Point Blank

Alex Rider #2

by Anthony Horowitz

Investigations into the "accidental" deaths of two of the world's most powerful men have revealed just one link: both had a son attending Point Blanc Academy — an exclusive school for rebellious rich kids, run by the sinister Dr Grief and set high on an isolated mountain peak in the French Alps. Armed only with a false ID and a new collection of brilliantly disguised gadgets, Alex must infiltrate the academy as a pupil and establish the truth about what is really happening there.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller, Action, Espionage

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2001

About the author

Anthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.

On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...

Reviews

[Clive Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story, I really love the Alex Rider and Jason Steed series.
If you want to escape read a teen spy novel. Anthony Horowitz is a brilliant author.
This book we see Alex go to Switzerland, where the worlds richest kids or kids or rich and important parents go to school but are brainwashed.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: After completing his first mission with MI6, teenage spy Alex Rider is sent on another quest: to discover the truth about Point Blank, a school for troubled youth. Posing as the son of a wealthy businessman, Alex goes to the school, only to be weirded out by what he sees. What secret could the director of Point Blank be hiding?

The Good: Anthony Horowitz's writing is great, as usual, and there was a real sense of menace and suspense throughout the novel.

The Bad: It could have used a little more action.

Content Concerns:
Sex: Alex leers at a teenage girl in a bikini, but only in a "PG" way; a brief reference to a man and woman who aren't married being in bed together.
Nudity: A teenage girl is said to be wearing a bikini more than once.
Language: Three or four uses of the h-word; one use of "bloody".
Violence: Two or three chapters of intense, but non-graphic, action; a gruesome operation is described, but doesn't actually happen.
Drugs: Smoking is referenced; Alex brings down a known drug dealer.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Creepy villain; more than one character almost dies; emotional intensity.

[Chris Horsefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came back to Point Blank after just watching the new TV series of Alex Rider staring Otto Farrant. The series starts off on book 2, Point Blanc its as if book 1, Stormbreaker never happened. If you get one that the TV series is good.
Point Blanc is a well constructed book, lots of action as our teen spy Alex Rider in the style of his rival Jason Steed gets to work uncovering a plot at an exclusive private school in the Alps.
I have read all 12 Alex Rider Books and the 7 Jason Steed books, both series are still up on my favourite lists, action, get away readable and real pager turners.
I would recommend Alex Rider Point Blanc for anyone 11 and older.

[Ryan Buckby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worst time to feel alone is when you're in a crowd.


I really enjoyed the second book in this series much more than i did the first one, it just stepped itself up from the first one. I now have more of an understanding of this world and the main character Alex Rider.

Plot: this book picks up a couple of months after the first book ended and Alex is trying to live a normal life and attend school, however this doesn't last long when MI6 needs his help and he is soon going undercover in a private school. This story went in a total different direction than i was expecting it to go in and i was honestly surprised. Anthony really knows how to write crazy good villains and it shows with the two main villains in this book because they are both all sorts of crazy and i would not like to face them myself.

The characters were more funnier, the plot was action packed and evolved for me since the first book and i'm thankful that happened. All the settings and and scenes went into more depth that i was wanting this story to have and man did the author deliver because it was brilliantly done.


I would love for Alex to have maybe two friends to help him with his adventures because its still one thing for me thats missing from this series and i hope in book three i get to see another person help Alex on his adventure.


I enjoyed this book, the ending of this book was crazy good and i know i didn't enjoy stormbreaker but this second book point blank really saved it for me and i will definitely continue on with this series after this strong second book.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this better than Stormbreaker, because the involvement of a 14-year old spy seemed more credible, but perhaps it just took a second book? Alex Rider is coerced to masquerade as a hell child of a magnate to enter a prestigious school, where miscreants are re-educated. When two parents die under unusual circumstances, MI6 decides something is wrong there. Alex is sent to a mountaintop in Switzerland, where he is basically on his own to discover what is rotten there and uncovers a devious plot by a sociopath. Addendum: Great murder at the beginning involving a holographic projection of an elevator in an empty shaft!!

[Rizwan Khalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

আলহামদুলিল্লাহ দুর্দান্ত একটা টানটান উত্তেজনার অ্যাকশনপ্যাকড রোমাঞ্চকর, গা ছমছমে রহস্যময়তায় মোড়া টিনেজ স্পাই থ্রিলার উপন্যাস দিয়ে ২০২২ সালের বই পড়ার খাতা খোলা হলো। সুলেখক অ্যান্থনি হরোউইৎযের 'অ্যালেক্স রাইডার' নামে কিশোরবয়স্ক ইয়াং অ্যাডাল্ট সিরিজ হলেও কাজের দিক থেকে যেকোন পরিণতমনস্ক অ্যাকশন থ্রিলার স্পাই সিরিজের থেকে কোনো অংশে কম না... অন্তত প্রথম দুটি উপন্যাস টানের উপর পড়ে ফেলে যা মনে হচ্ছে। 'স্টর্মব্রেকার' বেশ ভাল লেগেছিল, এবার 'পয়েন্ট ব্লাঙ্ক' আরো বেশি ভাল লাগলো। দ্বিতীয় উপন্যাসটি প্রথমটির চেয়ে অনেকদিক থেকেই ইমপ্রুভমেন্ট।

কেবল সার্বক্ষণিক অতিমাত্রার সিরিয়াস টোন কিছুটা কমিয়ে যদি মাঝেমধ্যে হালকা হিউমার আনা সম্ভব হতো! কিশোরকেন্দ্রিক সিরিজ এতোটা শুষ্কগম্ভীর হলে সুলিখিত উপন্যাস পড়তেও মাঝে মাঝে হাঁফ ধরে যায়।

[সালমান হক · Rating 4 out of 5]

টিনেজ উইজার্ড, ডেমিগড, ভ্যাম্পায়ার এসব এর কাহিনী পড়তে পড়তে আসলেও একটু বোরিং বোরিং লাগছিল। একটু রিয়েলিস্টিক কিছু পড়তে ইচ্ছে করছিল। তখন ই মনে হল পয়েন্ট ব্ল্যাংক এর কথা। আমাদের টিনেজ জেমস বন্ড। :)
এবং নিরাশ হতে হয়নি। বরং সিরিজটার প্রতি আগ্রহ আরো বহুগুণে বেড়ে গেল। বই এর শুরু থেকে শেষ -পুরোটা মনোযোগ ধরে রাখতে বাধ্য। আদর্শ স্পাই থ্রিলার। শুরুতে প্লট টা হয়ত তেমন কিছু মনে হবে না, কিন্তু একটু পরেই একদম মাথা ঘুরিয়ে দেয়ার মত প্লট বের হয়ে আসবে। লেখক আসলেই অনেক ভাল লেখেন।
একশন, স্পাই গ্যাজেট, ধাওয়া-ধাওয়ি মিলিয়ে পারফেক্ট একটা বই।

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that got me hooked on the Alex Rider series. Anthony Horrowitz was so clever in making up this story. How he made it sound realistic but I also think it was a bit science fiction-ish but I liked that about it. When a crazy scientist makes clones of himself and replaces sons of multimillionaires with them it sounds impossible right? But not for Anthony Horrowitz.

[Olivia Sussex]

anthony horowitz LOVES telling us the exact make and model of every single piece of machinery in his books and I love to not care

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The worst time to feel alone is when you're in a crowd.”

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roughly 2.25 to 2.5 stars

We are again with Alex Rider - teenage spy, but now he's equipped with annoying quips. Very reminiscent of Bond.

Alex is sent in to another scenario only he can do. We meet some very annoying and spoilt teenagers prior to Alex being deployed. If you can call it that.

This book had slightly better descriptions, no character growth, and yet again side characters are just there to fill the gaps. There was a slower pace and the villain was very predictable.

The ending left a big question unanswered. All of Alex's intel is stumbled on and convenient. I also don't like the "fat shaming"; it's not needed or pertinent to the story nor did I enjoy the comparison of a female character to "a man in drag".

Again, I'm not the intended audience but I can see why kids would enjoy them. Not over complicated and a quick read. You need to suspend your disbelief a lot.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This one was never a favourite of mine in the series. Yay for being down 2 out of 13 books.

[Hayat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Kick ass stars

I read this book a long time ago and enjoyed it a lot especially because the main character is a fourteen years old male devoid of the usual teenage angst. This book is the second in the Alex Rider series where Alex is a spy in training for MI6. During the course of his training Alex learns more about the world and uncovers a potentially deadly secret which leads our hero into a daring adventure. This was a fun and entertaining book with likeable characters and fantastic action.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one even more than the first. Alexonce again is thrown into a dangerous situation by the increasingly nasty and hateful Alan Blunt. This time he is sent undercover to a school in the French mountains.

The story is exciting and I think that both adults as well as kids will love it. I like the character of Alex, so resourceful and thinking fast on his feet. I've already got book 3 on its way.

[Emma Haan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, the storyline is not at all what I was expecting

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve grown up with these books, the movie (and now the new tv show!) and I love this world of a young teenage spy! I always find the authors writing, plots and overall story absolutely amazing and this book was no exception. It made for effortless reading, edge of the seat stuff and I’m so glad I picked up these books again. The adventures of Alex Rider, kickass teenage spy working for MI6, cool gadgets and exciting missions. Couldn’t ask for more!

[emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are addicting. I think I am gonna read the third one before I go to bed.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Part young Bond, part MacGyver and totally awesome! I love Alex's dry wit, and his reluctance to be a super spy. It sets the series a part and makes it so fun. This one was a tiny bit predictable, so not quite a 5 star read for me. But this is probably the 5th or so time I've read this book since I was a teenager, and I love it every time.

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such as fast-paced suspense-filled book! I loved every page of this book!! Alex is such a funny and witty character and, this is such an interesting series that I think I will never get bored of. Can't wait to read the next book!

[Yulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

On one hand I liked this book more than the first one, on the other hand I found it way more creepy. Although that's probably just me.

So this is the second book in the Alex rider series and again, the characters are pretty cool, the adventure is awesome, and well the gadgets speak for themselves.

This book is about a mission in the french Alps, because there seems to be something fishy about a finishing school built inside a mental asylum.

***** SPOILERS *****

Ok first of all, how creepy was that ending?? It's probably just me, because cloning and all things futuristic just tend to really freak me out but like, I did NOT like how we don't really know if that was the real Alex that walked away from that school!! I mean obviously it has to be because there are like 8 more books.. (And I may or may not have checked the beginning of the next one) But still!! That was creepy...

I was hoping to see more of that Russian assassin in this one.. But he wasn't there.. Oh well.

I've realised that I got kinda attached to Wolf so I hope there's more of him too. I think that's just because I read the graphic novel though, because I just have this very clear image of him and that always helps with liking a character..

Which leads me to a problem I had with the description of Mrs Stellenbosch. I did not manage to picture what she looked like. Basically all I could see was this huge bodybuilder person with a high pitched voice, but I could NOT picture her wearing any of those evening dresses! I mean really, how would that even look on her... There's only so much my imagination can make up..

Anyway... That's the end of rant I guess.

[Weston Conaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book an "A" plus! This book was full of suspense, and excitement. I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I loved how the M16 spy agency sends a 14 year boy on a deathly mission. Through the story there are a lot of twists and turns. Alex faces many close calls of giving up his identity, but he might not get so lucky in the end!

[Collin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 3.7 *

A solid step up from Stormbreaker. Book # 2 in the Alex Rider series has more action, stakes, and a much more captivating villian and plot. Although this is aimed for children and young adults, I still had a great time and after that explosive ending I'm curious to see what's in story for the young spy next.

[MK Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 2nd book far more than the first!! I will say the first season of the tv series is about the 2nd book and I LOVED IT so a bit biased. I find the action in this one much more engaging and has some super sick moments!

[Lazybee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel for children. There isn't an element which can capture the heart of a adult or young adult. But I am sure that the children will be captivated.

[emilia borg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book EATS!! I loooove how creepy and sick and twisted the villain is, such a good sequel.

[BabyLunLun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think its saying something when a book u read as a teenager still manage to hook u as an adult.

I only have a vague memory of this book but its still very enjoyable and also a bit creepy with the Professor cloning himself and give his clones plastic surgery to pass off as children of rich and influential parents.

I totally didn't see that ending coming. Mr Horowitz did gives some clues that one clones escape but damn still wouldn't have guess it

[Nicky Nunney · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was amazing! I loved the second installment in the series, and I loved that it was set in a school. It was full of action and kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Shah Si Pencinta Buku · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setelah berminggu-minggu hilang, Alex kembali ke sekolah. Namun, baru sahaja ingin merasai kembali kehidupan normal, dia dipanggil sekali lagi oleh MI6. Kini, dia ditugaskan menyusup masuk ke sebuah sekolah persendirian yang agak misteri dan hanya menerima anak orang-orang tertentu sahaja.

Buka-buka sahaja naskah ni SH terus rasa seronok nak membaca. Sebab tulisan yang digunakan besar dan terang. Taklah sakit mata nak membacanya. Sebagai seorang yang boleh tahan rabun tulisan yang jelas memang memainkan peranan dalam memberikan keselesaan membaca.

Kisah kanak-kanak /remaja yang berkebolehan istimewa ataupun genius ni memang senang menarik minat SH. Walaupun sekadar cerita yang dikarang, cerita sebegini memberi keseronokan kepada SH. Rasa kagum dengan Alex yang fasih dalam 4 bahasa sedangkan SH merangkak untuk 2 bahasa. Huhuhu.. Tapi sememangnya ada mereka yang boleh menguasai banyak bahasa dan SH memang sedikit iri hati dengan mereka sebab SH merasa seronok mempelajari bahasa asing.

Tetapi watak antagonis dalam naskah siri Alex Rider ni memang semuanya gila. Genius tapi gila. Tamak kuasa. Ingin menguasai dunia dengan kepandaian yang mereka miliki. Tapi itulah hakikat untuk manusia yang tamak. Mempergunakan kelebihan mereka untuk memperolehi apa yang diinginkan.

Tapi SH memang sakit hati dengan watak Blunt kali ini. Dah lah mempergunakan Alex lepas tu buat tak tahu je. Ambil remeh soal keselamatan Alex. Nasib baiklah ada Mrs Jones. Geram betul dengan si Blunt ni. Sejenis manusia hati batu. Silap-silap takde hati.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who's the best Morally Gray Main character?
Rhysand 🙅‍♀️
Alex Rider✅️

I forgot how batshit this book is. Like the charecters are insaneeeee

[Matt Rudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.50