I Am the Mission by Allen Zadoff

He is a secret weapon.  He's a boy who has been taught how to act, what to do and how to kill.  He's merciless, fearless, and very effective.  When goes off the grid to try to forget his last assignment, he makes his leaders fearful.  Is he out of control?

Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It is the second book in the series, but stands alone just fine.  Both books are now available at your local bookshop.

He's given another false name and identity and given a new assignment:  Take out the the military leader who is heading a revolt and wants to make a statement to the United States government.  It's not easy to do when the leader's guarded.  He's in a group of enemies who are manipulating him as much as he's manipulating them.  Not only that, since he was told not to go into the camp and did, now he cannot contact his own group.  All the lines of communication are dead.  What's he to do?  He decides all he can do is complete his mission.  If he dies, he dies.

Mr. Zadoff writes fast-paced, mean books.  This is war; there are no peaceful negotiations.  People live, people die.  The dead are considered collateral damage.  Remorse and fear have no place here.  Make sure your young reader can handle the storyline before you let them read it.  It would have given me nightmares.  Of course, Mom wouldn't have let me read it anyway.  With the things children see today, they may be more mature than I was when young, but be sure to discuss it with them if they have questions or concerns at the end.

There will be another book in this series.  I get the feeling that main character is going to find out who is leading him and why and won't be pleased.  I may be wrong.  Why don't you read it and see what you think?