I'm not a fan of action flicks. My idea of a great movie isn't watching things blow up or seeing two guys beat each other to a pulp. I need depth, a story, and characters that are three dimensional that I can root for in my action movies such as the Bourne series, which sucks me in regardless of how many times I've watched the series. Boy Nobody, a new edge-of-your-seat thriller series by Allen Zadoff reminded me of good, quality action films. I had a really hard time putting Boy Nobody down and I think a lot of readers will have the same problem. Many thanks to Little, Brown for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of the book. If you're interested, you can enter the giveaway for the ARC at the end of my review.

Description:  They needed the perfect assassin.

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 a 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, moving on to the next target.

But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.

Review: An unnamed teen assassin saw the life of his father ripped away by a close friend when he was 12. Since then, he's been under the employ of "Mother" and "Father," the heads of an organization called "The Program" that uses children as hired killers. Boy Nobody is one of the best assassins "The Program" has ever seen. He is distant from his marks, only building relationships with them so can manipulate the situation to his benefit. He is also professional and always finishes the job smoothly and cleanly without a mess. The killings all have low levels of blood and gore and usually look like accidents so he can escape the scene without any suspicion. He completes his missions with no questions asked and then waits for his next job.
  "Mother" and "Father" have tapped him with a new job: killing the mayor of New York City. A simple job quickly gets complicated when he develops feelings for the mayor's daughter. Instead of relying on the cliched romance, Zadoff emphasizes Boy Nobody's lack of a real life, particularly the void of human interaction and affection. When the mayor and the mayor's daughter actually feel like people to him, Boy Nobody begins to ask questions about his origins and how he has lead to The Program.
   Zadoff's chapters are short, to-the-point, and almost always ends of the height of action, mirroring the narrative voice of his protagonist. I had a very hard time finding a spot to put down the book. His nameless, tough-as-nails lead character has just the right balance of cunning, heart and conscience to win my respect and admiration. The plot speeds along seamlessly with plenty of action and drama. I was delighted to find some twist and turns that surprised me, especially how the book ends. I can't wait to share this book with my male teens who are always on the lookout for a great read that isn't derailed by an overwhelming romance plot thread. I would even recommend this one to reluctant readers as the neck-breaking action will surely keep them turning pages. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series, which I hope comes out soon.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, sexual innuendo, underage drinking, and PG-13 violence. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier, Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum