This is the second instalment of my reviews on the CHERUB series, on ‘Class A’. (Note: as I will be reviewing the entire CHERUB series, certain elements of the reviews may seem similar.However, for each book I review, all sections (other than ‘background of CHERUB’) will be updated or rewritten.)
Previous Books (SPOILERS!)
’Class A’ is the second book in the CHERUB series. ‘The Recruit’ followed James Choke’s transformation into James Adams, the CHERUB agent. (His name was changed for security reasons.) He went through CHERUB’s basic training, and subsequently carried out one of the most exceptional debut missions in CHERUB history. It led to the awarding of the ‘navy shirt’ (a promotion), as well as boosting James’ reputation amongst the CHERUB mission organisers.
Background of CHERUB
‘CHERUB’ is the name of a secret British spy organisation. Its existence is kept secret from the taxpayers who fund it, because it is a completely unethical and lawbreaking organisation. It uses children as spies, for a very simple reason: adults will trust ‘innocent’ children. After all, a child can’t possibly be an undercover secret agent, because that’s completely unethical and lawbreaking, right?CHERUB employs only orphans, looking for those with an IQ in the top 1% of the population, and the
potential to develop extremely strong muscles and bones. Obviously, these children are almost impossible to find – and when a candidate is selected, they then have to go through rigorous character aptitude tests. And whilst a baby (with older siblings) would be cared for lovingly on CHERUB campus, agents must reach an age of 10 years (not even 9 years and 364 days!) to participate in the 100-day basic training course, and 10 years 4 months to be sent on a mission.
Plot
‘Class A’ is about James’ second mission, which he undertakes along with Kyle, Kerry, and Nicole. (All 3 of which are his good friends). They pose as the four adopted children of their mission controllers (Zara and Ewart Asker). Each of them must befriend one of the children of Keith Moore, a drugs baron.
In true fictional style, James manages to form a strong relationship not only with ‘Junior’ Moore, but Keith Moore himself. Back-street wrestling clubs cum cocaine distribution centres and a Miami car chase are thrown in for good measure. However, Muchamore manages it whilst keeping the reader interested in what’s going on, and managing to avoid going over-the-top, and writing a stereotypical novel.
I thought the structure of the book was excellent. Chapters are relatively short – a pet-hate of mine is a chapter that goes on for long enough to cover many different sub-plots, and so should really have been split into many chapters. The writer is careful not to write too much in any particular section of the book, so that you can get through it quite quickly – the first time I read the book, I got through it in a single night, of around 8 hours reading time (starting from the afternoon).
Another of my pet-hates is the phrase ‘I couldn’t put it down’.
However, I must say that every book in the CHERUB series is so well structured that you will be hard-pressed to find a point to stop reading. The shorter chapters have a bizarre effect, almost making you feel like you’ve read less than you really have.
Characters
The relationship between James and Kerry is stretched and strengthened, leaving their friends wondering when (not ‘if’) the two will form a romantic relationship. Of particular interest to me was the relationship between James and ‘Junior’ (Keith Moore’s son). Whilst the other agents are forming false relationships with their target for the sake of the mission, James actually becomes very good friends with Junior. The two of them have so much in common, and later on in the series, (a very changed Junior appears in ‘Mad Dogs’), James starts to wonder (by observing Junior) what his life would have become, had he not been recruited by CHERUB.James Adams continues his starring role as ‘flawed human’, and although he is becoming less violent, the occasional speak-before-thinking stupid outburst isn’t beyond him. His bond with his half-sister Lauren is already starting to strengthen – by the end of the series the two are like best friends.
Keith Moore is another curiosity. He is the ‘bad guy’ they have to catch, but he isn’t a villain. He is kind-hearted and good natured, and a family man. When he realises that the police are closing on him, he pours all of his money into savings accounts for his children, before ‘doing a runner’. He even treats James and Junior to a week of fun in Miami, and sometimes James sees him as the loving father he never had.
CHERUB features a wide array of characters. Muchamore decided to avoid as many stereotypes as he could, so the characters are unique and interesting. As aforementioned, the ‘bad guys’ aren’t rotten to the core, and the ‘good guys’ aren’t knights in shining armour.
The World of CHERUB
Muchamore creates a unique environment on CHERUB campus. He considers everything from buildings to uniform, and often the characters spend half of the novel on-campus.
CHERUB campus features a wide range of buildings, the purposes of which range from education, to martial arts training, to mission control. It is quite fun to read about all of the different buildings and their purposes on the CHERUB website.
T-shirts were a very interesting way of creating ranks within CHERUB. Orange T-shirts are worn by all visitors, whether they are aged four, or aged forty. Under-10s (and all over-10s yet to pass basic training) wear red shirts, and those in basic training wear blue. Once you are a qualified agent, you get a grey T-shirt. From here it gets interesting, as the next T-shirts are used as promotions. Navy is for an outstanding performance on a mission, and black is the ultimate reward for a high-class, consistent agent.
The staff (white T-shirts) ranges from those who are understanding and kind-hearted, to those who are unjust and sadistic (seriously!). They all have one thing in common: discipline.
The basic training instructors are by far the most colourful characters, and throughout the series there are some interesting exercises which they supervise. In ‘Class A’, James is sent on a mid-holiday training exercise, which he fails with flying colours, leading to his (hilarious) subjection to Norman Large, the ‘sadistic’, sarcastic, training instructor.
Author
Muchamore doesn’t control tension with the style of a classic writer, but he does a fairly good job. I would give him a 4/5 rating in terms of skill – he uses a wide vocabulary and structures the plot well, as well as keeping the ‘tension-o-meter’ at a varying rate, so that you can take a break from the suspense, or be lulled into a false sense of security.In terms of revealing information, Muchamore does a very good job. He is able to keep the reader hooked through their desire to find out what happens next, but is careful not to reveal too much. This keeps the reader interested in the character’s development throughout the entire series.
Target Audience
In ‘Class A’, the number of swear words can be counted on one hand, and there are little or no sexual references. However, the general theme of the book is quite mature, and for this reason, I would interpret the book’s
’not suitable for younger readers’ tag as applying to all those who are not teenagers. Although some books are appropriate for those with a
reading age of 13, this book is only appropriate for those with a
real age of 13. Furthermore, I’d say that this book is
only for teenagers, in that adults would not enjoy the book, or be able to relate to any of the characters.
It really does surprise me, to realise how many teenagers I know have started reading novels from experiencing Muchamore. Although I wouldn’t place Muchamore himself as a top tier writer, his stories and characters are in the top tier of writing. I would suggest starting out with ‘The Recruit’, and if you like it, you should purchase the entire series. That’s because once you start the series, you will want to know what happens to the characters at the end.
The Sequel which Set the Series In Motion 
