Stormbreaker

Story

When fourteen-year-old Alex loses his beloved uncle in a crash, he questions whether it really was an accident. Bullet holes in the windshield? Alex knows it was no accident and he is determined to find out the truth! Follow Alex on his journey to outsmart the very people who wanted his uncle dead. The future of every child in England could be at stake if he fails…

Why we chose it

A action packed thriller introducing a reluctant but talented teenage spy, with all the elements of a classic spy story - a resourceful hero, an ingeniously evil plot to thwart, exciting gadgets, undercover operations and the carefully engineered suspense building to a thrilling finale

Where it came from

Anthony Horowitz is a screenwriter and novelist writing for both adults and children. He was a storyteller from a very early age, telling stories in the dormitory at boarding school about two boys who escape from school and have adventures all over the world. The inspiration for Alex Rider, his teenage secret agent, came from James Bond and the impact James Bond stories had on him growing up. He wanted to reinvent the stories through the eyes of a fourteen-year-old.

Where it went next

Following the success of Stormbreaker, further Alex Rider stories followed.

Stormbreaker was adapted by Horowitz into a movie that was released worldwide in 2006.

Associated stories

There are currently eleven books in the Alex Rider series, including Point Blanc, Skeleton Key, Eagle Strike and Snakehead which was shortlisted for the 2002 Booktrust Teenage Prize. Horowitz has also written the Power of Five series and the Diamond Brothers series.

Anthony Horowitz was photographed as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for the Story Museum’s 26 Characters exhibition.

Find the photograph of Anthony Horowitz dressed as Jekyll - and Hyde - in our 26 Characters gallery.