Review: Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

Series: The Unknown Assassin #1

Publication: June 11th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Format: Kindle Edition

Rating:

They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die-of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.

But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.

In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.

Note: I have requested this book on Netgalley with the title 'The Hit', publication date May 23, 2013 and different book cover.

For typical Young Adult contemporary readers like me, I would not doubt reading this and be on my top TBR list, but, oh Boy Nobody you just Hit me off the ground! Now, I am fond of hoarding action-packed YA books. Anyway, I thought so that this is a great read introduction for me to the genre.

'Boy Nobody' is a riveting series told by a boy who you would never liked to meet. He is a remorseless assassin trained by the said The Program. Manipulated by what he call Parents, he is sent off to places to kill the enemies of the state. First, he integrates, be friends with his target's family, then cleverly stab his target with a pen. No foul play to be seen, no sweat, just a clean kill-game for Boy Nobody then he is out, next to another mission. But things gone different when the most difficult duty came—to kill the mayor of New York in just five days. Unlike his past missions, he'll be friends with Sam, not a mere boy, but the mayor's daughter.

As the mission came, Boy Nobody was named Benjamin. He tells us his story through alternating visions of the present and his past. Ben calculates his every move like a computer could never do. But his smartness outweighs when Sam came in front. Sam is hard. She is different from other distinctive girls. She is never whiny but unpredictable.

The characters of this book are intimately written. They have their own route, role, and account. The reader would never doubt digging a character or so on the next book because it attaches you on the character especially Mike—the one that set Benjamin on his shoes.

Zadoff wrote Boy Nobody as an antihero series with a character who has no name making it more desiring to read. This series is no stark YA thriller but cool enough for readers who are enamoured with reads that raises heavier questions about who's and what's pleasant and atrocious. Hence, perfect engrossing read for reluctant readers.

Interested to read 'Boy Nobody'?
Purchase it at: Book Depository, Amazon, B&N

Source: Netgalley · I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content.