Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 9))
How do super-villains become super-villains? Apparently, graduating from H.I.V.E. would be a good start. This fun romp starts with the arrival of a new class of students, kidnapped out of their daily lives and whisked away to an unknown hidden island. Whether sent by super-villain parents or snatched out of an orphanage because of a precocious prank on the Prime Minister of England, these teens must adapt to a new curriculum, consisting of Villainy Studies and Stealth & Evasion 101 in lieu of the traditional three Rs. Of course, some things never change—living up to a parent's reputation, dealing with the bullies from the Brute Squad and making new friends are part of every teen's life. And while some students are clearly happy to be where they are, there are those who are looking for a way out—any way out. This is a fun, intelligent and rapid read, an astringent breath of fresh air, in counterpoint to the sweetness of Hogwarts. Technology replaces magic, and brains are the key asset. This is Walden's first novel, but clearly not his last, as this is a six-year program. Let the adventure begin! 2007, Simon & Schuster, 320p, $15.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 13 up. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

April Spisak (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, July 2007 (Vol. 60, No. 11))
The Higher Institute of Villainous Education (H.I.V.E.) is a selective secret school for children around the world who show strong potential in various evil pursuits. Otto, a thirteen-year-old orphan who hypnotized the Prime Minister and possesses an eidetic memory, is an ideal candidate. Rather than settling into the idea that he will spend the next six years harnessing his abilities for evil, Otto hates the idea of having been forced to attend, and he is determined to escape. Even if Otto were not marked by the shadowy and sinister global leader, Number One, for some undisclosed future purpose, fleeing a school specifically built to train (and contain) geniuses is a challenging feat. Although H.I.V.E. could be envisioned as a darker counterpart to Hogwarts, Walden presents his students as complex individuals whose impressive powers come out of determination and intelligence rather than magic. An intriguing examination of the fluid and contextualized natures of good and evil is effective in justifying the school; happily, philosophy is quickly set aside in favor of nonstop action adventure scenes that are more in line with a school about villains-in-training. Given the theme, it is perhaps appropriate that the diabolically open-ended conclusion will leave readers breathlessly anticipating the sequel; adventure fans can at least console themselves that this means more time spent in the well-developed maelstrom that is H.I.V.E. For readers not quite ready for Catherine Jinks’ Evil Genius (BCCB 6/07), this book will be an ideal introduction to kids who are learning to embrace their own villainy. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2007, Simon, 309p., $15.99. Grades 5-7.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2007)
Four children find themselves unwilling students at the elite Higher Institute of Villainous Education. An attempt to escape their remote volcanic hideaway brings them together. The characters are one-note stereotypes, and the story doesn't so much end as set up the next book. But this piece of gadget-rich fluff provides an entertaining glimpse into the training of evil geniuses. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2007, Simon, 309pp, 15.99. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

David Goodale (VOYA, June 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 2))
James Bond meets Harry Potter in this auspicious debut. Thirteen-year-old Otto, a boy genius, is kidnapped from the orphanage that he has molded into his own small kingdom. Otto is brought to H.I.V.E. to learn the secrets of global domination in a six-year program. Leaving H.I.V.E., however, is not an option for Otto or any of his classmates. Undaunted by the challenge, Otto and his new friends Wing, Laura, and Shelby attempt an audacious escape, but they find that H.I.V.E.'s headmaster is one step ahead of them. In the end, Otto saves H.I.V.E. from an experiment run amok and passes up one final chance to escape, instead opting to stay and help Wing. This novel leaves many mysteries unanswered and begs for a sequel. Why is the headmaster wearing the other half of Wing's mother's amulet? Why is Number One, the commander of the Global League of Villainous Enterprises (G.L.O.V.E.), sponsoring Otto? Although the author's writing is not always polished, the subject matter is just pure fun. Otto attends classes such as Villainy Studies and Stealth and Evasion, taught by an assortment of nefarious characters. Also the story of Otto's life before H.I.V.E. is one of the most interesting parts of the book. A few British references by the author might puzzle some readers, but it is a minor distraction. Fans of the Alex Rider Adventures plus Harry Potter fans looking for something familiar yet just a little different will love this book. VOYA CODES: 3Q 5P M J (Readable without serious defects; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2007, Simon & Schuster, 320p., $15.99. Ages 11 to 15.