The Cherub Series

Many of you have been reading this series for AR and loving it.  Well, I just found out that even though there are only 6 books on AR, there are actually 12 in the series!  The series is based on the idea that terrorists and drug dealers suspect other adults, but they don't give children a second thought.  The authorities decide to use this to their advantage by recruiting teenage boys to do their dirty work.  The boys spy and plant bugs and gather information about the bad guys.  It's a rip-roaring adventure book that's a lot of fun!

Robert Muchamore, the author, at first thought he wanted to be an architect, a photographer or a writer.  Since it took 7 years of schooling to be an architect, he chose photography.  Unfortunately, he hated his job at the camera store, and it turned him against photography.  So - he bummed around for a couple of years without a job until his dad threatened to kick him out.  He tried writing a book, but it was a lot harder than he thought it would be.  Eventually, he went to work for a Private Investigating firm.

While visiting his siter, his nephew complained about how there weren't any good books for teenage boys.  Uncle Robert to the rescue!  He wrote Recruit for his nephew to enjoy, and once he decided it was good enough, he shopped it around to publishers.  Eventually, he was able to quit his private investigator job and realize his dream of writing full time.

Since Muchamore lives and writes in England, the titles and publishing dates of the novels are a little different than they are in the US.  Here is the series list in order:

1. The Recruit
2. The Dealer
3. Maximum Security
4. The Killing
5. Divine Madness
6. Man Vs. Beast
7. The Fall
8. Mad Dogs
9. The Sleepwalker
10. The General
11. Brigands MC
12. Shadow Wave

Now, Brigands MC is a bit hard to find right now, and Shadow Wave won't be released until September 2010.  Also, there is a small book called Dark Sun that is considered 9.5 in the series.  It isn't availabale any longer to purchase, but it is downloadable from the internet.  I will have most or all of these in the Shaffer Library within a week or so. 

I also ordered 3 books from Muchamore's other series: Henderson's Boys.  The series takes place during World War II.  A spy named Charles Henderson recruits kids to help him in the fight against Hitler.  There are three books in the series with a fourth coming out in 2011.

Happy Reading!

Shaffer

Read or read not, there is no try

I finished one of the funniest books ever over the weekend:  The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.  Heelarious.  It's about a kid named Dwight who is a complete dork.  I'm not being mean; he really is a knob.  So, Dwight folds soome green paper into an Origami Yoda and makes it talk to people.  At first, he gives some unwanted advice, but it doesn't take long for people to start asking his advice.  These are people who absolutely REFUSE to speak to Dwight, but they'll talk to the green wad of paper.  Somehow, the finger holding Yoda is channeling The Force.  Yes, THE Force.

It's filled with some really funny characters.  I love Quavando: AKA Cheeto Hog.  And the kid (Mike, I think?) who cries everyday during PE Softball.  There's Caroline, the girl who reads lips.  And Kellen and Rhondella who are in looooooove.

I really like how the book is written.  The idea behind the book is to get everyone's input about Origami Yoda and his advice in order to decide if he's real.  Or rather, if his advice was good.  I enjoy reading all of the stories from different points of view because it adds some spice.

This was a really quick read, but so much fun.  I laughed out loud several times.  If you liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I think you'll like this one as well.  Give it a try.

Shaffer