cover image SILVERFIN

SILVERFIN

Charles Higson, . . Hyperion/Miramax, $16.95 (352pp) ISBN 978-0-7868-3661-1

Unlike its grown-up hero, this first installment in the Young Bond series commissioned by Ian Fleming's estate, is not quite sure what it wants to be. The opener feels just like one for the adult 007, with a spine-tingling scene of a boy grappling with eels and a human (or is it?) eel-like entity. But then the book shifts into a standard English boarding school tale, set in Great Britain between the world wars. Readers follow 13-year-old James through his initiation at Eton and observe him at running and swimming practice where he develops skills that come in handy 200 pages later. The teen bests a bully—George Hellebore—in a cross-country race, making a mortal enemy of him. Then James is off to Scotland to visit his aunt and Uncle Max, an ex-spy himself. Who should turn up but George, whose father has inherited a nearby castle. Lord Hellebore is an arms merchant with tight security around his property, situated on Loch SilverFin, named for a vicious creature from Scottish lore. When a local boy goes fishing there and never returns (the one from the opening scene), James sneaks in to investigate. Higson's (Getting Rid of Mister Kitchen ) pace quickens as the hero wriggles out of one brush with death after another. Many not-for-the-squeamish moments will likely appeal to middle-grade boys. Sadly, there's no hint of the bon vivant James later becomes, but there is a blond, green-eyed beauty named Wilder Lawless who comes to his rescue on horseback. The steed's name? Martini. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)