Book Review: I Am Weapon (previously published under the title Boy Nobody)

Title: I Am the Weapon (previously published under the title Boy Nobody)

Author: Allen Zadoff

Genre: YA thriller/action

Book Blurb: 

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, and moves on to the next target. 

When his own parents died of not-so-natural causes at the age of eleven, Boy Nobody found himself under the control of The Program, a shadowy government organization that uses brainwashed kids as counter-espionage operatives. But somewhere, deep inside Boy Nobody, is somebody: the boy he once was, the boy who wants normal things (like a real home, his parents back), a boy who wants out. And he just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's next mission.

Review:

What do you think about the new cover and title? Personally, I liked the title Boy Nobody more than I am the Weapon. Same goes with the book covers. But then again, who am I to judge? This is actually my second time reading this book...but since I first read it what seems like ages ago, I honestly don't remember much reading it the second time around.

Anyways...I'm just going to jump right into the review. I think the thing that jumps out at me the most is the writing style. The sentences are short, clipped and to the point. It conveys a sense of urgency. Kind of like the way I am writing right now. It's rare to find a sentence more than 20 words in the book. I think it suits the genre very well. If you've ever read any of the Jack Reacher books, then you'll know what I am talking about.

Alright--enough with the shorts sentences :-) Not much is given about the main character background wise. You learn that Zach (aka Mark, his undercover name for this novel) lost his parents at a young age and is recruited into the Program shortly after the death of his father. Aside from that, not much is given. I think that Zach is very mature, given his age (16) and often feel like he acts much older (except when he gets struck by Cupid's arrow upon meeting Samara, the mayor's daughter.) He notices a lot of details and the I enjoyed how the author explained the reasoning behind Zach's actions with his thoughts. (Yet another reason why I love reading 1st POV--I can see what's going on in the character's mind.) Sometimes Zach can seem kind of cold/distant, but as the story progresses, he gradually opens up.

Okay...that ending I did not see coming. Just when you think you know who the traitor is--PLOT TWIST! And then Zach's choices he made in response to the plot twist was even more shocking--but in a good way. Let me just say that I don't think anyone will see the ending coming the way it did.

There was a bit of chemistry right away between Zach and Samara, but I was impressed with how Samara handled herself; she kept a cool head and I enjoyed their romance since it was--I know this sounds kind of weird--calculated by both sides. It's a he-knows-that-she-knows-that-he-knows-that-she's-hiding-something sort of scenario. Definitely not your average YA love story. (Though I will admit there were a few cheesy lines that made my cringe, lol.)

The action was pretty much nonstop. Each chapter leaves you hanging. I guess if I could sum up this novel in one sentence, it would be: Alex Rider for a slightly older audience. So, basically if you like the Alex Rider series, I highly recommend you reading I Am the Weapon!

Rating: