Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Philomel Books (Penguin Group)
Pages
388
Description
"Targeted by a hitman and under threat of his past being exposed by the media, Alex reluctantly turns to MI6. But their help doesn't come cheap: they need Alex to spy on the activities at a GM crop plant. There he spots Desmond McCain, a high profile charity organiser, who realises that Alex is on to him and the real plans for the money he's raising. Kidnapped and whisked off to Africa, Alex learns the full horror of McCain's plot: to create an epic disaster that will kill millions. Forced to ask MI6 for protection, Alex finds himself being manipulated in a deadly game that could lead to the destruction of an entire East African country"--Amazon.com.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-11-17
Physical description
388 p.; 8.6 inches
ISBN
0399250565 / 9780399250569
Similar in this library
Lexile
740L
User reviews
LibraryThing member Reacherfan
Let me start this out by saying, I really like the Alex Rider series. I loved all of his adventures and always looked forward to the next one. That being said, this was my least favorite in the series.
I really liked the plot. Alex is at a New Year's party hosted by someone who has a criminal
The book also deals with Genetic Engineering of food. It does have a lot of benifits, but it also has a lot of dangers. Soon Alex finds out that the host of the party is hip deep in it, and isn't as innocent as he seems.
Alex find himself in a lot of life and death situations, something that Alex is used to. All of the situations and the characters (the good and the bad) are interesting in themselves, and makes a nice touch to the story.
I actually liked the plot, but there was a lot that I didn't like.
I didn't like how Horowitz used the name McCain and then had Alex wearing a Barack Obama baseball cap. I'm not saying that the author put in his political views, maybe Horowitz was just trying to be funny. For me it didn't work. It was really cheesy.
One part of the book really bothered me. Horowitz changed his writing style for this book. There's a lot of description, and I mean a lot. A great example of this is that in the first 20 pages, nobody talks. It's all description. This happens a lot throughout the book, a lot. I was so bogged down with description of what was going on, it took away from the story.
I hope that Horowitz doesn't continue this writing style for his next book. I really do love this series, but for me, Crocodile Tears missed the mark.
I really liked the plot. Alex is at a New Year's party hosted by someone who has a criminal
Show More
background, then found Jesus and God, and now has devoted his life to helping others through a charity that he has stated up. Soon Alex finds himself playing poker with the host and wins over 25 thousand dollars. Alex give the money to charity, but the host still isn't pleased. What is the host really up to? The book also deals with Genetic Engineering of food. It does have a lot of benifits, but it also has a lot of dangers. Soon Alex finds out that the host of the party is hip deep in it, and isn't as innocent as he seems.
Alex find himself in a lot of life and death situations, something that Alex is used to. All of the situations and the characters (the good and the bad) are interesting in themselves, and makes a nice touch to the story.
I actually liked the plot, but there was a lot that I didn't like.
I didn't like how Horowitz used the name McCain and then had Alex wearing a Barack Obama baseball cap. I'm not saying that the author put in his political views, maybe Horowitz was just trying to be funny. For me it didn't work. It was really cheesy.
One part of the book really bothered me. Horowitz changed his writing style for this book. There's a lot of description, and I mean a lot. A great example of this is that in the first 20 pages, nobody talks. It's all description. This happens a lot throughout the book, a lot. I was so bogged down with description of what was going on, it took away from the story.
I hope that Horowitz doesn't continue this writing style for his next book. I really do love this series, but for me, Crocodile Tears missed the mark.
Show Less
LibraryThing member benodonnell
This is a horror book about new years eve in scotland but it gets worse..........
Recomended: Yr 6, Yr 7
Good luck not having night mares
Hes Always watching you..............................................
Recomended: Yr 6, Yr 7
Good luck not having night mares
Hes Always watching you..............................................
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
I better first of all disclose that I am a huge Alex Rider fan. I've enjoyed all seven previous books except the one where he went into space. which I found a bit far fetched. Crocodile Tears is a fast, enjoyable read, and one that other Rider fans will just gobble up.
Alex is visiting his friend
I can't tell you what stopped the book from being five stars without spoiling some of the action, so I'll leave it to you to figure out what part was less than perfect. I will tell you that it's just a minor thing, and overall, the book is a GREAT read.
Alex is visiting his friend
Show More
Sabine and her parents and is given the opportunity to attend a New Year's Eve party in a castle in Scotland. On the way home from the party, something happens to their vehicle and it plunges off a cliff and into an icy lake where it is almost certain they will drown. But readers should not despair, because it is ingenious, resourceful Alex Rider who is trapped in the car, and the action is just getting started! I can't tell you what stopped the book from being five stars without spoiling some of the action, so I'll leave it to you to figure out what part was less than perfect. I will tell you that it's just a minor thing, and overall, the book is a GREAT read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member callmecayce
Though not quite as good as Snakhead, Horowitz's newest Alex Rider novel is nonetheless very good. For the first time, perhaps better late than never, we finally get a glimpse of exactly how these missions are impacting Alex's life. The basic mission is similar, but when Alex is kidnapped, Horowitz
Show More
leaves him to survive by his wits alone. A much darker and more depressing novel than the previous ones. I liked it and I'd like to see where he finally ends this series -- if he ends it at all. Show Less
LibraryThing member domingobarbosa
Book Review Essay
Domingo Barbosa
The book I'm reviewing is Alex Rider: Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz. This is the eighth book in the Alex Rider series. I've read to other seven and this is probably my favorite book series.
The story is about a 14 year old boy, Alex Rider, who for the past year
The story is about how McCain actually keeps most of the money his charity receives. He theorizes that the bigger the disaster the more money will come in. So he plans to create a plague by working with Straik and his GMOs. Alex is investigating Straik at the time for a simple mission for MI6. He coincidentally sees Straik and McCain talking, requiring further investigation. Unfortunately for Alex the deeper he looks, the more trouble he finds until there's no turning back.
Why is Alex investigating Straik? Despite everything about Alex being classified, Bulman gets a hold of some files on Alex and tries to publish it. All Alex has wanted for the past year is to be normal, if this gets out that would be impossible. Not to mention the past enemies who want payback, one enemy did find Alex and he was shot by a sniper almost in the heart. Now MI6 has the power to stop Bulman, but they always expect something in return, hence the investigation.
The story takes place in three countries. First, Scotland where Alex is on a well needed vacation with his girlfriend. All is well until a strange car accident but everyone survives. Second is England Alex's home country where he encounters Bulman, and is threatened with the story. Third is Kenya, Alex is kidnapped by McCain when he discovers that Alex has been snooping around. This is also the site of the plague that is being planned, millions will be killed by a wheat GMO and McCain will use First Aid to get money from doners, keeping most of it.
There are a few themes to this story, one being "heroism". Alex is willing to fight to his last breath to stop McCain. He knows if he fails, millions will die and an evil killer will be free. Another is "good vs. evil". Alex is the good guy trying to stop the evil phychopath and save lives. One last theme I saw is "youth". Alex is in the prime time of his life, he can do things that older spies can't do, thanks to his age.
I really enjoyed this book, even though it's a little bellow my age range, but I love the story itself and will probably read any more that come out in the future. Although the parts of story and statements from the author suggest that this will be the last of the Alex Rider series. That's pretty much all I have to say.
Domingo Barbosa
The book I'm reviewing is Alex Rider: Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz. This is the eighth book in the Alex Rider series. I've read to other seven and this is probably my favorite book series.
The story is about a 14 year old boy, Alex Rider, who for the past year
Show More
has been a spy for the organization MI6, but he is trying to quit. His past seven missions have taken him from South America to Asia, almost dying each time. Another main character is Desmond McCain, a multi-millionaire although no one really knows where his money comes from. He owns a charity called First Aid, one of the most successful charities in the world, they raise a lot of money whenever there is a disaster. Another is Leonard Straik. He is a plant biologist and he runs a GMO factory that is acting strangely top secret. One more character is Harry Bulman, he is a reporter and the reason Alex gets sucked into the story. Another notable character is Rahim. He doesn't come in until almost the end but is still a really important character. He is a spy for another organization in Asia, and starts working with Alex later.The story is about how McCain actually keeps most of the money his charity receives. He theorizes that the bigger the disaster the more money will come in. So he plans to create a plague by working with Straik and his GMOs. Alex is investigating Straik at the time for a simple mission for MI6. He coincidentally sees Straik and McCain talking, requiring further investigation. Unfortunately for Alex the deeper he looks, the more trouble he finds until there's no turning back.
Why is Alex investigating Straik? Despite everything about Alex being classified, Bulman gets a hold of some files on Alex and tries to publish it. All Alex has wanted for the past year is to be normal, if this gets out that would be impossible. Not to mention the past enemies who want payback, one enemy did find Alex and he was shot by a sniper almost in the heart. Now MI6 has the power to stop Bulman, but they always expect something in return, hence the investigation.
The story takes place in three countries. First, Scotland where Alex is on a well needed vacation with his girlfriend. All is well until a strange car accident but everyone survives. Second is England Alex's home country where he encounters Bulman, and is threatened with the story. Third is Kenya, Alex is kidnapped by McCain when he discovers that Alex has been snooping around. This is also the site of the plague that is being planned, millions will be killed by a wheat GMO and McCain will use First Aid to get money from doners, keeping most of it.
There are a few themes to this story, one being "heroism". Alex is willing to fight to his last breath to stop McCain. He knows if he fails, millions will die and an evil killer will be free. Another is "good vs. evil". Alex is the good guy trying to stop the evil phychopath and save lives. One last theme I saw is "youth". Alex is in the prime time of his life, he can do things that older spies can't do, thanks to his age.
I really enjoyed this book, even though it's a little bellow my age range, but I love the story itself and will probably read any more that come out in the future. Although the parts of story and statements from the author suggest that this will be the last of the Alex Rider series. That's pretty much all I have to say.
Show Less
LibraryThing member zanderf
I really enjoyed this book. It had the same general plot as the other books in the series. Although the book was a great read I felt that it did not live up to the standards the other books set. The plot was not as great as the other books and I felt like all the action was supressed. However the
Show More
book was still a good book and should be read by any fan of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member John.Kaleb
Crocodile Tears is the final story of the Alex Rider Series. The Alex Rider series is based on a 14 year old boy who is a spy for MI6. Alex is prone to getting into trouble. In this story, Alex has a friend visiting from America and is invited to spend the New Year with her family at Kilmore Castle
Show More
in Scotland. Alex soon discovers that he is back in action working for MI6, yet again, to get out of trouble. There is a reporter who threatens to reveal Alex's secrets. Alex is kidnaped and taken to Kenya, Africa where he blows up a damn and saves Africa. Alex also stops a character named Desmond McCain, a Reverend from killing thousands of people and profiting from their deaths by spreading a plague throughout Africa. Reverend Mc Cain keeps the First Aid money instead of helping people. In the end, Reverend McCain dies by an explostion from Alex's pen. I would recommend this book for everyone who loves action. Show Less
LibraryThing member KarenBall
Alex Rider is back! He and Jack Starbright have decided he needs to be a normal teen -- no more missions for MI6, ever. But Alex is visited by a tabloid journalist who wants to expose him and what MI6 has had him doing for them over the last year. In order to stop that, Alex must ask MI6 for help
Show More
-- which they provide, on the condition that he download all of the files from the computer of the director of Greenfields. It's a genetic engineering firm working on modifying plants... and they are suspicious about Leonard Straik's activities. Alex agrees, but once again, things don't necessarily go according to plan, and Alex's curiousity leads him to more information than MI6 expected... and into the hands of another madman: Desmond McCain. Kidnapping, cross-continent chases, explosions, evil minions, bombs, mutant plants, gadgets and crocodiles abound in this action-packed story! Another Horowitz winner for 6th grade and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member ctmslima
I gave the book,"Crocodile Tears," by Anthony Horowitz, a five star rating. My reasons were, the book keeps you interested and asking questions the entire time. Also, it keeps your attention and makes it hard to put down the book.
This book keeps you interested and makes you ask questions the
This book is full of heart-stopping parts that keeps your attention the whole time. One part where this is relevant is when Alex's body is being attacked by a drug that paralyzes him, he is taken on a plane to Kenya without anyone knowing where he is. this keeps my attention because I wanted to know why Alex was in Kenya and what was going to happen to him.
There were only a few parts that I did not like about the book. One part I did not like was how a normal boy such as Mr. Mcain, who could go from a poor child into an evil wealthy man. I just can't understand how someone could become so evil. this was only a minor flaw that did not affect the greatness of the book.
"Crocodile Tears'', is an amazing book. It is action-packed, it keeps you interested and makes you ask questions, and it keeps your attention the entire time you are reading this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's in for a great book.
This book keeps you interested and makes you ask questions the
Show More
entire time you are reading it. One part in the book where it keeps you interested was when Alex is abducted and taken to a secret place where he is injected with a suspicious drug. This made me ask myself, "Where are they taking Alex?", and "What is drug they are injecting him with?". Those two parts really interested me and added to the greatness of the book. This book is full of heart-stopping parts that keeps your attention the whole time. One part where this is relevant is when Alex's body is being attacked by a drug that paralyzes him, he is taken on a plane to Kenya without anyone knowing where he is. this keeps my attention because I wanted to know why Alex was in Kenya and what was going to happen to him.
There were only a few parts that I did not like about the book. One part I did not like was how a normal boy such as Mr. Mcain, who could go from a poor child into an evil wealthy man. I just can't understand how someone could become so evil. this was only a minor flaw that did not affect the greatness of the book.
"Crocodile Tears'', is an amazing book. It is action-packed, it keeps you interested and makes you ask questions, and it keeps your attention the entire time you are reading this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's in for a great book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ctmstogo
I have read many Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz and I really enjoy them. Crocodile Tears is definitely one of my favorites and I would rate it 3 ½ stars.
Crocodile Tears, by Anthony Horowitz, is about a 14-year old boy from London who works as a part-time spy for the intelligence agency MI6.
In this book, Alex uncovers the plan of a madman named Desmond McCain to poison multiple countries in Africa to make millions of dollars. Alex is kidnapped and held hostage after he finds out about McCain’s plan. Alex has to escape and the lives of millions are depending on him.
One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was its pace. I felt that it had a really nice pace to it. I never got bored with pages of pointless things that don’t help the story move forward at all. There was always something interesting happening.
Another part of this story that I really enjoyed was the main character, Alex. Alexis a very realistic and likeable character. You want to read on because you are always rooting for Alex and want him to do well.
The one problem that I had with this book was the ending. The ending was a little too predictable and I wish that it had been a little less easy to tell what was going to happen. I really enjoyed the book Crocodile Tears, By Anthony Horowitz and would recommend it to a friend. I would rate this book 3 ½ stars.
Crocodile Tears, by Anthony Horowitz, is about a 14-year old boy from London who works as a part-time spy for the intelligence agency MI6.
Show More
Alex’s father and his uncle were both great spies and Alex is recruited because of his background. Alex is not fond of his work for MI6 because of all the pain and the things he has had to go through in his various missions.In this book, Alex uncovers the plan of a madman named Desmond McCain to poison multiple countries in Africa to make millions of dollars. Alex is kidnapped and held hostage after he finds out about McCain’s plan. Alex has to escape and the lives of millions are depending on him.
One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was its pace. I felt that it had a really nice pace to it. I never got bored with pages of pointless things that don’t help the story move forward at all. There was always something interesting happening.
Another part of this story that I really enjoyed was the main character, Alex. Alexis a very realistic and likeable character. You want to read on because you are always rooting for Alex and want him to do well.
The one problem that I had with this book was the ending. The ending was a little too predictable and I wish that it had been a little less easy to tell what was going to happen. I really enjoyed the book Crocodile Tears, By Anthony Horowitz and would recommend it to a friend. I would rate this book 3 ½ stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JESGalway
It's just another day in the life of an average kid. If you're Alex Rider, that is. A con artist has realized there is big money in charity: the bigger the disaster, the greater the money flow! So that is what he will produce: the biggest disaster known to man, all thanks to genetically modified
Often imitated, never equaled, the series that triggered a reading phenomenon is back, exhilarating and addictive as ever.
Show More
corn that can release a virus so potent it can knock out an entire country in one windy day. But Alex Rider will face whatever it takes - gunfire, explosions, hand-to-hand combat with mercenaries - to bring down his most dangerous adversary yet.Often imitated, never equaled, the series that triggered a reading phenomenon is back, exhilarating and addictive as ever.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ftbooklover
On a trip to Scotland to celebrate New Year's Eve with Sabina Pleasure and her parents, she and Alex are almost killed in a car accident. When Alex gets home and back to school, MI6 asks him to infiltrate the office of Leonard Straik while on a science field trip to a genetic research facility
Crocodile Tears is another action packed adventure featuring Alex and his amazing skills as a 14 year old spy. In this installment, we do see that Alex does have friends, and he is trying to have a normal life, but even if he doesn't seek out trouble, it seems to find him. We continue to hear about the psychological toll that these missions are having on him, but most of the damage seems to be physical. The bad guy in this story has his eye on money and power as with many of the villains in these stories. Overall, Crocodile Tears tells a plausible story with a satisfying conclusion. 3 1/2 stars
Show More
called Greenfields. While there, Alex stumbles on a plot involving Straik and Desmond McCain, who he met in Scotland. Alex barely escapes Greenfields to get the information he gathered to MI6, but his connection to them leaves him vulnerable to the very people that he was trying to expose.Crocodile Tears is another action packed adventure featuring Alex and his amazing skills as a 14 year old spy. In this installment, we do see that Alex does have friends, and he is trying to have a normal life, but even if he doesn't seek out trouble, it seems to find him. We continue to hear about the psychological toll that these missions are having on him, but most of the damage seems to be physical. The bad guy in this story has his eye on money and power as with many of the villains in these stories. Overall, Crocodile Tears tells a plausible story with a satisfying conclusion. 3 1/2 stars
Show Less
Awards
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2012)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — 2011)
Call number
J4C.Hor