Will They Get the Loot?

Twelve-year-old March McQuinn has spent a life on the run, with his famous cat burglar father, Alfie. He’s learned a lot from his dad and has even played a role in some of the heists. Of course, March doesn’t do the planning, or the actual breaking and entering, or the stealing. But, when he shows up to help his father at the end of a big robbery, he is surprised that his father is falling from a roof. Before his father passes on, he says a few seemingly random words to March and gives him a moonstone from a famous heist he had been involved in years before. Now March is alone in Amsterdam and worried that someone is watching him. After taking the important things he needs and some notes his father had written, March follows one of the clues to an underground event and watches in amazement as a woman named Blue and a girl do some fascinating music, ribbon and tumbling work. The police break it up though, and this leads to March being taken into custody. The girl doing the ribbon work turns out to be his long lost twin sister, Jules. Neither of them knew the other existed. What other mysteries had Alfie hidden? Jules and March are sent back to America and put in a home for children. They meet two other kids who quickly become their friends. When Jules goes missing, and March recognizes her on tv in the footage of a major jewel heist, he wonders whose side Jules is on and why. Now March is determined to find the rest of the moonstones hinted at in the note his father left him. Even more enticing is the reward of millions of dollars promised to him by the woman whose cursed moonstones were stolen by March’s dad and fellow thieves years before. Unfortunately, there are other people who want those gems. Will March and Jules work together or stay on separate sides? Will he and his friends be able to travel around the county in less than a week rounding up all the gems in time for the full moon?  Are the stones really cursed and will the prophecy his father was told years before come true? Read this fast paced book to find out!

Loot is the first book I’ve read by Jude Watson. Looking at the cover I knew it was bound to be a book filled with action. I liked March and the other main characters. While they all had their flaws- they also had their strengths. The danger and excitement definitely kept me turning the pages. I couldn’t help but wonder if the kids would be successful on their quest for the moonstones, and if the lady on the other end of the deal would keep her promise and reward them with money. I like the threat of the curse and the magical moonstones were intriguing. They sounded beautiful. I would recommend this book to people ages nine and up who like a good adventure, and are okay with some of the action and stunts being unbelievable. It reminded me of the action movies my older brother likes to watch- very entertaining, even if you can’t picture it all really happening in real life. This is the first book in the series and I look forward to reading the next one.

Has anyone else read Loot?  Or have you read another book by Jude Watson? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L