Silverfin (Young Bond #1) by Charlie Higson Date of Publication: 2005 ISBN: 0-141-31859-7 Number of Pages: 372

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Intermediate: Average/High
GENRES: Mystery/Adventure
THEMES : Good versus Evil - Life versus Death - Sacrifice and Redemption - Family - Loyalty - Appearance versus Reality - Coming of Age - Survival - Isolation

SUMMARY:
James Bond is the new boy at Eton College, following in the footsteps of all the men in his family, including his beloved Uncle and father, the latter of whom was recently killed in a tragic accident with James' mother. Orphaned and feeling quite alone, James is happy to meet his new classmates Pritpal Nandra and Tommy Chong, who quickly show him the ropes. Despite being bullied by a rich American boy named George Hellebore and his friends, James fits in well, succeeding in running and swimming races in the very sporty Eton culture. When he bests George in front of George's father, however, James makes a bitter enemy. The senior Hellebore is far from what he appears on the surface, and the troubles for James are just beginning.

James spends the holidays with his Aunt and Uncle in Scotland, learning to drive his Uncle's car and meeting the locals. When he hears about a missing boy, his curiousity is pricked, and when it turns out the boy vanished in the vicinity of an imposing, restricted castle -- one that just happens to be owned by the Hellebore family -- James knows he has to explore. Unfortunately, they don't say "curiousity killed the cat" for nothing, and James finds himself up to his neck in danger, against an enemy that is truly "hellish."

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
loves James Bond movies and books
- enjoys British schoolboy stories
- likes cars, sports, and the manly pursuits
- enjoys Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider novels, Cody Banks movies, and other stories where teenagers save the world.
- has always been curious about James Bond's formative years

This book is recommended for students in grades 7 and 8 only (Young Adult).

WHAT ELSE?
This is the first novel by Charlie Higson in the Young Bond series. It was commissioned by the estate of Ian Fleming and is loyal to the original books in style, plot, and other interesting incidentals.

There is a fairly violent prologue that features the death of the young boy who later turns up missing, but since the mystery has to last the length of the book, the details are sketchy. The death of James' father and mother, and his uncle's terminal cancer are considerations if a child has recently lost a family member.