Double or Die by Charlie Higson

This quarter I read the book Double or Die by Charlie Higson, and it was amazing. It is about
James Bond when he was 13 year old in 1930’s. This is the third book in the series. It starts with James
Bond and his friend in their dorm room in Eton, a fancy school in London. James’ friend gets a letter
from Prof. Fairburn, who is in charge of a crossword club, and the letter is odd because there are a lot of
mistakes. Together, and with the help of a few other people they meet, they try to put clues together from
the errors in the letter. They have to try to find Prof. Fairburn soon before too late. While searching for
the professor James goes to the Royal College of Surgeons and sees some disgusting medical anomalies.
He also gambles, meets a tramp named Theo, maims a man horribly, and gets drunk forcibly. Will James
find Professor Fairburn? Or will he lose everything?
My favorite part of this 382 page book is when James finds himself in an illegal casino
and he has to lay a bet while playing roulette.
“The croupier prepared to spin the wheel, and at the last moment
James leaned over and slid his chips along the table to number seven.
His own lucky number.
The wheel spun, the ball was rolled, it whizzed around the rim, dropping slowly, ever so slowly,
then it caught the slots and bounced across, rattling and jumping in all directions. It seemed to rest for a
moment in one slot only to jump out again a moment later and hop across the wheel to another.
James was sweating. He was aware of nothing else in the except this one tiny object the silver
ball as it danced around the wheel.
He had no idea if the band was still playing, even if there was anyone else in the casino. It was
just him and the roulette wheel.
He could bear it no more. He closed his eyes, just as the ball stopped making any sound. There
was a brief hush then a cheer went up, and James opened his eyes.
The ball was nestling snugly in the number seven slot.” I like this part because it kind of gives
background to why James Bond gambles and he is 007. It is also very intense. VOYA said, “The mystery
turns to high action-adventure with danger at every corner...” Charlie Higson has five books in the Young
Bond series, as well as Enemy series. He has also written King of the Ants, Happy Now, Full Whack,
Getting Rid of Mister Kitchen, and Monstroso. The only one of his books that won any awards is Blood
Fever, which won the Blue Peter Book Award, but I think Double or Die should have won the awesome
award. I think this book is a lot like any of the Alex Rider books because it is in London. There is also a
bad guy, which James has to fight. Charlie Higson is like Anthony Horowitz because he writes teenage
spy books and that is pretty close to what this book is. I loved every part of this book. This book is for 13-
17 year old. I like how they show James Bond as smart, adventurous, and brave, instead of strong and
having gadgets. I couldn’t find any quotes from a famous author about this book. This book is stupendous
and if you don’t read it you are missing out.

Recommended by Carl Schneider