CHERUB


CHERUB is a series of teenage spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore, focusing around a division of the British Security Service called CHERUB, which employs children, predominantly orphans, under the age of 17, as intelligence agents.
Initially, the series follows James Choke, better known as James Adams, as he enters CHERUB and performs various missions. However, the focus later expands to other characters, such as James' sister Lauren and several other characters who work alongside him and in separate missions. The initial series of twelve novels runs from the recruitment of Adams to his retirement from CHERUB at age seventeen. The second series of five novels, Aramov, follows Ryan Sharma, another CHERUB agent; James Adams is re-introduced into the series as a CHERUB staff member.
Muchamore also wrote a seven-part series called Henderson's Boys, which takes place during World War II and explains how CHERUB was created, following the path of a twelve-year-old French orphan named Marc Kilgour who meets Charles Henderson and shows him how much help children can be to win the war. Henderson, following this, creates a small unit of children to be trained in espionage.
The series has achieved great critical success. Christopher Middleton of The Times called the series "convincing" and praised the way it allows readers to "grow up with the characters." After release in the United Kingdom, the novels have been released in the US, New Zealand, and Australia, and translated into several languages including Polish, French, Danish, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Norwegian and Portuguese. On his website, Muchamore states that over 8 million copies have now been sold. A film adaptation was hinted at in 2009, but no further information was ever given. In 2018, Sony announced they were developing a TV series based on the CHERUB books.

Original series

The first series primarily follows James Adams, a twelve-year-old boy who is later joined at CHERUB by his sister Lauren, after their mother dies after consuming alcohol while taking painkillers.

''The Recruit ''

After the death of his mother, James Choke joins CHERUB. With the help of fellow trainee, Kerry Chang- he passes basic training. Meanwhile, James' half-sister Lauren Onions joins CHERUB following the imprisonment of her father, Ron. A couple of months later, James goes on a mission to Wales to thwart an attack on an oil conference by eco-terrorist group Help Earth.

''Class A''

Titled The Dealer in the United States and The Mission for 5,000 copies. James, Kyle, Kerry, Nicole, and mission controllers Zara and Ewart Asker help to take down the cocaine supplier gang KMG. They move into a house on the same estate as Keith Moore and his children. James' duty is to befriend the head of KMG's son, Junior Moore, to attempt to get valuable information on his father's illegal activities. Things take an unexpected turn and a trip to Keith's holiday home in Miami is in order.

''Maximum Security''

Many CHERUB missions have resulted in criminals being put behind bars, but one is now scheduled for James and Dave to bust someone out. James and Dave go undercover inside a maximum security prison in Arizona to break out Curtis Oxford, the son of an illegal arms dealer. Their hope is that Curtis will lead them to her.

''The Killing''

James and Dave go to find out why a small-time crook called Leon Tarasov suddenly appears to become extremely rich, and they uncover a plot much larger than a robbery: the murder of Will Clarke.

''Divine Madness''

James, Lauren and Dana investigate a religious cult named The Survivors in Australia with suspected links to an eco-terrorist organisation Help Earth.

''Man vs Beast''

James, Lauren and Kyle infiltrate a pro-animal rights terrorist group.

''The Fall''

When a mission in Russia goes wrong, James tries to clear his name after being implicated in the deaths of two MI5 agents, while Lauren goes on a mission to expose a sex slave trafficking gang.

''Mad Dogs''

James and Bruce infiltrate a gang tussling with rivals for control of the Luton underworld after the collapse of KMG.

''The Sleepwalker''

James' sister Lauren and Jake Parker go undercover to befriend a boy who claims that his father is responsible for a deadly plane crash in the Atlantic. Meanwhile James is put into an uncomfortable situation as he is forced to do work experience with his ex girlfriend

''The General''

James, Lauren, and other CHERUB agents join the SAS and play insurgents in a US army training exercise in Las Vegas. However the odds are stacked against them and only a master plan from Cherub instructor Yosyp Kazakov can win the war for the Brits. Kazakov and James also cheat casinos to win a lot of money.

''Brigands M.C.''

James, Lauren and Dante Scott infiltrate a violent biker gang called the Brigands M.C trying to incriminate their ruthless leader for arms dealing charges and to avenge the deaths of Dante’s family years before.

''Shadow Wave''

James turns down a final mission at CHERUB guarding a politician, instead helping his best friend Kyle Blueman to expose the politician's wrongdoings.

Aramov

This series involves an almost completely new cast of CHERUB agents, centred upon Ryan Sharma. However, characters from the original series appear occasionally. The first three books focus on a mission to dismantle the fictional Aramov Clan. As of December 2016, five novels have been announced.

''People's Republic''

Ryan investigates a young boy called Ethan whose extended family are the leaders of a Kyrgyzstan-based terrorist group known as the Aramov Clan.

''Guardian Angel''

Ryan is tasked with destroying the Aramov Clan after Ethan is kidnapped by his uncle who seeks to take over the business

''Black Friday''

Ryan has to stop the biggest terrorist attack in US history as Aramov operations wind down, and James Adams returns to CHERUB campus. Meanwhile The Tfu find a way to stop Leonid once and for all and it’s up to James and Leonids ex wife and son to put a stop to the ruthless mobster before he disappears forever.

''Lone Wolf''

Ryan infiltrates a drug gang. Ning befriends Fay, a girl whose mother was murdered by the gang and may have vital information on how the organisation works.

''New Guard''

New Guard is the final novel in the CHERUB series.It features characters from both the first and second CHERUB series in one big mission to rescue two hostages from the Islamic state in a high stakes mission to end all.

Short stories

''Dark Sun''

Released for World Book Day, Rat and Andy go undercover to befriend a boy whose father is a member of Dark Sun, a criminal organisation dealing in nuclear weapons technology. Chronologically, the story fits in between The Sleepwalker and The General.

Other publications

''CHERUB: Ultimate Edition''

CHERUB: Ultimate Edition consists of a map of CHERUB campus, a biography of Muchamore, and the novels The Recruit and Class A.

''The Recruit: The Graphic Novel''

The Recruit was released as a graphic novel, illustrated by Ian Edginton and John Aggs.

International releases

The CHERUB novels have been released in twenty-seven countries to date.
First publication dateCountry
2004
2005
2007
2008
2009

Setting

The series' main location is CHERUB campus, the headquarters of the fictional titular British government agency CHERUB for which the children work. It was formed during World War II by Charles Henderson; a British spy who had used children during an operation in France. It is populated by around 350 adolescents and children, who live on the campus when not on a mission to help the police. No-one in the world knows where CHERUB campus is situated except its employees, members and certain police and high level members of the British government.
CHERUB began with a small number of boys which swelled in size as the government realised its worth. After several years of operation it took in a trial group of girls, which proved successful. Since then CHERUB campus has grown a significant amount, improving many of its facilities. The dojo was built on behalf of a successful operation that took place in Japan and the new mission preparation building was built by the chairman of the first 6 novels, Dr. McAfferty, better known as Mac. After retiring at the end of Man Vs Beast, he is replaced by Zara Asker, who holds the role for ten years until stepping down to be replace by husband Ewart Asker shortly before New Guard.
After years of speculation, Muchamore said in the Henderson's Boys novel Eagle Day that CHERUB stood for Charles Henderson Espionage Research Unit B; this was later confirmed in Secret Army by Eileen McAfferty in a telegram.

Characters