CHERUB () is a series of teenage spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore, focusing around a fictional division of the British Security Service called CHERUB, which employs children, predominantly orphans, 17 or younger as intelligence agents. Initially, the series follows James Choke, better known as James Adams (his adopted name at CHERUB), as he enters CHERUB and performs various missions. However, the focus later expands to other characters, such as James' sister Lauren and several other characters who work alongside him and in separate missions. The initial series of 12 novels runs from the recruitment of Adams aged 11 to his retirement from CHERUB at age 17. The second series of five novels, Aramov, follows Ryan Sharma, another CHERUB agent; James Adams reappears in this series as a CHERUB staff member. Muchamore also wrote a seven-part series called Henderson's Boys, which takes place during World War II and explains how CHERUB was founded, following the path of a 12-year-old French orphan named Marc Kilgour who meets Charles Henderson and shows him how much help children can be to win the war. Henderson, following this, creates a small unit of children to be trained in espionage. The series has achieved great critical success. Christopher Middleton of The Times called the series "convincing" and praised the way it allows readers to "grow up with the characters". After its release in the United Kingdom, the novels have been released in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, and have been translated into several languages including: Polish, French, Danish, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Norwegian, Estonian, and Portuguese. On his website, Muchamore states that over 8 million copies have now been sold. A film adaptation was hinted at in 2009, but no further information was ever given. In 2018, Sony announced they were developing a TV series based on the CHERUB books. Original series The first series primarily follows James Adams, a 12-year-old boy who is later joined at CHERUB by his sister Lauren after their mother dies from drinking alcohol while on painkillers. The Recruit After the death of his mother, James Choke joins CHERUB. With the help of fellow trainee, Kerry Chang, he passes basic training. Meanwhile, James' half-sister Lauren Onions joins CHERUB following the imprisonment of her abusive father, Ron. A couple of months later, James goes on a mission to Wales to thwart an attack on an oil conference by