Higson, Charlie. SILVERFIN

Higson, Charlie.
SILVERFIN
New York : Hyperion Books for Children, 2005

The story opens in highlands of Scotland as a local boy, Alfie is sneaking onto the new laird's reserve to fish. There is something strange and very unpleasant about the new laird, and Alfie knows he better not get caught. While fishing he falls into the water and is overwhelmed, and then pulled under by large, very aggressive eels. The story then moves to a prestigious boy’s school and one of its newest students, a young James Bond. He is soon picked out for some vicious harassment by another new student, George Hellebore and his followers, but finds ways to deal with it. After all, he IS the young James Bond. Home for the holidays with his Scottish aunt, who of course lives near the nasty laird with the fishing pond full of eels, James befriends a boy who has come home to look for his young cousin, Alfie, who went fishing one day, and never came back. The story rumbles to an edgy climax as James and his friend Red tackle the nasty laird who is none other than the father of James’ school nemesis. Full of action and intrigue with a few surprises thrown in, this is a sure hit for your male readers. Book 1 in the Young Bond series. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)