CHERUB: The Recruit
Encyclopedia
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'.
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.
and found his twelve year old nephew complaining about the lack of any good reading material. 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. 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.
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.
.
The Sunday Express described the book as, 'Punchy, exciting, glamorous and, what's more, you'll completely wish it was true.'
CHERUB
CHERUB is a series of young adult spy novels, written by the English author Robert Muchamore, focusing around a division of the British Security Service named CHERUB, which employs minors, predominantly orphans, as intelligence officers...
series, written by Robert Muchamore
Robert Muchamore
Robert Kilgore Muchamore is an English author, most notable for writing the CHERUB and Henderson's Boys novels.-Prior to writing:...
. It introduces most of the main characters, such as James Adams
James Adams (character)
James Robert Anthony Adams is the main character of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore. He is a prominent part of all the First Series Cherub books: The Recruit, Class A, Maximum Security, The Killing, Divine Madness, Man Vs...
(James Choke), Lauren Adams
Lauren Adams
Lauren Adams is one of the principal protagonists in the fictional book series CHERUB by British author Robert Muchamore and the sister of James Adams, the main protagonist...
(Lauren Onions), Kyle Blueman
Kyle Blueman
----Kyle Theodore Blueman is one of the main protagonists of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore.-Personality:Kyle is generally kind and considerate and is decent to his fellow cherubs...
and Kerry Chang
Kerry Chang
-Kerry Chang:Kerry is a CHERUB agent. She was James Adams training partner due to her unavailability to complete basic training she said that if she didnt complete it this time she would give it up but with the help of James Adams |James Adams she completes it . they have many arguments but they...
. The book itself was originally to be called 'CHERUB 1.0'.
Plot
The book begins with 11 year old James ChokeJames Adams (character)
James Robert Anthony Adams is the main character of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore. He is a prominent part of all the First Series Cherub books: The Recruit, Class A, Maximum Security, The Killing, Divine Madness, Man Vs...
getting sent to a children's care home called Nebraska house after his mother dies, where he shares a room with Kyle Blueman
Kyle Blueman
----Kyle Theodore Blueman is one of the main protagonists of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore.-Personality:Kyle is generally kind and considerate and is decent to his fellow cherubs...
, 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.
Major characters
- James Adams/ChokeJames Adams (character)James Robert Anthony Adams is the main character of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore. He is a prominent part of all the First Series Cherub books: The Recruit, Class A, Maximum Security, The Killing, Divine Madness, Man Vs...
: The main character, a twelve year old boy whose mother dies from an alcohol overdose. He meets Kyle BluemanKyle Blueman----Kyle Theodore Blueman is one of the main protagonists of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore.-Personality:Kyle is generally kind and considerate and is decent to his fellow cherubs...
at Nebraska house, a children's home. He joins CHERUB and changes his name from Choke to Adams. Later he embarks on a mission to overthrow an eco-terrorist plot. - Kerry ChangKerry Chang-Kerry Chang:Kerry is a CHERUB agent. She was James Adams training partner due to her unavailability to complete basic training she said that if she didnt complete it this time she would give it up but with the help of James Adams |James Adams she completes it . they have many arguments but they...
: Kerry is James's basic training partner. She is one of James's closest friends and has a severe knee injury, which prevented her from completing basic training in the past. - Amy Collins: She teaches James to swim and joined him on the mission to infiltrate the Eco terrorist group known as 'Help Earth'.
- Bruce NorrisBruce NorrisBruce Arthur Norris was owner of the Detroit Red Wings from 1952 to 1982. He was the son of James E. Norris and half-brother of James D. Norris. Members of the Norris family owned the Red Wings for almost fifty years before selling the franchise to Mike Ilitch in 1982. Bruce and Marguerite Norris...
: Bruce is a master martial artist, but is revealed to be a baby. He is one of James' best friends. - Kyle BluemanKyle Blueman----Kyle Theodore Blueman is one of the main protagonists of the CHERUB series by British author Robert Muchamore.-Personality:Kyle is generally kind and considerate and is decent to his fellow cherubs...
: Kyle is James' best friend. He is the first person James knows at Cherub because of the fact that James shared a bedroom with Kyle at Nebraska house. Kyle is two years older than James'
Development and publication
Development for both The Recruit and the CHERUB series as a whole began in 1999 when Muchamore was visiting his sister in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and found his twelve year old nephew complaining about the lack of any good reading material. 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. Robert Muchamore did not approach a Literary agent
Literary agent
A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers...
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.
Translation
The Recruit has been translated into 20 languages, including:- French - "100 jours en enfer" ("100 days in hell")
- German - "Top Secret: Der Agent"
- Japanese - "リクルート" (Rikurūto)
- Polish - "Rekrut"
- Portuguese - "O Recruta"
- Russian - "Новобранец" (Novobranyets - "The Rookie")
- Spanish - "Entrenamiento Básico" ("Basic Training")
- Norwegian - "Rekrutten"
- Danish - "Ilddåb" ("Firebirth")
Film
In February 2009, it was announced that Jigsaw and BBC FilmsBBC Films
BBC Films is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It has produced or co-produced some of the most successful British films of recent years, including An Education, StreetDance 3D, Fish Tank, Stage Beauty, A Cock and Bull Story, Nativity! and Match Point.It aims to make strong British films with...
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.
Audio book
A 3-CD audiobook was released in the UK on September 21, 2006 read by Julian Rhind-TuttJulian Rhind-Tutt
Julian Alistair Rhind-Tutt is an English actor. He is best known for his starring role as "Mac" McCartney in the comedy television series Green Wing, the second series of which finished on Channel 4 in May 2006...
.
Critical reception
The Recruit received generally good reviews being nominated for 8 awards and winning 7.The Sunday Express described the book as, 'Punchy, exciting, glamorous and, what's more, you'll completely wish it was true.'
Sequel
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.Awards
| Award | Category | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red House Children's Book Award Red House Children's Book Award The Red House Children's Book Award is a series of literary prizes for works of children's literature published during the previous year. The prize was known as the Children's Book Award from its inauguration in 1981... |
Older readers | 2005 | |
| Bolton Children's Book Award Bolton Children's Book Award The Bolton Children's Book Award is an annual award given to works of children's literature published in paperback during the previous year. The award is sponsored by Bolton Literacy Trust, The University of Bolton and Page Nation.-List of Prize Winners:... |
2005 | ||
| Medway Children's Book Award | 2005 | ||
| Bishop Luffa Children's Book Award | 2005 | ||
| Salford Children's Book Award | 2005 | ||
| Doncaster Children's Book Award | 2005 | ||
| Sakura Medal | 2007 | ||
| Richard and Judy Best Kids' Books | Fluent 12+ category | 2007 | |
| Kingston Young Readers Award | 2007 |