Loot

Starred review from May 5, 2014
Jewel theft has never been as fun as in 39 Clues contributor Watson’s action-packed novel featuring Mission: Impossible–style escapades from two young cat
burglars. After world-
famous jewel thief Alfie McQuin plunges to his death from an Amsterdam rooftop, his son March, a witness to the accident (or was it murder?), is shocked to learn he has a twin sister, Jules. The reason for the siblings’ separation at age two appears to involve seven missing and purportedly cursed moonstones. Led by clues left by their deceased father, the twins try to retrieve the moonstones for a $7 million reward, instead of entering the foster care system (“ knew where to go to buy a fake passport in five European capitals and he knew how much it cost. Things he didn’t know how to do: Sit in a classroom. Obey authority. Follow rules”). Along with two accomplices, March and Jules use trickery, aerial stunts, and quick thinking to complete their mission and stay ahead of professional thieves. The high level of suspense, ultra-short chapters, and fast pace will hook readers of all stripes. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from May 1, 2014
Feisty thieves-in-training Jules and March are faced with a daunting challenge after their father plunges to his death while committing a crime.The twins only gradually discover the full extent of the problem they face, but each new revelation fits perfectly into the often hair-raising narrative. First March finds out he has a twin sister, then that their mother died during the commission of a crime years ago, the theft of a set of valuable-but cursed-moonstones. The curse has come to rest on them, and it looks like it may be lethal by their 13th birthdays if they can't recover the full set of gems, each now belonging to a different owner and requiring another clever theft. Aided by oversized Darius and tiny Izzy, whom they meet in a nasty group home, they each bring different talents and ideas to the imaginative crimes. Driven by thrilling, nonstop action and featuring very brief chapters that readily sustain interest, this twisting and turning but ever-so-clever thriller is akin to the best of roller-coaster rides. Pitch-perfect characters, from scheming criminals to a twisted former cop to the twins' father, move in and out of the narrative, but it's the four young teens that drive the tale forward with enviable schemes and ingenious plans.Taut, engrossing and unstoppable. (Thriller. 10-14)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old March McQuinn has lived a life that many kids can only dream about-world travel, no school, and exciting hijinks-but it comes at a cost. He has always felt as though something, or someone, was missing from his life. So when his father, the notorious jewel thief Alfie McQuinn, falls to his death during a burglary, March is left completely alone. That is, until he is reunited with his long-lost twin sister Jules, who has been traveling with their aunt's street performance group. Following a quick stint in a group home and armed only with street smarts and Alfie's clues, the twins and their friends set out to finish Alfie's last heist before Alfie's rivals do. With well-developed supporting characters and two likable protagonists, Watson has delivered an exciting, clever middle-grade mystery. Although her treatment of death and abandonment sometimes feel a bit too lighthearted, it is in keeping with the fanciful feel of the rest of the story. Throughout, the characters develop organically, and Watson doesn't shy away from real-world consequences. This helps give the book a real sense of urgency during each of the movie-quality action scenes, which makes it a perfect fit for fans of Stuart Gibbs's Belly Up (S. & S., 2011) or Gordon Korman's Swindle (Scholastic, 2009).-Amanda Augsburger, Moline Public Library, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
Grades 4-7 When master jewel thief Alfie McQuinn dies, his stashed set of clues and cryptic last words to March, his 12-year-old son and apprentice, mark the beginning of a race against time. The first clue leads March to discover his twin sister, Jules, a traveling circus acrobat. Tossed into a group home, they meet Darius, a juvenile delinquent with a soft spot for Izzy, a code-cracking hacker. The four join forces, busting out of the home and into a series of high-stakes heists to reclaim seven cursed moonstone gems once stolen by Alfie. The reward promised is a sizzling seven million bucks, enough to set them up with the home Alfie never lived to realize. The problem? There's a curse on the twins, prophesied to culminate before their thirteenth birthday next week. Sassy narration, smart quips, pigeon drops, and slang worthy of an episode of Dragnet make this fast-paced tale of topsy-turvy antics a joy from beginning to end. Don't try these high jinks at home, but give this book to anyone who loved the 39 Clues series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
The separated twin children of a famous jewel thief are thrown together after his death. Following their father's mysterious clues, Jules and March devise a heist of their own, and along the way they build a relationship and learn to trust each other. Interesting secondary characters help develop the tension, and the action and intrigue are sure to please fans of thrillers.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)