Henderson's Boys: The Escape: Book 1

I was a bit puzzled as I read a good portion of this book and had not yet met Henderson - I kept thinking, "Where is he? Isn't he a key character?"By the time Henderson came on the scene (more than halfway through - though his name does pop up early in the book), I better understood what the author had done for the first half of the book. His careful construction of the lives and stories of siblings Rosie and Paul (children of British spy Digby Clarke), and also the parallel story of Marc (a 12-year-old who escapes from an orphanage) does a fantastic job of painting a shockingly realistic portrait of not only the children and their lives and losses during the German's mad rush forward into Paris, but also the suffering and starving French soldiers and the brutality of the German (particularly the Gestapo) officers. There are many well-detailed examples of injured and exhausted refugees, bombs devastating cafes where people drinking a cup of coffee are sometimes killed by buildings collapsing and catching fire. The author does not shy away from death or telling the truth of how awful war is.At the same time, the creativity and spunk of the children is inspiring (I loved Paul's drawings), and when Henderson meets up with Marc and then brings the three children together with him, his clever ideas to outwit the Germans and keep himself and the children alive kept my eyes glued to the page. The children all are forced into growing up in a hurry as they learn that sometimes you have to kill in order to survive. A very powerful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with a somewhat painful cliff-hanger ending that will make you wish you didn't have to wait for the next book in the series.

I enjoyed the book very much

This book is almost 5 stars, I must admit I loved it, and it came close to being better than Fledgling Jason Steed, but not quite. I think its better than Robert Muchamores Cherubs series. You learn so much about history that makes it brilliant.The story brings 2 charactes togther over the course of the book.So why only 4 stars and not 5? Well Robert Muchamore did the same thing he did with Cherub, the same thing that Horowitz did with Alex Rider, The same thing they did with Young James Bond, Tom sawyer, Oliver Twist. They made all the children characters Orphans. It started in an Orphanage so I was thinkg, "here we gao another orphan" Then another two kids had a dad, but the mother was already dead, a few more page and now there dad was dead so now they are also Orphans.Why are most of the young adult books written about orphans, its pathetic. Can't tehy write a story without an orphan? Any back to the book, its a really good read.

Fast paced adventure series dealing with world war 2. Children outwitting German spies in France after the German invasion.This , The Escape, is the first in the series. Very much looking forward to reading all. One note is that Amazon has it as suitablefor age 12 and up. Some of the action involves some violent killings. I would say more suitable for older children, maybe 16 or 17and up.

Robert Muchamore's books are great adventure tales. I have enjoyed all of the Cherub series and now enjoyed the first in this new series which tells the story of the beginnings of the Cherub spy group of kids. I am looking forward to the next title in this series and also in the Cherub series. I will purchase them from Europe even though it is more expensive because I cannot wait!!

Great book and great detail in the greman war times and keen to read the next I hope the next is as good

Robert Muchamore the second best writer that I have read in my hole (after the Percy Jackson books) life has serious over did this this book is great for everyone.

I bought this book for my fifth-grade son, but took the precaution of reading it before letting my son see it. The story has a fair amount of history (set in 1940 France, as the Nazis invade) and action, but in the end, it had too much crudeness and profanity for me to let him read it.I don't see the need in my own life to use curse words and vulgarities in communicating, and don't want my child to think that is all right by letting him read this series of books. Too bad, there's a need for action books for children, just not this one.

Very good.

Just as addictive as his top secret series, but for older children. My daughter (13yrs), read it and was prepared for the storyline as she had read all top secret books, one after the other, a few months ago. This time the violence affects some of the leading characters, which she found more challenging to cope with. Having said that the action races over the pages and the book is hard to put down. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed it and is waiting for the next one.

What a way to kick off a series. This book has a tension filled journey across France. A totally thrilling, spectacular book, this is a real page turner. If you've read any other of Muchamore's works (CHERUB), you'll find this to be so much better. His other books often lack in the plot area and make up in the action. This doesn't follow his regular rhythm. It has a strong, if a little tough to believe at times, plot, which is balanced with the action.

Pretty good bit gory , action pact and sad. Can't wait to read the next book on the kindleI hope the next book is as good!

Having been reading the CHERUB series I decided to try Robert Muchamore's other series which starts with this book The Escape. This series is as good as the CHERUB novels. The story focuses around French orphan Marc Kilgour as he becomes tangled up in the affairs of English spy Charles Henderson. The plot is so good and Robert Muchamore certainly has not made this series seem second best to CHERUB.