For a series aimed at young adults, Robert Muchamore's, The Dealer, is surprisingly mature.

As the second book in Muchamore's Cherub series, The Dealer continues the story of James Adams, a young orphan swept into a world of crime and covert affairs. After James shoplifting mother dies, leaving him and his sister orphaned, the two suddenly find themselves recruited into the mysterious Cherub program. 

"Cherub" is a branch of British Intelligence that uses children as its agents. The idea being that nobody suspects kids of doing undercover work, so they are able to move around without suspicion.

The Cherubs, as they are called, live at secret facility where they train as spies until their eighteenth birthday. To some people the description might sound like a knock-off of Spy Kids, but the Cherub books are anything but. 

Opening the book, we find things are not going well for James. After spending some time on vacation following his last mission, James has become horribly out of shape and is subjected to a brutal training regiment by the camps drill instructor, Mr. Large. To make matters worse, a fight erupts between two younger Cherubs, and James is penalized for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Hope arrives though, when James is chosen for a second mission. Along with a handful of other Cherubs, James is to infiltrate a network of drug suppliers know as KMG. MI5, the managing force behind Cherub, hopes that by befriending its leader's children, the Cherubs could recover evidence putting the cartel down for good.

Things go well at first, but the world of narcotics is much more twisted than the children imagined, and James learns he has to stay on his guard if he wants to survive this mission. Complicating matters are Kerry Chang, another Cherub, and conflicting loyalties toward his friends. 

The book is well written and fun to read. The plot is fast paced so there is never a dull moment, even when characters aren't playing spy. As characters go, James is a devious but likeable protagonist. Where The Dealer really succeeds however, is in its believability. These spy kids aren't repelling down buildings or breaking into maximum security vaults to complete their missions. Instead, they're planting hidden microphones while on sleepovers, or sending crime scene photos via their cell phones. It just seems to make sense, and the whole method is a fresh approach from flashy gimmicks and expensive cars. 

What will probably surprise most readers is that a book marketed for young teens could be so intense. As the mission centers on drug trafficking, there are ample references to illegal narcotics and their effects. One character even OD's on cocaine. Underage drinking is present in more then a few instances, though this is handled as a culture difference rather than a crime. Assault, murder, extortion, racketeering, and grand theft auto all make brief cameos, and James even takes a moment to demonstrate his proficiency (or lack there of) at shoplifting. 

Social issues are also explored in a way only hormone-crazed teenagers could understand. All Cherubs are orphans, and one character in particular struggles with the bitterness of losing their family. James himself must confront his feeling toward the girl he likes and the girl he's "snogging", while juggling a bombshell when his best friend confides that he's gay. It's quite a load to take in (cautious parents should consider reading the material first before recommending it to their children), but to its credit, the book spreads the issues evenly. 

Finally, interested readers should be aware of the culture overlap. Having been written in the UK, the Cherub series runs rampant with Briticisms. How this really affects the book depends on the reader. Some may enjoy the language quirk since it authenticates the book and offers a glimpse at our cousins across the ocean. Others may just as likely see the differences as a stumbling block, and get frustrated with the culture references they don't understand. 

All in all, The Dealer has proven to be an excellent read. If you find yourself craving a little adventure, go ahead and give it a try. This mission, should you choose to accept it, will not leave you disappointed.

This Review First Published 1/19/2011