
21% Monster
by P. J. Canning
Interest age: 12 to 14
Reading age: 10+
Published by Usborne, 2022
About this book
When 12-year-old Darren destroys his school with his bare hands, he is arrested and sent to a high-security juvenile prison. Here he is ‘rescued’ by Marek, who claims to be 19% alien and reveals that Darren is 21% monster. Marek explains that they were both created through Project Helix, a series of experiments conducted by secret organisation XSP, which modified human DNA to increase the strength and intelligence of the next generation. When 49 children died, Project Helix was shut down, and now XSP want to destroy all the evidence – including Darren and Marek.
The boys are very different: while Marek is logical and an intellectual genius, Darren is fast, strong and has exceptional instincts. They must combine their incredible, superhuman skills and work as a team if they are to stay one step ahead of the ruthless XSP agents, who will not stop until the boys are eliminated.
This action-packed science-fiction adventure is the first in what promises to be a thrilling series and will have readers on the edge of their seats. With extraordinary characters and some awesome futuristic technology, this gripping tale is sure to appeal to fans of Alex Rider and Percy Jackson.
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Lists of recommended reads
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Thrillers for aged 9 and older
Adventure, high stakes, much peril and non-stop action – what's not to love?