Bond. James Bond. Did you ever wonder how James became a super Scottish spy?
James has just begun school at the prestigious boy’s school Eton College. He is used to being home schooled and he finds the rules, regulations and traditions, restrictive and sometimes ridiculous. The stiff uncomfortable uniform isn’t welcome either. He makes a few friends, but inevitably at a boy’s boarding school he also makes an enemy.
George Hellebore is the son of wealthy American Randolph Hellebore, who made his money selling weapons during WWI. George revels in humiliating James when he can, but always with two other students to back him up. James does his best to avoid him, but when he shows George up in front of his macho, win-at-all-costs, father, George is out for blood.
Luckily, the school holidays are coming and James returns to Scotland where he has spent many years off and on with his Aunt Charmian. To his surprise he learns that George Hellebore and his father now live nearby in a renovated castle on the edge of a famous Loch called Silverfin.
On the train home, James has met a Cockney boy called Red. He has come to Scotland to help look for his younger cousin Alfie, who has gone missing in the area. Together, James and Red investigate, and along with a local girl called Wilder and her black horse, they are quickly swept up in a death-defying mission to find Alfie, and expose Randolph Hellebore’s true purpose at Castle Hellebore.
James’ courage builds along the way as he scales buildings, navigates tunnels, drives like a demon and does what he thinks is right – no matter the danger.
Young Bond (1) Silverfin starts slowly as we get to know this quiet, polite boy called James. He always introduces himself as Bond. James Bond – even from the age of 13 as he begins at Eton. Reserved he may be, but this future super spy has fire in his gut, which is easily stoked when prodded unfairly by bully George Hellebore.
James’ time back in Scotland introduces his love of cars, interest in a pretty girl, and all the danger he can handle, proving to himself that he is made of stern stuff. With family heartache deep in his bones, he has had to learn to be self-reliant, and Silverfin builds on that internal strength, which also builds his inner confidence.
After getting to know James, Silverfin steadily builds to a crescendo of action, fighting, dodging bullets, navigating escape routes, and learning the truly terrible truth about a missing boy.
The next book in this series is Blood Fever, revealing even more about James Bond before he began working for the British Secret Intelligence Service.
Author – Charlie Higson
Age – 10+
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(2012, Penguin Aust, Spies, Scotland, Castle, Series, Danger, Thrilling, Action, Science, Secrets, Eels, Tunnels, Boarding School, Fishing, Sports cars, Learning to drive, Bullies, Bullying, Crime, Grief, Historical, Wealth, Mystery)