Imagine waking up to the reality you indeed have a father and all of your lifetime you didn’t even have a father shadow anywhere. For 15 year old twins jack and jade their live turned around when at their mother’s funeral they find out that they have a father named John chance. As a matter of fact they had their doubts whether John will be the father they never had. It turns out that their fears are true and John isn’t the man he claims to be. It turns out John who is secretive with queer habits is involved in espionage and mixed up in complicated Russian affairs with Vishinksy. Sure Fire is a young adult novel from the bestseller author Jack Higgins collaborating with Justin Richards. The author brings out the twisting tale of two children who meet their father for the first time in absurd circumstances. They eventually end up in helping him uncover a terrorist operation headed by Russian Vishinksy (Higgins 2008).
The plot begins to unfold when Rich and Jade, meet their new father at their mothers funeral. Their father acts suspiciously invoking the children to find out who he really is. He turns out to be an agent trying to solve a crime using a sample of fuel he stole. Twists and turns set in when Chance is kidnapped and shipped off to Krejiskistan at the heart of Vishinksy villain plan. Rich and jade are subjected to danger prompting Chances friends to attempt to reunite them together and thwart Vishinksy plan. All this is action packed with explosions and gunfire making the reader to wonder of the children’s survival. It’s a ‘grow fast or.else’ situation according to the author. The author’s ides are based on universal appeal in the entire novel.
The author superbly uses dualism in Sure Fire. This is evidenced in the war of good versus evil in the novel. A good example is illustrated whereby A Kos agent, representing the evil side, exchange fire with a spy helping Chance. Since the Kos chance is one of the perpetrators of Vishinksy plan he is evil and on the other side Chance side is the good side fighting terrorism. In addition Higgins brings out the theme of Survival and self-preservation in the novel. For instance : “A bullet ripped into the wall of the hall as Rich and Jade ran for the front doorRich and Jade pushed through [the door], and Rich felt the sharp wood catch on his trousers. He didn’t slow down (75)” (Higgins 2008). It is true that to stay alive everyone need to avoid harm. The author artistically shows how people react when faced with life threatening situations or difficulties in general. Higgins uses the symbolism of optimism and pessimism to connect with the real life and bring a in depth resemblance of the real world. The novels employs optimism more for instance Chance feels relieved that even though he is in a jail at Krejiskistan, his children are safe miles away. Sure fire brings out different characters good and bad in a brilliant way further adding up to the books thrill and suspense.
Sure fire is a captivating book with an interesting and captivating plot development. The author connects well with the readers through universal appeal, dualism, survival and self preservation and the symbol of optimism. The book is action packed and full of adventure with twists and turns meant to amaze the reader. For action lovers, this is a must read.
Works cited
Jack Higgins and Justin Richards. “Sure Fire”. Harper publishers: London, (2008).
