"Bayport High operates like any other high school--jocks at the top, outsiders at the bottom, and everyone else in between. Enter Toby Klein, a sophomore computer hacker who doesn't play well with others. She has zero school spirit, a black belt in karate, and what her guidance counselor calls an attitude problem. She's the last person you'd expect to be invited to join the varsity cheerleading squad.
But things are different at Bayport.
Bayport's varsity cheer squad is made up of the hottest of the hot. But this A-list is dangerous in more ways than one. The Squad is actually a cover for the most highly trained group of underage government operatives the United States has ever assembled. Athletically, they're unmatchable, though they make it all look easy on the field. Mentally, they're exceptional--but with one flash of their gorgeous smiles, you'll completely forget that. Socially, they're gifted, so they can command and manipulate any situation. And above all, they have the perfect cover, because, beyond herkies and highlights, no one expects anything from a cheerleader.
Toby Klein might not seem like the most likely recruit, but she's never been one to turn down a challenge. If she can handle the makeover, Bayport Hight may just have found its newest cheerleader.
Pretty, popular, armed, and extremely dangerous--meet THE SQUAD."
"Hello, angels." "Hello, Charlie." That is pretty much what the Squad does whenever it gets a new assignment. Instead of three girls, there are ten. Each of them are special. All of them can fight and keep a secret. Toby Klein's skills lie in computers. Hacking, specifically. Other girls have skills in putting makeup on perfectly and fighting with knives. Other girls meaning cheerleaders.
Despite what people believe about cheerleaders, I don't think they are really that stupid as the snobbish girl (Toby Klein) claims to be. Maybe they are indeed the popular girls, determined to date half of the football team or maybe shun the "lesser females." But some of them are really intelligent. They get good grades, they are smart and looking forward to their futures, and they are very social. Stop stereotyping! Not all cheerleaders are blond!
And Toby Klein is indeed snobbish. She claims to be above and beyond everyone. Well, not in those exact words, but I can tell. (Great, now I'm sounding snobbish and uptight). She always thinks cheerleaders to be crazy, and she is snobbish. There is no other words for it. Snobbish, snobbish, snobbish. However, she does have a good sense of curiosity and high amount of intelligence. And she is apparently good at karate, too. Like I said before. Overachiever and snobbish. Her caring thoughts to her brother, though, doesn't make me hate her more. I don't like her brother that much.
The guy. Of course, there is a guy! Jake Peyton, some guy who is a football player who happened to date two cheerleaders from The Squad. Of course, he is cute. However, he is the mark, and Toby Klein's mission is to bring him down. Well, his father down.
Doesn't that sound like Also Known As? Yep.
(And he is no spy).
Overall, Perfect Cover is a short read that will delight the younger readers and some fans of Alex Rider books. I, however, am disappointed. Many questions weren't answered, and I remain deeply troubled by the true identity of "Charlie." ("Charlie" is the middleman between The Squad and the government agency, the big CIA). "Charlie" says "Hello, girls." not "Good morning, angels." (The last bit was a BTW).
I should add that there is a lot of humor. And I wonder (and remain deeply concern by) how The Squad manages to rank the importance of mascara over some mission.
Rating: Three out of Five
No comments:
Post a Comment