The Recruit

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying. 

James is returned to the home with two days to make up his mind about CHERUB. The next day, the therapist comes to see him, admitting she recommended him to CHERUB, and James tells her he wants to go. Kyle reveals he’s also a CHERUB operative, sent off to recruit after he bungled a mission two years ago. Before he and James leave, they get back at the gang for getting James in trouble by dumping wet sand in one of the gang member’s rooms. When they finish, there are still 20 minutes until pickup, which Kyle says is “twenty minutes too long” (94).

Back at CHERUB, James realizes the organization knows about the money he took from his mom’s safe and all his other secrets. The money will be split and put into savings accounts for James and Lauren. Additionally, James has to pick a new last name, and he uses soccer player Tony Adams’s name, making his new name James Robert Anthony Adams. James finds everything about CHERUB amazing, particularly that he has his own bedroom and bathroom.