| The Recruit | |
|---|---|
UK First edition cover |
|
| Author(s) | Robert Muchamore |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | CHERUB |
| Genre(s) | Children's, Thriller, Spy novel |
| Publisher | Hodder Children's Books (UK) Simon Pulse (USA) |
| Publication date | 30 April 2004 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 329 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0340881534 (first edition, paperback) |
| OCLC Number | 61439287 |
| Followed by | Class A |
The Recruit is the first novel in the CHERUB series, written by Robert Muchamore. It introduces most of the main characters, such as James Adams (James Choke), Lauren Adams (Lauren Onions), Kyle Blueman and Kerry Chang. The book itself was originally to be called 'CHERUB 1.0'.[1]
Contents |
The book begins with 11 year old James Choke getting sent to a children's care home called Nebraska house after his mother dies, where he shares a room with Kyle Blueman, a CHERUB agent who recruits him. Meanwhile James' sister Lauren is taken to live with her father Ron Onions. James awakes the next day to find himself on the CHERUB campus where the chairman, Dr Terrence McAfferty - often called 'Mac' - introduces him to CHERUB and puts him through a series of entrance tests which he passes. James is admitted into CHERUB. In order to start going on missions all agents must complete Basic Training. During this James meets Kerry Chang, with whom he has a strong friendship.
James' first mission takes place in the hippy camp Fort Harmony. James and Amy Collins must befriend the hippies at Fort Harmony and find out more about the potential attack at Petrocon 2004 by the terrorist group Help Earth. The two discover a plot to release anthrax bacteria into the air in the conference centre. The police are called in and they raid Fort Harmony to stop the attack from happening.
Development for both The Recruit and the CHERUB series as a whole began in 1999 when Muchamore was visiting his sister in Australia and found his twelve year old nephew complaining about the lack of any good reading material.[1] In 2001, Muchamore began working on an un-named novel, KN1 (Kids novel 1). This was more violent with James slashing Samantha's face open with broken glass.[1] Robert Muchamore did not approach a Literary agent until Autumn 2002. By this time the novel was called CHERUB 1.0. He was rejected by the first agent but taken on by the second. Many different publishing companies disliked the novel and rejected Muchamore once again. It was in March 2003 that Hodder Children's Books purchased CHERUB 1.0 and an un-named sequel, both for release in 2004.[1]
The Recruit has been translated into 20 languages, including:
In February 2009, it was announced that Jigsaw and BBC Films would together be adapting The Recruit. Muchamore quoted on his website that the film had no set casting date, release date or shooting date, and that he was hoping that the film would be able to start casting sometime in 2011. [2]
A 3-CD audiobook was released in the UK on September 21, 2006 read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.
The Recruit received generally good reviews being nominated for 8 awards and winning 7.[3] The Sunday Express described the book as, 'Punchy, exciting, glamorous and, what's more, you'll completely wish it was true.'
The Recruit is followed by Class A. There James, Kerry, Nicole and Kyle infiltrate a drug cartel led by Keith Moore. Lauren also takes part in basic training and injures Mr. Large.
| Award | Category | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red House Children's Book Award | Older readers | 2005 | Winner[4] |
| Bolton Children's Book Award | 2005 | Winner[5] | |
| Medway Children's Book Award | 2005 | Winner | |
| Bishop Luffa Children's Book Award | 2005 | Winner | |
| Salford Children's Book Award | 2005 | Winner[6] | |
| Doncaster Children's Book Award | 2005 | Runner up | |
| Sakura Medal | 2007 | Winner[7] | |
| Richard and Judy Best Kids' Books | Fluent 12+ category | 2007 | Winner[8] |
| Kingston Young Readers Award | 2007 | Winner |
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