enjoy these types of books, however, and if I hadn't been reading it with the preconceived notion that it should have been a mystery it would have gone up as one of the best books I've ever read. There really isn't a major question that Rider had to find out. Most of the puzzling questions Rider has are usually answered in the upcoming chapters and are not questions like you see in "whodunits" which can span throughout the entire book. On the other hand, any Alex Rider fans or people who just love action packed page turners will love this book. It is jam packed with action and adventure that comes to life in the author's descriptions. Readers will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in the masterpiece that time will slip away. Like other Alex Rider books, you never wanting to put it down.

As I've said this book is mainly for action lovers and from an action view point it would be a five star book. But from a mystery stand point, it would be two stars because of the lack of mystery content. The total rating that this book gets is a four star rating, not because the book's quality is that of four stars, but because it really wasn't a true hardcore mystery such as Sherlock Holmes. I would recommend this book to any person who just adores action and adventure over mystery.

Review written by Alex, Grade 8. Date of review: April 2009.

Review: Ark Angel is a book of adventure, action, and crime, written by Anthony Horowitz. It’s a book that will bring you to the edge of your seat and keep you there until the final page! Alex Rider, a spy for MI6, a British intelligence force, and Paul Drevin, both fourteen-year old boys who spend two weeks together at Paul’s home, become great friends. Spectacles, Combat Jacket, Silver Tooth, Steel Watch, and Kaspar, are members of the eco-terrorist gang, Force Three, and Nikolei Drevin, the multi-billionaire and owner of the Ark Angel, the first hotel in space, might be the criminal behind the plot to destroy the Pentagon. Ark Angel is the sixth out of seven books in the Alex Rider series.

The rifle’s bullet nearly killed Alex Rider, but once again, he manages to survive. Alex is immediately sent to a hospital where he will spend weeks recuperating from this fatal incident. Just as soon as Alex is well again, trouble strikes! Four men try to kidnap his roommate, Paul Drevin. He does everything to stop them, but is overpowered by the thugs. He is taken into confinement and is to be held for ransom. What Alex doesn’t know is that the boy he just saved is the son of multibillionaire, Nikolei Drevin. The four men, also known as Force Three, have targeted Nikolei Drevin and are planning to destroy his fabulous space hotel, Ark Angel. Alex, in return for saving Paul Drevin, is invited to Nikolei’s bountiful estate, but begins to feel uneasy. Who is this man? Packed with some of the most enthralling scenes and adventure, Alex Rider takes the fun, action, and danger to the limit!

This novel has fast action and realistic parts such as the launch of the rocket, Gabriel 7 on Flamingo Bay, makes me feel as if I am in Alex’s world. A great book for me contains action, danger, adventure, an awesome ending, and makes me wonder what will happen next. Ark Angel was the perfect book for me and I enjoyed reading Anthony Horowitz’ greatest Alex Rider novel yet! If you want an action packed book, then read Ark Angel. It will blow your mind away! I would recommend the Alex Rider series to anyone who likes fast action books and sometimes unforeseen endings. Anthony Horowitz still has not disappointed me with his fantastic novels. This book was a New York Times best selling book, and so are the rest of the Alex Rider series! Keep up the good work A.H.!

Review written by Chris, Grade 6. Date of review: November 2008.