The daughter of notorious thieves, Kat Bishop has enrolled in the exclusive Colgan School to escape the family business and try to live a normal life. But when she is kicked out, Kat has to return to her roots. She is informed that five priceless paintings have been taken from the powerful mobster Arturo Taccone, and that her father is Taccone's only suspect. It is up to Kat to return the paintings before Taccone takes matters into his own hands. Kat embarks on a daring, dangerous heist, immersing herself in the world of art, money, and extreme power. With the help of her friend (and crush), Hale, and a band of teenage coconspirators, Kat crisscrosses the globe to locate Taccone's paintings. Carter takes on large themes—family, friendship, loyalty, and good versus evil—and effectively gives readers light lessons in geography and art, as well as thought-provoking commentary on artwork stolen during the Holocaust. With a smart and stealthy heroine who should appeal to Gallagher Girls fans, Carter's story is fast-paced and popcorn-ready. Readers will likely look forward to Kat's next adventure. Ages 11–up. (Feb.)
In Tonight the Streets are Ours, out tomorrow, Leila Sales introduces us to Arden, a good girl and fiercely loyal friend whose tendency toward self-sacrifice borders on martyrdom. When she discovers a New York boy’s confessional blog, Tonight the Streets are Ours, she’s swept up into his story of epic love and heartbreak. And after suffering a humiliating emotional […]
Season two of Agent Carter is back tonight, and we’re already obsessed with it. And what’s not to love? There’s a kickass woman protagonist who’s intelligent and powerful; there are historical details including a non-anachronistic take on sexism; and there are the spy thriller storylines, which keep you on the edge of your seat. When you watch Peggy Carter trying to […]
O contemporary YA, how I love thee! I love your angst, your romance, your banter, your thrill, your kissing, your exploration, your humor, and your doing all of it within settings we all know and live every day. Whether it’s a common story with a new voice or a wild new premise the likes of […]
Despite a nasty tendency to leave a body count in their wake, crime families captivate us. Everything from the decadence to the loyalty to the language seems glamourous and exciting, because its just so far from the norm. If repeated binge-watching of The Sopranos and Mob Wives has you fancying yourself a mafia don, you’ll love these YA […]
Nothing spices up the slow beginning of autumn better than a little crime spree—especially if you can enjoy the adrenaline rush from the safe comfort of a reading nook, rather than taking on the entire Russian mob by yourself. But forget all the high-speed chases and heavy-duty fight scenes: the real kick of a great crime thriller comes […]