Alex Rider is the main character of the book ‘Stormbreaker’. He is an orphan who lives with his uncle and his housekeeper Jack. One night Alex is woken by policemen to tell him his uncle has died. Alex is very suspicious about this and starts to question why.

In Chapter 1 we learn that Alex Rider is described as physically fit and strong at the start of the story. The text says “Alex was fourteen, already well built, with the body of an athlete.” This tells us that Alex is muscular and physically fit. The adverb “already” suggests that he is more physically advanced for his age. We learn that Alex has an uncertain future. “His whole future looked so uncertain that he preferred not to talk about it.” Alex doesn’t have parents and now his guardian, his uncle, is dead. He doesn’t know exactly what will happen to him in the future.

The text says, “He prefered not to talk about it,’ which tells us that is reserved and hides his emotions. Alex is presented as being very clever and observant to the reader. “Tiny details, but Alex’s eyes missed nothing.” Alex noticed one of the men from the bank had a gun at the funeral. The adjective “tiny” suggests that Alex is incredibly alert. He notices the small things. He has a very inquisitive mind.

We learn more about Alex and his character from Chapter 2. Whilst at school, Alex is troubled. “How could he possibly think about algebra when there were so many other questions churning through his mind?” He is suspicious. He can’t accept the fact that his uncle was killed like they said. He can’t get it out of his head. The verb ‘churning’ tells us that he has constant thoughts going through his mind and he can’t think of anything else. He is very clever and as soon as he sees the car, he understands what actually happened to his uncle. “He could see everything. The flash of the machine gun, the bullets ripping into the car, Ian Rider jerking in the driver’s seat …” The car gives Alex the truth that he wanted. The bullet holes show him in his mind, exactly what happened. He has a vivid image. “Flash’, ‘ripping’ and ‘jerking’ show how Alex vividly can imagine what did actually happen. We also learn that he's very good at martial arts, “He had started learning karate when he was six years old.” This shows that he's been doing it for a long time “ 6 years old” shows us he's been doing it for a long time. He is an accomplished fighter and shows that when he is fighting the men in the car scrapyard.

In Chapter 3 we learn more about how accomplished and excellent Alex is at a range of things. However we are also reminded that Alex is only a teenager. ‘Alex stood up but said nothing, allowing his uniform to answer the man’s question’. Despite the fact he is talented he is only a teenager.

Alun Blunt describes Alex as extraordinary. “I told you,” he said. “The boy’s extraordinary.” This shows that there's something very special about Alex. The word “extraordinary” shows he's not just a normal teenager.

Alex is also presented as being curious; he asked lots of questions. “Who are you? Was my uncle working for you? Did you kill him?” He wants to know what happened to his uncle. The use of all the questions shows that he's desperate for answers. Alex refuses to believe the story he has been told.

In Chapter 4, we see how Alex is reluctant to become a spy. “I don’t want to be a spy. I want to be a footballer. Anyway, I have a life of my own.” Alex has the talent to become a spy but he doesn't want to. Alun Blunt says Alex would make an excellent spy. He says he is ‘extraordinarily brave and resourceful’. The adjective ‘extraordinary’ shows he is very special.

The adjectives “brave” and “resourceful” show that Alex has courage and he is very skilled and able to do what he needs to do. He would be brilliant as a spy. Alex is loyal to his family. He agrees to help so that Jack the housekeeper can stay with him and so he can keep his uncle’s house.

I think Alex is an incredible teenager. He is clever and resourceful and highly skilled. I think he will be successful at being a spy. I think he will defeat the threat from the enemies and want to become a full time spy.

Text A starts very excitedly describing Bear Grylls with action packed descriptions like “ excitement, adventure, daring, real life hero”. It makes you think of someone who likes action and danger, and makes you feel interested. In comparison text B starts by ruining the image of excitement and bravery, and says how he really stays in hotels instead of having adventures. They also say that the stunts that he performs are set up and are misleading to people. This is really disappointing to read.

Text A shows how Bear Grylls was an adventurer from a young age, climbing Everest, breaking his back while he was in the SAS, doing lots of exciting adventures and being the first to achieve things like “circumnavigating th UK on jet skis, and crossing the North Atlantic Ocean in an inflatable boat, hosting a dinner party at a table suspended below a hot air balloon”. These all sound like thrilling adventures from someone very daring. However Text B says that some of the things he has claimed to do have never happened. He wasn’t really in the mountains of California, surviving on a snake head and water, he was actually at a hotel, with the internet and eating blueberry pancakes. He wasn’t in a desert island when he claimed to be, he was actually in Hawaii and staying at a motel. It even says that a raft he claims to have built, was actually built for him, dismantled and then he put it back together on tv. It makes you feel very disappointed that this could happen, and makes you wonder if anything he says he has done has actually happened.

In text A they describe a time when Bear Grylls goes to Namibia and feasts on yak eyeballs, fighting deadly snakes and angry porcupines, unfortunately Text B claims that when he was filmed “attempting to lasso wild mustang, the horses were actually tame and had been brought in for the show, which again makes me unsure about what he has done.

Text A shows how Bear was the youngest-ever chief scout, is a role model and has an OBE. It celebrates all his achievements and bravery in his lifetime, but Text B just tells you “if you believe everything happens the way it is shown in TV, you are a little bit naive”. This makes me feel silly for believing what was written in Text A, and disappointed that some of it seems to be true. Especially as I have always liked watching Bear Grylls and reading his books.

Text B does finish by saying that his programme wasn’t a” born survivor documentary, but a how to guide to basic survival”, so maybe Bear Grylls did do some of the things that Text A described, but for TV they decided it was too dangerous to film and they just wanted to make a programme to interest people and show them how to survive if they ever got stuck.

I will still watch Bear Grylls if it’s on the TV as it’s good fun to watch, and it might teach me something I need in the future.

If you ever go to china,

Look out for me,

I am black and white,

I’m climbing up a tree,

Watch out for me!

I am a little shy,

And love eating bamboo,

Take care of my habitat,

While i sit here and chew,

I need trees to climb,

I need bamboo to eat,

My species is to precious,

To accept defeat!

I am the symbol of peace,

But don’t let that fool you,

Don’t ruin my habitat,

Don’t be cruel!

How to write the next James Bond: in 5 easy steps!

Step 1: An interesting storyline.

To interest your reader from the first page, you need a gripping storyline. Who wants to read a book about a guy who grabs a gun, kills someone and goes home? No-one, unless you are a Fortnite fanatic.

Step 2: Details.

One word. Details. Details, details, details. If you pour some intricate details into your mix, and cream together your storyline and details until silky smooth. Details make your story the best on the market.

Step 3: Drama.

Sprinkle a pinch of drama into your story for extra effect. Folding drama into the mix gives it the spice and excitement that pulls your reader into the story.

Step 4: Gadgets.

Gadgets give your story the reality of real spies. Gradually whisk in some fast cars, jet packs, freeze rays, night-vision goggles, and tasers make your story have more variety and a futuristic feel.

Step 5: Dialogue and body language.

After your mixture is perfectly made, decorate with some dialogue and body language. How are you going to know what happens if you don’t include speaking? How will you make your story scream ‘SPIES’ if you don’t include running through fires, driving at 200mph through smoke, backflipping through windows and rolling under lazer beams?

Tying all of these elements together will surely make a juicy, hard-hitting spy story! Feel free to add in things like romance, action, and explosions when necessary!