Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society
Ally Carter
Hyperion Books
978-1423116394
Borrowed from Library.

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.


Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.



For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Despite coming from the other side of the law, this new series by the author of the Gallagher Girls books has more in common with it than not. As such, it will appeal to most fans of the Gallagher Girls - those who enjoy quick reads with lots of action, humor, and a bit of romance, but who aren't overly burdened with the need for plausibility.

Kat is a very likeable character, but even with her background taken into consideration, she is a bit too poised and worldly to be a believable 15-year-old. Despite hearing her age early on, she was fixed firmly in our minds as at least 17. The story started slowly for us, and it wasn't until Kat walked into the bad guy's lair that we started becoming intrigued. There is some definite cleverness in the main heist at the end, and a history lesson concerning the Nazi theft of famous artwork added a bit of depth to the story.

It is unfortunate that there wasn't as much depth in the characters. We found them less three-dimensional than those in the Gallagher Girls books, and in fact saw a lot of crossover. Zach has a different name and background, for example, but he's still an obvious Zach.

There were other intriguing elements in the story that it appears will be built on in future titles, so that we look forward to. We hope we will also see the characters become a bit more real to the reader, and this series become more distinguishable from the other. A fun read with potential, we give it a

3 out of 5.

Chapter Book Mini-Reviews

Our "to-review" pile is beginning to take up way too much space on our desk and in our brains, so today we are offering several mini-reviews of YA and Middle Grade Fiction books. Some of these (not all) have been nominated for Cybils awards this year - have you nominated your favorites yet?

Change of Heart

Sheri Maurer

Westside Books

978-1934813362

Borrowed from the library

     Emmi, 16, is focused on soccer and a new crush, when she discovers a recent virus has affected her heart - to the point that she now needs a new one. We follow her through the wait for a transplant, medical procedures, her frustration at the limitations it has placed on her, and how it effects her relationships with those around her.

     We got to know Emmi's character well, and many of the feelings and experiences she had rang true. Having vicariously experienced a major organ transplant recently through some friends, and having had a terminally ill child, some parts of the story jarred. To a reader without similar experiences, however, those parts would probably not be noticeable.

     We loved Abe, and the scenes he was in were definitely the best. We have to ask publishers/editors/authors everywhere, however, WHY must there always be a love interest??? The character of Sam could have been left out entirely, and the story would have been all the better for it. There was a lot of character development that could have been much more interesting if it weren't constantly being sidetracked by the obligatory boy trouble. 3 out of 5.

Only the Good Spy Young

Ally Carter

Hyperion

978-1423128205

Borrowed from library

     See here for our earlier review of the Gallagher Girls series. The main theme of this one seems to be not knowing who you can trust. The usual fast pace and funny lines. Boy trouble. Good friends. Some surprising revelations at the end. (Note to self: when giving the book to your teenage daughter, be prepared for the "What??? No!!! squeals, or you will spill your coffee.) A fun way to spend an afternoon, and sure to please those who have been waiting for the next installment. If you provide books for teens and haven't purchased this series, you need to catch up quickly. 4 out of 5.

Noonie's Masterpiece

Lisa Railsback

Chronicle Books

978-0811866545

review copy provided by publisher

     Noonie, age 10, is a slightly eccentric, undiscovered artist. When an art contest is announced, she is thrilled, until she hears the topic: a family portrait. Since her mother's death she has lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin ("Just because they're related doesn't make them family"), while her archaeologist father travels the world. Noonie misses her father terribly, and comes up with creative diseases (such as Purple Principal Pneumonia) to bring him rushing back to her side, but he never stays for long. Can she paint a family portrait of just herself? Her focus on what she doesn't have almost causes her to miss what she does.
     Noonie isn't always completely likeable, but that adds realism to a character who is going through a lot of personal growth. While some other characters are less three-dimensional, and we usually complain about that, it works here because Noonie is at an age where everything is all about how she is feeling.
     Noonie's constant companion is her copy of Masterpieces of Art, and information about various famous artists is sprinkled throughout the story. Complimenting the theme nicely are Sarajo Frieden's pen-and-ink drawings (very 1960's) and some font changes here and there. Might be a good read-aloud for an elementary school class, or a good gift for a misunderstood artist. 4 out of 5.

Tune in next week for more mini-reviews, and don't forget your Cybils nominations!

Retro Tuesday: Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter

Our favorite teen has been bugging us to read this series for ages, and since the third one (Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover) is in the Scholastic Book Fair, we thought this might be a good time.
 
Note to selves: listen to the teen a little more often!
 
Our main character, Cammie, attends what appears to be an elite boarding school for snooty rich girls. In actuality, it is a training school for spies, where PE class becomes P & E (Protection and Enforcement, and a game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" can result in trips to the infirmary.) A little suspension of disbelief is needed (we don't care how well-trained they are, there is no way that many seventh grade girls can keep a secret year after year), but these are very enjoyable reads. Loads of funny lines you will want to read out loud, and while some outcomes are predictable there are still plenty of surprises popping up.
 
In short, balanced enough that most teenage girls (and a few adults) looking for a fun read will enjoy them, engaging enough that we will be watching for the rest of the series. For those who are already fans, we recommend the Agency series by Y.S. Lee - watch for our review of the first book, A Spy in the House, as soon as we can get it back from the aforementioned teen! We give the Gallagher Girl series a
 
4 out of 5.