SilverFin

by Charlie Higson Narrated by Nathaniel Parker

Overview

What does it take to become the greatest secret agent the world has ever known? In this thrilling prequel to the adventures of James Bond, 007, readers meet a young boy whose inquisitive mind and determination set him on a path that will someday take him across the globe, in pursuit of the most dangerous criminals of all time.

When we first meet young James, he's just started boarding school at Eton in the 1930s, and from there, the action moves to the Highlands of Scotland, where Alfie Kelly, a local boy, has gone missing. James teams up with the boy's cousin, Red, to investigate the mystery, and they soon discover that Alfie's disappearance is linked to a madman and his sinister plot for global power.

Acclaimed British author Charlie Higson has written a brilliantly crafted tale that reveals the unknown story of a boy who grew up to become one of the most iconic figures of our time. SilverFin is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will mesmerize readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Higson's first novel depicting the life of the young James Bond gets a graphic adaptation. The story opens with Bond's arrival as a teenager at Eton in the early 1930s, where, far from his suave later self, he is an outsider who soon makes enemies with a rich brute from America. The first half of the tale examines the forces that shape Bond, including the loss of his parents and his discovery of his beloved uncle's mysterious role in WWI. The second half plunges into an adventure tale as Bond attempts to determine what dire deeds are taking place behind the walls of a Scottish castle near his aunt and uncle's home, placing himself in grave danger in the process. The shift is slightly jarring, although the final few pages foreshadowing Bond's adult profession help tie the two parts together. Walker's brooding illustrations capture Britain's damp climate and the country's lugubrious culture between the wars; a reader might almost feel a chill as the young Bond hides in the Scottish moors. Ages 10–up. (Mar.)

Library Journal

Boasting 12 novels and 22 films, the Bond legacy continues to expand with Ian Fleming Publications authorizing the original "Young Bond" series of YA novels. In this adaptation of the first novel, we meet the 14-year-old newbie at Eton, bullied by a swaggery Yank kid who inevitably recalls Draco Malfoy. But young George Hellbore's only under the thumb of his truly malevolent dad, Lord Hellbore, who lives in a moat-ringed castle. As James makes friends and trains to improve his physical prowess—the better to keep George out of his hair—he learns that a local lad has disappeared near the castle. So against all reasonable advice, our future spy is off to find out what Hellbore has done with the missing kid. VERDICT While the components and characters in this adventure offer few surprises, including a pretty young woman avatar for the older Bond's harem, Walker's excellent, semirealistic color art offers limpid menace. More generally, the equally excellent pacing and storytelling as well as the nicely written dialog elevate this into a captivating read that will appeal to adults and teens.—M.C.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169436518
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	04/11/2006
Series:	Young Bond , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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