Loot: How to Steal a Fortune - a review

Watson, Jude. 2014. Loot: How to Steal a Fortune. New York: Scholastic.
(Advance Reader Copy)

After my book club meets tomorrow, my Loot will be long gone. Here's a quick preview before it's snatched up.

It begins with a foreboding prophecy regarding stolen semiprecious moonstones:

You will be caught tonight and made to pay.
Death by water, before the moon is set.
Before the passage of thirteen years, the two birthed together will die together.

Two of the prophecies have already come true. Two thieves are dead.

Now, 12-year-old March, son of a thief, must figure out the mystery with no other assets than a getaway bag, some cryptic clues, and remembered advice from his deceased father,

Never trust a guy who says, "Trust me."
Never give your real name to a cop.
Never let someone steal your getaway car.

If you think nothing can go wrong, you'd better think again.

March, his twin sister, and fellow foster home escapees, Izzy and Darius, will match wits with jewel thieves, fences, cops, and millionaires in a desperate search for answers and the mysterious moonstones. This is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with plenty of plot twists and intrigue—a globe-trotting trek with its roots in the underbelly of New York City.


Due on a shelf near you June 24, 2014.
For grades 3-7
272 pages

The Potato Chip Puzzles

Berlin, Eric. 2009. The Potato Chip Puzzles. New York: Putnam.

Just a quick review -

The Potato Chip Puzzles is the second book about Winston Breen, a junior high school student with a penchant for puzzles. I did not read the first book, The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, but it had no bearing on this current mystery.

In The Potato Chip Puzzles, an eccentric potato chip tycoon has designed a contest for local schools. Each participating school enters a team to solve a series of ingenious puzzles spread across town. Winston Breen, along with his teacher and two friends, Jake and Mal, race through town solving intricate word, numeric and logic puzzles in their quest to be the first team to finish and claim the $50,000.00 prize. The puzzles are difficult, and a saboteur threatens to make them dangerous as well.

This a great choice for reluctant readers, boys (all of the main characters are male), and fans of puzzles and mysteries. Readers are easily drawn into this story with the opportunity to solve all of the puzzles and the mystery as well. A chapter of additional puzzles and an answer key conclude this fast-paced mystery.

Visit The Puzzling World of Winston Breen website for games, puzzles and more.