How does Anthony Hororwitz apply stylistic conventions to engage the reader in his spy thriller,

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker?

Anthony Horowitz is an English Author who wrote the bestselling series Alex Rider because
he wanted to see spy content from a younger point of view. Alex Rider: Stormbreaker is a
thrilling novel about a 14-year-old spy blackmailed by MI6 into carrying out an important
mission. Anthony Horowitz engages readers with stylistic conventions such as dialogue and
action, imagery and literary devices.

Anthony Horowitz captures the reader’s attention well through the suspenseful action
shown in his writing. He uses dangerous and tense situations, along with his writing style, to
convey fear, excitement, stress and many more emotions. In the car yard scene, it is
revealed that Alex’s uncle was shot dead instead of being killed in a car accident in the
middle of a tense scene where Alex has to hide from dangerous men. We are thinking about
the new and important discovery when a change of pace comes as suddenly Alex’s hiding
place, the car, is hit with a massive force and “his whole body [was] caught in a massive
shock” (p28). Anthony Horowitz expresses very well the terror that Alex would’ve felt in the
moment. He uses a mix of long sentences, building powerful images and feelings, and short
sentences showing the fast-paced scenes and the tension. While we are trying to uncover
this interesting mystery, we fear for Alex’s life such as when the car was going to be crushed
“with him inside” (p28). This makes us eager to read on and find out what happens. Anthony
Horowitz wonderfully uses tension and action writing to show readers how Alex feels in
dangerous situations and making the read entertaining.

Imagery and stylistic devices are used frequently in Anthony Horowitz’s writing, helping to
create genuine feelings and connections to the story. He uses metaphors, similes, imagery,
and many more techniques to bring the story to life. When Alex is in danger at the car yard,
“three huge metal fingers tore through the skin of the car like a fork through an eggshell”
(p28). Anthony Horowitz uses a simile here to show how easily the car was getting ripped
apart, and how perilous Alex’s situation is. When Alex is swimming through a dark tunnel to
search for important information, freezing cold water struck him. Horowitz described the
cold using metaphor as “ferocious, a hammer blow that nearly forced the air out of his
lungs.” (p165). Alex is extremely close to uncovering a very important secret, and he needs
to make it through this tunnel to do that. Anthony Horowitz also uses imagery to draw
readers into the story, like when Alex is being attacked and hunted in a field and he felt the
blades of grass “scratching at his face” (p142). The reader knows how much trouble Alex is
in. They need to know what happens next. When Anthony Horowitz writes using stylistic
techniques like these, the reader can feel and connect with how much stress and pain Alex
is being put through. We constantly fear that he might not make it out alive, and it keeps
the reader wanting to read more.

Anthony Horowitz’s teen spy series Alex Rider uses action language effortlessly to make his
stories come to life with daring and dangerous situations for its protagonist. His work is
exciting, fear inducing and brilliantly smart. Alex battles through circumstances which no
one should have to face ever, let alone a 14-year-old boy. Anthony Horowitz also utilizes
literary techniques to zoom in on the details of Alex’s journey, and help the reader to
understand the whole story. All of the emotions that go along with high-risk adventures like
Alex’s and the world that he lives in. The writing would entrance even people who find all
books boring.

Hannah Hyde
Word Count: 623
How does Anthony Hororwitz apply stylistic conventions to engage the reader in his spy thriller,
Alex Rider: Stormbreaker?

Hannah Hyde
Word Count: 623