He is nothing. The mission is everything.

Fast Sell:

Bourne meets Bond in the form of a teenage assassin in the first of a series of heart-stopping action-thriller novels for young adults.

Key Talent:

Award winning author, Allen Zadoff, whose previous works include “Food, Girls, And Other Things I Can’t Have” (the 2010 winner of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award), “My Life, The Theater, And Other Tragedies” and the memoir, “Hungry: Lessons Learned On The Journey From Fat To Thin”. A graduate of Cornell University and the Harvard Institute for Advanced Theater Training, and a former stage director, Allen Zadoff was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and has lived in upstate New York, Manhattan, Tokyo. He currently resides in Los Angeles where he teaching writing.

Synopsis:

The people behind The Program needed the perfect assassin: one who could operate efficiently in any given situation, without fear or anger, and without sympathy for the victim – a ruthless killer who could complete the mission and walk away unnoticed and emotionally unscathed. So they created one. The thing is, he’s just a kid.

Boy Nobody is the typical new kid in class, an insignificant teenager who shows up as a transfer from another high school in another town, makes very few friends and doesn’t stay long before leaving unexpectedly. What he leaves behind is always the same: a bereaved family that has lost a loved one due to “natural causes”. Mission accomplished.

But when Boy Nobody is assigned to target the mayor of New York City, things change. The mayor’s beautiful teenage daughter likes him. The mayor, himself, reminds him of his own, long-departed father and responds favourably to the blossoming relationship between the two teens. As buried memories and new questions begin to surface in Boy Nobody’s mind, a desire to return to being the kid he once was – a normal teenager with a home and real parents – is planted and begins to grow. And all the time The Program is watching. As far as they are concerned, nothing can be allowed to jeopardize the mission.

We Like It Because:

At a time when gothic/romantic fantasy and zombie/vampire/werewolf-themed novels have outstayed their welcome, the arrival of Allen Zadoff’s “Boy Nobody” is both a breath of fresh air and a blaring wake-up call to remind us that there is much more to popular fiction than a bunch of love-struck ghouls. A gripping, rapid-paced suspense thriller concerning the enthralling exploits of a covert teenage assassin with some serious issues, this is destined to become one of the most talked-about young adult books of the year. Writing in a sharp, straight to the point style, Zadoff never underestimates the intelligence of his target audience and is all too willing to take the narrative down some unexpectedly dark paths that will appeal to fans of the Jason Bourne and James Bond books.

Hot Quotes:

Praise for Allen Zadoff’s previous work

Since You Left Me

“It isn't the plotline that makes Allen Zadoff’s Since You Left Me special: it’s Sanskrit's voice… so snarkily hilarious that you’ll laugh through all of the painful moments.” – Kirkus Reviews.

“Not many Young Adult books dare to tackle the issues of faith and religion, but Since You Left Me is a rare gift… a story that’s hilarious and hopeful – and one you should definitely add to your reading list.” – Pick of the Week, 60SecondRecap.

“Zadoff tells the story of California’s new Jewish family… a humorous and introspective read for any age.” – The Jewish Daily Forward.

My Life, The Theater, And Other Tragedies

“Zadoff captures the confusion, torn loyalties, and overwrought drama of high school life – not to mention student theater. All the world’s a stage indeed, and these players earn their applause.” – Publishers Weekly.

Food, Girls, And Other Things I Can’t Have

“An exceptional read with its vivid characters and compelling storytelling. It is a must-read for adolescents and adults alike.” – Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA).

Hungry: Lessons Learned On The Journey From Fat To Thin

“There’s no shortage of books on how to lose weight. Hungry is not that sort of book. It’s about the importance of understanding the emotional sources of hunger, about how much more effective that understanding is than any diet could ever be, about the myths we create about our bodies that must be debunked. Its gentle, non-preachy, funny and forgiving tone is uncommonly appealing.” – Los Angeles Times.

“ compelling first-person insight into a largely misunderstood condition, not to mention his common-sense solutions (heavy on the need for a support network of family, friends and professionals), is valuable, encouraging reading for problem eaters of all kinds and those trying to help them.” – Publishers Weekly.

Editor’s Note:

“Boy Nobody” has already attracted strong interest from Sony Pictures who are looking at a producing a movie adaptation starring Will Smith’s son, Jaden, in what they hope will become a franchise series for the young star.

You can follow the official Boy Nobody Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/BoyNobody?fref=ts