Parents' Guide to

Stormbreaker: Alex Rider Adventures, Book 1

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

British teen spy saves England in exciting thriller.

Book Anthony Horowitz Adventure 2005
Stormbreaker: Alex Rider Adventures, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Carrie S.
Carrie S. Adult
April 23, 2021
age 15+

Suicide by gun?!

My child has been reading this in the school library and brought one home. He read it in an hour: book candy: lame! I looked through it and in the Skeleton Key (number 3?) someone shoots himself in the head with a gun on the fourth to the last page and before that, you think he shoots Alex point blank. These are violent, gory, inappropriate and poorly written. No thanks!

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
hvasquez
hvasquez Parent of 9-year-old
June 10, 2022
age 9+

the book

Love every book but this one is perfect.

This title has:

Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Alex Rider has lived with his uncle Ian since his parents were killed in an accident when he was an infant. Now Ian has died in an accident as well, but as Alex looks deeper, he finds that everything he knew about his uncle was a lie. He wasn't a banker, he was a spy for Britain's MI6, and his death was no accident. Now MI6 wants Alex to spy for them as well, and they won't take no for an answer. Though he is only 14, he discovers that his uncle was training him for spying his whole life. Billionaire Herod Sayle is donating his state-of-the-art computers to every school in England. But MI6 is suspicious of his motives, and Ian was killed while investigating him. Now they want to send Alex in to find out what's going on behind the guarded fences of Sayle Enterprises.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19):
Kids say (64):

This thriller is like a Bond movie for kids -- full of action, suspense, thrill-a-minute adventure, gadgets, and a super-competent kid who saves the world through brains, guts, and martial arts. It's very well done and especially good for reluctant readers. It will keep kids enthralled. Don't bother with suspending disbelief: You'll have to stick it in a bag filled with concrete and sink it in the nearest river (or perhaps put it in a tank with a giant poisonous jellyfish, as is done to Alex at one point). But young readers will eat up every second and beg for more.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Alex is used and mistreated by the supposed good guys in Stormbreaker. Why are spies often at odds with their superiors? How does that add to the appeal of the story?

  • Which parts of the story are more or less realistic? Which parts are the coolest?

  • What were the reasons for the villain's madness? What makes a good villian in a thriller?

Book Details

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