School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-10-Alex Rider, the 14-year-old spy and adventurer from Stormbreaker (2001), Point Blank (2002), Skeleton Key (2003), and Eagle Strike (2004, all Philomel), is back. While vacationing in Italy, he is recruited by the deadliest terrorist organization in the world, Scorpia, away from the world of M16, a British secret intelligence organization. Through a web of lies and deceit, Alex is persuaded to assassinate the deputy head of M16, a former friend and supervisor, while Scorpia plans a secret mission that will kill hundreds of thousands of British children in the blink of an eye. Missing his target and captured by M16, Rider is sent back into Scorpia, but this time as a spy. It is only with the teen's help that M16 can stop the organization's vicious threat. Of course, Alex Rider saves the day, but not without psychological mind gaming and fighting that will bring readers to the edge of their seats and keep them there until the final page. These titles are perfect for James Bond wannabes and reluctant readers. No prior knowledge of the previous books is necessary, as Horowitz drops clues from previous adventures.-Delia Fritz, Mercersburg Academy, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The fifth entry in the Alex Rider Adventure series by Anthony Horowitz, Scorpia follows 14-year-old Alex to Italy, after he learns that his father was an assassin for a criminal organization, and the teen gets swept up in a murderous scheme of his own. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
In this fifth book of the series, Alex must confront more ghosts from his past, following leads that he hopes will take him to the truth about his father. With fast pacing and some tough choices for Alex, Scorpia lives up to the reputation for adventure and suspense that Horowitz has built for himself. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 8-11. In the fifth book in the exciting series that began with Stormbreaker (2001), Alex Rider, a teenage James Bond, infiltrates Scorpia, a terrorist organization which has accepted a contract from a Middle Easterner who wishes to humble Britain and the U.S and to ensure they cease to work together as a world power. Searching for the truth of his father's death, Alex finds himself in the middle of a terrifying plot he cannot condone: to kill all 12- and 13-year-old British children. Fourteen-year-old Alex goes from thrilling adventure to improbable escape one quick-turning page after the other. High-tech and low-tech machinations will rivet readers, who will be anxious to learn if Scorpia can carry out its terrorist plan and who really killed Alex's father. This stands alone, but it will leave teens clamoring for the rest of the series. One book, and they'll be hooked. --Frances Bradburn Copyright 2005 Booklist