Jude Watson
My rating: ★★★
ISBN: 978-0545468022
Publisher: Scholastic
Date of publication: June 24, 2014
Age: Grades 4 - 7
Genre: Mystery, Contemporary/Realistic Fiction
Themes: family, thievery, fate, ingenuity,
As Alfie McQuinn, the world-famous cat burglar, lies dying in the street after a fatal fall, his final words to his son are to "find jewels." March McQuinn soon discovers his father is not talking about loot, but about Jules, the long lost twin he never knew he had. Orphaned, the two are sent to a group home—where they immediately escape with some friends. They are bent on finishing Alfie's work, a heist that will give the money they need to live the life they've dreamed. But they're up against some dangerous rivals and will soon realize that more than money is on the line.
March and Jules are almost 13-years-old and yet...they can steal a fortune like something out of Ocean's Eleven. While this came off as thoroughly unbelievable to me, I can see that it would make an exciting read for a middle-grader. Indeed, the book is non-stop action and thrills, with one dangerous stunt after another. The characters are not as well developed as I would've hoped—because of all the emphasis on the action. And they come and go as they're needed (there's a LOT of characters that just show up conveniently). But the variety is entertaining, and it works for the target age.
Basically, it's an exciting book that kids (especially boys) would probably enjoy. For me? I wasn't head-over-heels. But I'd still recommend it to the right person.
Find it at your library or on Amazon
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