Jimmy Coates: Target

Jimmy Coates #2

by Joe Craig

On the run.
Nowhere to hide.
Nothing they won't do to eliminate him.
Jimmy's strange talents are going to be tested to their limits.
How do you survive when your enemy's greatest weapon is a boy just like you?

From The Times (London):
"Both Jimmy Coates: Killer and Jimmy Coates: Target are cracking adventures with enough ideas to make them more than just page-turners. Jimmy’s love for his family and best friend battle his instructions to kill the “democratic terrorist” Viggo. He is a wonderful creation with which it is easy to identify and sympathise. As in all super-hero tales, you half fear, half long for the extraordinary powers that guide our protagonist along labyrinthine corridors or show him how to duel with a kebab stick, even if using them draws him further away from normality into a manic or psychopathic state that is brilliantly described.
"Boys (and indeed girls) absolutely adore this kind of thing, and making Jimmy himself the gadget instead of, like Alex Rider, partly dependent on them, adds to the fun, especially once Jimmy’s intended nemesis, Mitchell, is activated...
"Joe Craig has developed the sharp satirical edge that keeps the new generation of boys hooked on books. Which is, in itself, the act of a superhero."

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

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2006

About the author

Award-winning author Joe Craig writes novels and movies. Thanks to his bestselling Jimmy Coates thrillers he is now considered "one of the best spy kids authors... outstanding at both writing and plotting" (The Times, London) alongside Anthony Horowitz, Charlie Higson and Robert Muchamore.

He lives in London with his wife (broadcaster & adventurer Mary-Ann Ochota), his dog (Harpo the labradonkey) and his dwarf crocodile (Professor Sven).
www.joecraig.co.uk
@joecraiguk

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from HarperCollins to review it (release date is in March). At first I was a bit disappointed that this was the book that I got picked for, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to read it. I hadn't read the book that comes before this one, but the author does a good job of filling in the reader to not feel too lost. The action was intense and even with a relatively large cast of characters, each one was given a very specific personality and felt very real. The struggle going on inside Jimmy between his human self and his programmed self is riveting. This is a book that I wouldn't have picked up to read on my own, so I'm very happy that I was chosen to review it because it was a damn fine piece of writing and a very engaging story.

[Taro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taro Tsutsui Review on Jimmy Coates 12/13/09
Section 9B “Target” Mr.Nourok

A magnificent novel I have read that includes many turning points, adventures, and is action filled is Jimmy Coates “Target” by Joe Craig which is the second book of the series. Jimmy Coates “Target” continues from the part where Jimmy is trying to escape from NJ7, which is a secret British government that wants to capture and use Jimmy to do their tasks because of his “unique” abilities, it mostly illustrates the theme of resistance and trying to obtain freedom. Joe Craig is a fantastic author because he writes interesting plots, describes the events and scenes are very descriptively and creates many unsuspected turning points.

The first book starts off with an 11 year old boy named Jimmy Coates who is a curious, adventurous, smart boy lives with his normal family. However this all changes when group of men who are from NJ7 show up at his door and tries to take away Jimmy. Jimmy escapes with astonishing ease and performs various abilities to outrun the people who were trying to capture him. However, later on Jimmy is captured and finds out that the Prime minister of Britain needs him because he was made as prototype of a project to create an army of assassins; Jimmy is only 38% human and 62% machine built to kill. The Prime minister also wants to turn the United Kingdom into a nation where one Prime minister rules over which is why he was being pursued. Jimmy does not want to cooperate with the Prime minister so he escapes from NJ7 and has many people support him in order to keep hidden from NJ7. The second book continues on about Jimmy and his companions escape.

Every sentence in the book is very descriptive and friendly to understand and you can easily image a picture in your mind. It feels as if you are there in the story right beside the characters instead of a third person perspective and you can almost picture everything that the author sees which is what I like about this book. The plot about politics is also easy to understand and the transitions from chapter to chapter are very smooth and it doesn’t seem out of place even though the topics change or the perspectives change.

What’s really unique about this series is that there is a lot of turning points and these turning points are very unexpected and are fascinating because then a whole new story begins after the author makes a turning point. Then the information adds on to the information you have about the book now and makes you think even more, this whole book is like a puzzle/mystery book where you have to figure out until the end of the series. The book is not only like a puzzle/mystery book but also an action/adventure book because the characters do face their enemies a lot and they either fight or stay low which gives you a lot tension.

This novel/series will interest people of any age especially teenagers because the novel is a mixture of Sci-fi, action, and politics in a big bowl which is very interesting and enjoyable to read. The book is very friendly to read and has action, adventures and turning points just like in the movies, and you’ll still enjoy as a book.

[Nyamebekyere · Rating 5 out of 5]

The must read sequel of Jimmy Coates Assasin. Jimmy Coates is on a mission to stop England and is try to find out more about himself.

[Theo Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

- This book had a great and gripping plot, however I felt that there were too many names to remember. This may have been helped if I'd read the first book, but that's the only one I don't have!
- I would recommend this book to people who like teen fiction, and to people who like a gripping story.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to people who like action, adventure, and politics. The main character and his friends try to stop the corrupt government, also the main character is a superhuman who can catch a bullet in his hand.

[HB · Rating 1 out of 5]

★

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

This is the sequel to JIMMY COATES: ASSASSIN?

I had a little trouble wrapping my imagination around a main character who was a robot but also 38 percent human, and who was programmed to be a killing machine. However, Jimmy is a very compelling character, especially when his human side takes over and decides to do the right thing.

The harsh government of Great Britain in Jimmy's era is a cruel dictatorship known as NJ7. Jimmy belongs to them, but then he joins forces with the opposition government. NJ7 realizes that Jimmy knows enough to be a serious problem to them, so they send another robot boy to kill him.

Joe Craig has an incredible imagination and he really puts it to the test in this exciting and innovative thriller. It is filled with high-octane chases and hair-raising escapes that kept me reading into the early morning hours. The personal inner conflict that Jimmy has between his human and robot sides is gripping. He desperately wants to just be a normal boy, but has to deal with the fact that he was created by NJ7 to kill.

I can't wait for the next installment of this great sci-fi/fantasy/action-adventure series.

[Kirito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book talks about the group retreating for now. But NJ7 is still after them. And now they have another assassin just liked Jimmy Coates who actually listens to NJ7 named Mitchell. Now NJ7 sent Mitchell to kill Jimmy and his friends. Will they be able to run away from NJ7?

I picked up this book because I wanted to continue the series. The series was just like Alex Rider (but obviously not as good) so I'm interested in finding out if Jimmy Coates is going to escape from NJ7

I finished this book because it was okay. It wasn't as good as Alex Rider though. But it had a lot of action and adventure.

I think I would recommend this to Rachel because likes adventure books! Rachel also likes the Alex Rider series and this series is related to it.

[Vibha Hegde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of a kind book that actually is gripping even though it's for a younger age group. This is the second book in it's series and takes Jimmy on his journey to save his life as well as his loved ones. An eleven year old assassin is now the target and things start to go downwards when France and England get into fighting with each other. So will the assassin turned target escape?
My thoughts on this book are highly mixed as I haven't read the first book and started directly with the second. So I couldn't bond with any character. But as for the story line it was really good and on it's own a good read!

[Chris P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely one of the worst books I've ever read. It was boring and not interesting. I spaced out every page because it was so bad.
It's a book about a boy named Jimmy Coates who's DNA was changed. He had powers that he did not like or want. His mom had gotten stolen as well as his sister by a company Jimmy's dad used to work for.
I can connect to this book because I've had something I did not want. I have done stuff I don't want to do.I do not recommend this book to anyone at all unless you want to be tortured.

[Julia Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent follow-up to the first book in the series. Jimmy is developing well as a character; the author has a great take on the inner dialogue for this complex teen, which is not entirely due to his strange origin.

I always enjoy stories with a moral dilemma and Joe Craig does a really good job with this series.

[Dy'talzha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimmy Coates: Target was an good book . It was action packed( which I <3) . I also lie the fact that Eva decided to be an double agent by helping NJ7 while also helpin Jimmy . But I really want to know is who is his real father and who is the other assain that was created before Jimmy was.

[Clare D' Lune · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed like a poor imatation of Alex Rider...

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series!
you will never belive what happens!

[Cecilia]

Better than ever

[Jameelah L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down to the author Joe Craig that was amazing I mean each novel get better and better and better until he beats any of the highest comments and believabilities!!!!!!!

[Huggo · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[DAnand3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is very interesting if you like secret agenets/spy stuff.It also overlaps the storyline of James Bond.

[Assad · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic sequel, jam packed with action. Only bad point: it is impossible to put down.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another face pace novel that I ended up reading in one sitting. If you're looking for some mindless reading where you don't have to think much and just tag along for the ride, this series is for you.

[Garrett]

It's good.

[Abel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was even better than Jimmy Coates Assassin. It was action packed and thrilling.

[Aide au lecteur Drummondville]

Jimmy Coates est un super agent créé par le NJ7, les services secrets britanniques, pour éliminer les opposants au régime. Le jeune Anglais n'est humain qu'à 38 %. Le reste ? De la haute technologie destinée à faire de lui un tueur sans pitié. Mais depuis qu'il a refusé de se conformer à ce destin programmé, Jimmy est en fuite. Réfugié en France, il ne tarde pas à être repéré par le NJ7 qui envoie Mitchell, le jumeau technologique de Jimmy, pour l'éliminer... Le plus redoutable des ennemis est celui qui vous ressemble...
Nouvelle mission pour l'agent très spécial Jimmy Coates : sauver sa peau.