Crookhaven: The Forgotten Maze: Book 2

By Author / Illustrator

J.J. Arcanjo

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Hodder Children's Books

ISBN

9781444965759

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

17-08-2023

Synopsis

An irresistible series about chosen family, high stakes thievery, and what it really means to do good. Perfect for fans of M.G. Leonard and Anthony Horowitz.

It's Gabriel's second year at Crookhaven School for Thieves. And with a tricky Break-In challenge to the teacher's section of the library to attempt, plus a new class called Reclamation, his Miscreant year is already off to a busy start.

Then Gabriel and his friends learn about Maravel's Maze. Hidden deep beneath the lake, forgotten about by the school, it's a labyrinth of obstacles. Each tests a crook-related skill - and all are nearly impossible. But the impossible has never stopped Gabriel's crew before, especially not when there's something at the heart of the maze that they all desperately want...

The second book in the 'criminally good' Crookhaven series, the secret school where students are taught to do wrong, so that one day, they can put the world to rights.

Full series: Crookhaven: The School for Thieves (book 1); Crookhaven: The Forgotten Maze (Book 2); Crookhaven: The Island Heist (Book 3)

Reviews

Jennifer

A second visit to Crookhaven – the school where being criminally bad is completely the right and most positive thing students can aspire to - is just as enthralling, dramatic and entertaining as book 1. This school for thieves teaches forgery, trickery, theft, hacking and all manner of duplicity, all in the name of putting right the wrongs of the world.

It is young Gabriel's second year at Crookhaven. Learning the tricks of the criminal trade, however, are not about to get any easier. His loyal band of friends, first found in his initial year, are now divided and distanced from each other. A new Reclamation class focused on diving to recover hidden treasures and secrets proves a daunting test for Gabriel's personal weaknesses and fears. The shadowy tales of the feared Nameless crew - Crookhaven's past students turned rogue and rotten - are ever more dark and the real truth about Gabriel's own parentless upbringing seems to be bound to these malevolent figures.

There are challenging classes, seemingly impossible challenges that test all the students' crookery tactics; the Break-In Challenge - breaking into a room with no windows and only one door in and out - and the incredible discovery of Maravel's Maze, deep under the lake; a maze which is closed to students as it was deemed too dangerous to complete but which may hold the darkest secrets to exposing the Nameless and their heinous deeds.

I loved this book - returning to Crookhaven was an exciting, edgy experience, knowing that the tensions and challenges would be ramped up now for Gabriel and his crew as more experienced second year crooks. The growth of the central characters: Gabriel, high achiever, and headteacher's daughter Penelope Crook, Brothers Grim hacker twins Ade and Ede and Crimnastics star Amira, makes for the heart of the story and the group's loyalties and unity are tested and explored brilliantly.

The natural diversity and range of character backgrounds and experiences really adds to a modern and relatable feel to the narrative despite the very obvious unusual, unique and intriguing life they lead at this amazing school for thieves!

The storylines are fun, exciting, fast-paced and very, very clever and take the reader alongside the Crookhaven crews as they figure out riddles, solve problems and put their heads together to be the best at being bad. The Forgotten Maze racks up the tension and foreboding of what is still to come and leaves the reader on an agonizing edge. A brilliant book with the next instalment eagerly awaited!

336 pages / Reviewed by Jennifer Caddick, teacher