Book Review: Loot: How to Steal a Fortune

Loot  is exactly what Jude Watson does best – action-packed, fast-paced and adventure wrapped up in a story you can’t put down.  When March’s father, a notorious cat burglar dies on the job, March must finish one last job.  His father’s dying words to March, “Find jewels,” and it’s only later that March realizes that his father isn’t talking about precious stones, but about the twin sister Jules that he never knew existed.  With the help of some friends they meet in an orphanage, March and Jules must find the seven moonstones to break the curse that killed both their mother and father, and may kill them if they’re not careful.
As I said, this is a fast-paced adventure story filled with thieves, backstabbers, liars, and double crossers – a great story for reluctant readers who need something that doesn’t stop going at 100 mph pace.  With both male and female lead characters, this story is also accessible to both boys and girls with just a touch of something that might be magic.  I felt the ending wrapped up a little too perfectly, but also left room for the possibility of another book.
Jude Watson has written a number of the 39 Clues series as well as a number of Star Wars Jedi Quest books as well.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a website for her, but Scholastic has some information about the author if you’re looking for a little more than the jacket cover, but most has not been updated recently from what I could find.  Scholastic does have some more information about the book, which you can find here.
Title: Loot: How To Steal a Fortune
Author: Jude Watson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: 2014
Page Number: 266 pgs.