Lloyd Jones, Rob. Wild Boy & the Black Terror.

Lloyd Jones, Rob.  Wild Boy & the Black Terror.  Candlewick Press 2015  327p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-6253-0  ms/jr  Mystery/Detective  VG-BN

This is a wildly creative novel about a villain who hopes to poison all of London and Wild Boy, a former circus freak (owing to hair that grows all over his body) with extraordinary abilities in solving crimes.  It would be a toss-up as to which quality of Rob Lloyd Jones’s writing is more powerful: his descriptions of climate, locations, time periods and characters; his excitingly vivid plot with its continual and seamless conflicts; or his ability to weave words together to create intrigue.  The plot begins with a reminder that Wild Boy already has the reputation of being a monster, and as with most rumors, his reputation has been blown out of context.  Wild Boy’s sidekick, Clarissa, is herself a former circus performer, and the two have teamed up for life.  Their mentor is Marcus, a member of the Gentlemen, a secret group that protects London.  The new crime?  A demonic force has the capability of rendering its victims fearful as they slide into death.  This demon is attempting to find a black diamond, of which only four remain, thus avenging some atrocity that occurred in India years before.  When Queen Victoria’s servant, Prendergrast, opens a package meant for the queen, he becomes the first victim of the demon.  As the rising action progresses, Marcus is also hit with the disabling poison.  Wild Boy and Clarissa have to save him, and the only way they can do that is to track all evidence to the perpetrator and get a sample of his blood to create an antidote.  Three men stand out as being capable of this crime.  Readers will particularly enjoy putting together the evidence to figure out who is trying to avenge past deeds by terrorizing London.     

Summary: Wild Boy and Clarissa must use their unusual abilities to save London from the Black Terror, a poison that turns victims’ fears into nightmares before they die.  Wild Boy must find rare black diamonds to catch the demonic force known as Malphas.         

Crime-Fiction                                               --Martha Squaresky

Final Crossing.

Rodman, Sean.  Final Crossing.  Orca      2014  107p  $9.95 ISBN 978-1-4598-0552-1  ms/hs      Realistic fiction, Hi-lo   VG   

Will and Big O are brothers and best friends.  Having learned robbery techniques from their currently-imprisoned father, the boys have survived by stealing from others.  The pair decides to clean up their act and go to live with their respectable uncle, but they need a hundred dollars to get there.  In the duo’s final heist to raise this money, they plan to steal loose change out of cars being transported on a ferry while the unaware owners are on the upper decks.  As they pick locks on various cars and count their money, they come upon a van from which strange noises are coming.  When Will picks the lock, he discovers a kidnapping victim, a girl. Action and suspense build and build as the boys try to help the girl escape while evading the authorities because of their own activities.

This Hi/Lo novel will resonate well with young, struggling and reluctant readers.  The action begins on the first page and does not end until the last.  Written at a lower reading level, the text will not intimidate readers.  The plot is exciting and well written.

Summary: Determined to change their criminal behaviors and go to live with their uncle, brothers and best friends Will and Big O plan one last heist, robbing cars on a ferry, when they stumble upon a kidnapping victim.
           

Brothers-Fiction, Crime-Fiction                       --Virginia McGarvey

Beechen, Adam. Divide and Conquer.

Beechen, Adam.  Divide and Conquer.  Capstone/Stone Arch    2013  32p   ISBN 978-1-4342-4713-1    series: Justice League Unlimited  elem (Grades 3-5)  Hardback    VG  Science fiction   

With crisp, colorful illustrations and conversations that have plays on words, including a nod to the Star Wars “May the force be with you,” this book will appeal to fans of superheroes.  The Justice League is required to battle an intergalactic force that hopes to control the most powerful superheroes on Earth.  The seemingly less powerful female superheroes show that they are a force to be reckoned with when the male superheroes become incapacitated.  An addendum includes information on the creators of the graphic novel and a glossary.  A two-page spread encourages readers to go beyond just reading the graphic novel and to look carefully at the illustrations, their impact on the story, and how they enhance the text, and provides writing prompts that reflect reader opinions about the story.  Justice League Unlimited contains four titles about the adventures of this group of friends in fighting crime, and it is recommended as needed for elementary-school library collections.     

Summary: Crisp colorful illustrations and sometimes humorous text will entertain readers in grades 3-5 who love a superhero graphic novel. The Justice League finds itself incapacitated by intergalactic forces.  This book will appeal to fans of superheroes.     

Science fiction, Crime-Fiction, Adventure                   --Lois McNicol

Heath, Jack. Money Run.

Heath, Jack.  Money Run.  Scholastic Press  2008  245p  ISBN 978-0-545-51266-4  ms/hs  Hardback VG  Adventure    

Australian author Jack Heath gets right to the action and never ceases to create challenges for his protagonists in this novel.  As a matter of fact, the protagonists are thieves!  He actually has the reader rooting for Ashley and Benjamin as they face conflict after conflict in their attempt to find the small fortune that is not rightfully theirs because it belongs to billionaire Raymond Buckland.  He gives nearly super powers to a 15-year-old girl and her young partner.  Teen readers will find entertainment as Ash flies through the air in a stolen car from one building to another, as she steals a helicopter and flies it, and most unbelievably, as she defies a professional killer named Peachey time and time again.  Benjamin’s voice is forever in her ear, guiding her from crisis to crisis.  Billionaire Buckland is always a step ahead of both the thieves and his assassin as he eludes them, and the journey through the rapid-fire conflicts leaves the reader marveling at the cleverness of it all.  Will Buckland achieve his goal of disappearing from society with his fortune?  The reader does not find out the answer to this question until he/she has experienced every twist and turn of the plot.  Heath’s strength is in creating believable and unbelievable scenarios as he propels the action forward.  Some more detail-oriented readers will examine each action with a fine-toothed comb and not believe that the woman on page 16 doesn’t recognize a cell phone switch.  That said, there are just too many close calls, and although that is certain to keep the reader turning the pages, the more sophisticated reader will note the absence of quieter chapters designed to give the reader a breath, and that keeps the book from being a book of note.  But with its high-packed action and interesting premise, this book will definitely interest both the middle- and high-school readers who love thrillers with lots of technology and puzzle-like scenarios to figure out.

One structural error appears on pages 52-53.  It is nearly impossible to figure out that map!  If the reader turns right at the elevator exit and takes the third left, he/she does not end up at the right corridor! 

Summary: Two young thieves have the motivation and skills to steal from among the world’s richest; they encounter more than they bargained for when they attempt to steal $200 million from billionaire Raymond Buckland.        

Adventure-Fiction, Crime-Fiction                            --Martha Squaresky

Salane, Jeffrey. Lawless.

Salane, Jeffrey.  Lawless.  Scholastic Press  2013  277p  ISBN 978-0-545-45029-4  ms  Hardback VG-BN   Adventure

All her home schooling experiences have in some ways prepared M for her introduction to the prestigious and mysterious Lawless School, which her father attended, but in other ways they did not prepare her at all.  Her piano lessons have produced fingers nimble enough to pick locks, she is a whiz at spotting a forgery, and her physical agility comes in handy in escapes.  She slowly discovers that all the lessons at this school prepare the students to be leaders in the criminal world.  M excels, but always in unorthodox ways.  From entering the first assembly through the air ducts, through some unplanned lessons, M’s expertise wins her both friends and enemies.  Sometimes she cannot tell which is which.  Her life may depend on her ability to do so.

This novel is well written and features thoroughly enjoyable nonstop action.  The reader is constantly surprised by the twists and turns the plot takes.  Middle-school students, both boys and girls, will enjoy it.  The whole concept of teaching students to be criminals will pique the interest of readers.      It is highly recommended for middle-school students who want an action-packed read.  

Summary: M Freeman has been home-schooled until she applies to the Lawless School, which is not what she expected.  They train criminal masterminds.  M excels at her lessons, but in unorthodox ways.  Fun read for middle school.

Schools-Fiction, Crime-Fiction                                    --Joan Theal