Danny Watts's grandfather, Fergus, was a traitor. One of the worst sort. An SAS explosives expert who betrayed his country and his regiment for money. Drug money. He was arrested and left to rot and die in a Columbian jail. At least, that's what seventeen year-old Danny is told when his hopes of becoming a soldier are destroyed for ever. But he knows something the army doesn't seem to know. Fergus Watts is alive and in the UK, living in secret under an assumed name - but where? Fergus is Danny's only living relative. Burning with fury and desire for revenge, Danny sets out to track down his grandfather and expose him. In doing so he sets in train an explosive sequence of events which throw Danny and Fergus together on the run from the people who want Fergus, and now Danny, dead. Packed with breathtaking action, SAS procedures, surveillance and survival techniques, this is a fast-moving, action-packed thriller for teenagers. There will be several books in the BOY SOLDIER sequence. TV rights have been sold to Zenith, makers of Inspector Morse, Hamish McBeth and Byker Grove.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Andy McNab joined the infantry as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was 'badged' as a member of 22 SAS Regiment and was involved in both covert and overt special operations worldwide. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever'. Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS in February 1993. He wrote about his experiences in two phenomenal bestsellers, Bravo Two Zero, which was filmed in 1998 starring Sean Bean, and Immediate Action. He is the author of the bestselling novels, Remote Control, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light, Liberation Day and Dark Winter. Besides his writing work, he lectures to security and intelligence agencies in both the USA and UK. Robert Rigby began his career as a journalist, then spent several years in the music business as a songwriter and session musician. He turned to writing for radio, television and the theatre and has also directed and performed in children's theatre throughout the country. He has become an established young people's playwright and his award-winning work with youth theatre companies has been seen in Britain, Europe, the USA and Africa. He now works mainly in television and his scripts include the long-running BBC children's drama series Byker Grove.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Andy McNab was probably the technical advisor,
By
This review is from: Boy Soldier (Hardcover)
Having read all of Andy McNab's "Nick Stone" novels, I thought I'd try this YA book and ordered it from amazon.co.uk. I didn't see it in the bookstores here (though the third book in the series TRAITOR is on sale).
The story surrounds 17-yr-old Danny Watts's tracking down of his grandfather, Fergus Watts, whom he has never seen. Both of Danny's parents were killed in a car accident, so he was sent from foster home to foster home thinking he had no living relatives to take him in and care for him. When Danny tries to enlist in the army, he is denied acceptance. He learns his grandfather was a member of the elite SAS and a war hero, who turned traitor for drug money when he was serving in Columbia training their military, was shot and imprisoned, and then escaped to no one knows where. Full of anger, Danny is determined to find him. He is helped along the way by his computer wiz friend Elena who also lives at Foxcroft, a London home for orphans. Danny sets out to find Fergus, not knowing that he is being followed by some very dangerous people who also want to find Fergus and kill him. He meets his grandfather for the first time and that's when the action begins. I think the book was mostly written by co-author Robert Rigby with technical assistance and name recognition from Andy McNab. If you've read any of McNab's other books, you'll know that they are full of military terms and "letters," as is this one. By that I mean, there are abbreviations for many things and they are used a lot: ERV = emergency rendezvous; FOB = forward operating base; Recce = reconnaissance, etc. This, I think, is where McNab came in. Fortunately, there is a glossary at the beginning of the book to help the reader understand what's being said by the characters. I don't agree with the previous reviewer. It is still a good story in the vein of McNab's adult thrillers, but toned down for the YA audience. For those who are looking for another Alex Rider type of action/techno-gizmo yarn, you'll be disappointed. There are chases and shootings and bloody parts, but nothing like the James Bond special effects books about Alex Rider, though I do like Horowitz's novels.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Boy Soldier/Traitor,
This review is from: Boy Soldier (Hardcover)
They are the same books under different names (and I bought both!). It is obvious that Mcnab did not really 'write' this one as there are some obvious mistakes such as describing an MP5 as an 'automatic machine gun', which irritates the hell out of me. One does not find the usual high quality material that is associated with the 'Nick Stone' series. Most of the SAS MO is old had have been seen elsewhere. The plot is somwwhat anemic and it appears that Danny manages to screw up just so that there is some shooting. I am personally quite dissapointed with this new series.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting, fast, and intresting,
By
This review is from: Boy Soldier (Hardcover)
This was a good book. Action from page 2 (and I am an adult!) a treal page turner. With a lot of information on how to do survilance in towns, how to pick a observation post, spot if you are under survelilance (and who amonge the younger teenagers do not what to know...?). Maybe a littel bit on the techical side and to littel on the content side, but then I have never seen this kinde of information in a book before. I recomed this book for youngsters you like to read action books like Alex Rider but would like more information, and less action.
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