How Alex Rider Shaped My Childhood

By: Gabriel Pedro

When I was in the 5th grade, I remember that every day we went to the library I would look all over the shelves for the new issue of Alex Rider. In my opinion, Alex Rider Point Blanc is still to this day one of the best spy thriller novels I have ever read. The narrative world building is unparalleled, and the motivation. Point Blanc is the second book in the series, right after Stormbreaker, another masterpiece. In this novel, Alex Rider, the main protagonist, a fourteen year old boy turned spy after his fathers death, is once again recruited by MI6. Reluctantly agreeing, Alex is sent on a mission to investigate the cause of death of two Russian oligarchs who died in mysterious accidents. The only link between these deaths are their sons, who began acting erratically after attending Point Blank, an ultra exclusive academy in the french alps. This is supposed to be a school to straighten out the bad boys of rich families through tough programmes and discipline. Infiltrating the school as Alex Friend, the son of a wealthy supermarket mogul, Alex discovers the complex scheme, codenamed Project Gemini. This novel is packed with action scenes, incredible story telling, and characters which are both extraordinarily written yet still believable. As a cherry on top, the art style is crisp and refreshing, a break from most of the oversaturated and infantilized styles common to find in these novels. 

This novel opened my eyes to graphic novels and complex criminal thrillers and action stories that went to shape my reading habits In the future.  It made me start enjoying the spy genre, and I started seeking out more novels that were  packed with action and suspense. After Alex Rider, I also watched more spy movies like Jason Bourne and Mission Impossible. I also started reading Tin Tin, which to this day also remains one of my favorite comics. Like Alex, Tin Tin also uses his cunning and wit to escape tough situations, often by manipulating his opponents into thinking he is cornered, or was dealt a bad hand. This book is the reason I grew to enjoy these action packed spy books and movies today. Alex Rider is not just a small book. It is a massive franchise grown over the years. The book series is quite large, having 14 books in total, and many short stories as well as the graphic novel adaptations I read. The story is a fan favorite, so much so that it was adapted into a movie in 2006, and a recent live action TV series. These adaptations were praised by the persistent fanbase of this book, proving that this book also had an impact on other people as well. The franchise shows that the series has a powerful impact on people, and how even over the years it maintains its relevance. Additionally, Alex Rider balances entertainment with education. It teaches the reader about political tensions, government organizations, and contextualizes the spectator on the current issues worldwide. Alex Rider also teaches a few important life lessons to younger audiences. Resourcefulness and intelligence win over brute force, and more importantly, skepticism of authority, teaching that not all your superiors necessarily have your best interest in mind. Overall, I recommend this novel to people of all ages and demographics. If you enjoy action and suspense, the Alex Rider series is a must read.