Alex Rider Book #8: Crocodile Tears
Phew! I just finished Anthony Horowitz's Crocodile Tears, book 8 in the Alex Rider series, and I kinda feel like I need a minute to catch my breath. One of my favorite things in the world is a book that you literally just can't put down, no matter how inconvenient that might be. . . and after spending a couple days trying, only partially successfully, to navigate life with my head buried in Crocodile Tears, I can say with confidence that it fits that description to a T. (You try making and eating breakfast with one hand, without taking your eyes of the pages of a book! Try getting out your wallet, pulling out your subway card, and getting on a crowded train. Not easy.)
Alex Rider has been around for a while, and it's a wildly popular series — #1 New York Times bestseller, big movie a few years ago — so I'll just give a quick recap of the premise. Alex is a 14 year-old British kid who comes from a family of spies. MI6, the British version of the CIA, recruits him for various James Bond-y missions around the world. Things blow up, Alex narrowly escapes horribly dangerous situations, a bad guy gets what's coming to him. It's nothing you haven't seen or read before, and Crocodile Tears is guilty of ripping off a bunch of spy novels for its plot, which involves a phony charity and the dangers of toying with genetic engineering. But really, who cares if it's all a little derivative? When you pick up an Alex Rider book, you want to get caught up in a dense and fast paced thriller; you want to read about sweet gadgets; you want to ride through a bunch of tense, action-packed chase scenes. Crocodile Tears delivers the goods. I don't know how Anthony Horowitz comes up with all these awesome set pieces (the first big one, involving a car and a lake, is absolutely terrifying), but you almost start to feel bad for Alex after all the scrapes his author puts him through.
Of course, the payoff is explosive (literally) and very satisfying. If you've got a couple days during which walking around only partially aware of your surroundings won't be a big issue, I highly recommend that you pick up Crocodile Tears. But be warned, once you start it, you won't want to put it down!
Have you read it? If so, what did you bump into? Let me know in the comments! If you like this author, you should also check out his other series The Gatekeepers.
— Jack, STACKS Writer
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Comment #1 | Posted by: 24523094 on March 24, 2010 at 09:17 AM
Sounds like a boring book but I am going to my cousin's birthday party today. Request to be my friend!
Comment #2 | Posted by: ya-ya girl on March 24, 2010 at 01:14 PM
This is the best book EVER! Who doesn't want to be a spy like Alex. I love the whole series, each one justs gets better!
Comment #3 | Posted by: Lizzy on March 24, 2010 at 08:20 PM
I loved this book! It was one of my favorites of the series. I can't wait for the rest!
Comment #4 | Posted by: harrypotterfan17 on March 24, 2010 at 09:31 PM
hello everyone!!!!!!!!
Comment #5 | Posted by: moti on March 25, 2010 at 09:59 AM
really good series. kind of violent though
Comment #6 | Posted by: rachel on March 25, 2010 at 05:13 PM
I LOVE THESE BOOKS!!!! I guess they rip off some stuff, but this was the frist spy series I ever read, so it was new to me. After reading some other spy stuff, this is definitely the best. Alex is an amazing hero; he's humble and strong and just amazing! It's not a boring book! Both guys and girls can love these books. Even though there's a lot of explosions/action (which is good but some people think it would get boring after a while) it's NOT boring because it describes all of Alex's emotions. It's not only adventure, but mystery as well. You try to figure out who is good, who is bad, and along the way Alex comes to terms with his own "good"ness and "bad"ness (Scorpia totally freaked me out!). Some people don't like that he doesn't have many friends, but I think it's awesome that the author shows this reality of a spy's life: making friends can be dangerous and difficult when you're a spy. One of my favorite things about these books are the completely insane villians. Who doesn't love a well-written villian? Especially in Crocodile Tears, the bad guys come up with terrifying, heartwrenching means of torture. And even though the whole take-over-the-world thing might seem cliche, it's astounding to me every time how far one powerful man will go. I guess the best part of Alex Rider is the suspense. And the creativity. And the fact that Alex is a totally awesome guy. And...well, everything. I saw someone carrying Point Blank at school today, and I was all like, "I LOVE THOSE BOOKS!" Anyway, these are just awesome and Crocodile Tears is one of the best! Breathtaking!
Comment #7 | Posted by: BronzeKnife1 on March 26, 2010 at 05:55 PM
alex rider is so boring
Comment #8 | Posted by: keturah on March 27, 2010 at 03:36 PM
its soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment #9 | Posted by: mary on April 02, 2010 at 03:35 AM
i love alex rider but in graphic novs
Comment #10 | Posted by: r on April 02, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Totally with you bronzeknife1. I absolutely love the series and crocodile tears.... I can't think of how to describe it. Scorpia is freaky and I have to admit Snakehead, this book, and Eagle strike are the best, but even deciding is hard with this series. People, if you haven't already you should definately read the series.
Comment #11 | Posted by: Inkdreamer on April 02, 2010 at 03:00 PM
I really liked eagle strike nd sneak head 2 can't wait to read crocidile tears hope they make more Alex rider books
Comment #12 | Posted by: hhhhhhhi on April 22, 2010 at 10:23 PM
I read this and think its the worst Alex Rider book, its a copy of james Bond books, Alex is playing cards in a tux and of course he wins.
I use to love this series but its got lame. I now like the Cherub series and Jason Steed.
Comment #13 | Posted by: ipodboy on May 11, 2010 at 10:05 PM
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Comment #14 | Posted by: Ethan on May 12, 2010 at 07:35 PM
These books are awesome. I read the first book and thought, "I have to read this series in order. or it won't be good" And I did. From Storm Breaker to Crocodile Tears. It's the most thrilling series I've ever read. I hope there's a new book! I just can't wait to read it!!!
Comment #15 | Posted by: Awesomeness on May 12, 2010 at 09:35 PM
ALEX
Rider
is
A
Very good book
considering all the action and violence it makes a very interesting book about a very clever teen.
Comment #16 | Posted by: Josh on May 28, 2010 at 10:37 AM
I thought the was but campared to my favorite book The Dangerous Days of Daniel X its only an adequete choice for a book.
Comment #17 | Posted by: hijack550 on May 28, 2010 at 10:41 AM
BEST BOOKS EVER
!!!!
Sure, they SOUND cliche, but Horrowitz makes up for it with his writing style that makes all his books so exciting.
Best AR books: Eagle Strike, Scorpia, and Ark Angel. <3
Comment #18 | Posted by: J.M. on June 20, 2010 at 04:35 PM
I have only read the first three books and I totally LLLOOOVVVEEE it! It`s a mind blowing,explosive,can`t put the book down as I start reading it book.If your reading this I really recomennd you this is a good series. And I can`t wait to read the rest!
Comment #19 | Posted by: 2010musican on December 28, 2010 at 01:53 PM
crocodile tears is awesome!!!
Comment #20 | Posted by: ssssssssuuuuuuuup on October 25, 2012 at 01:48 AM