Crookhaven: The Island Heist (Book 3)
By Author / Illustrator
J.J. Arcanjo
Genre
Adventure
Age range(s)
9+
Publisher
Hodder Children's Books
ISBN
9781444965780
Format
Paperback / softback
Published
20-06-2024
Synopsis
It's Gabriel's third year at Crookhaven School for Thieves. Along with the usual Break-In challenge - this year to Reclamation island - and difficult new classes like Signs & Signals, Gabriel and his friends have another goal: taking down the Nameless.
The Nameless are the very worst type of criminals - they steal, trick and kidnap for their own benefit, rather than to do good in the world. Each member of Gabriel's crew has a very personal reason for wanting to take the Nameless down - but what can a group of underage school children do compared to the most powerful crew of the underworld? Luckily, there might be something hidden at Crookhaven that could help them. But first they have to find it...
The third 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
Jenny
The Island Heist is a thrilling third visit to Crookhaven (the school where young criminals hone and sharpen their skills but all in the name of becoming criminally yet morally good citizens).
Pickpocket extraordinaire Gabriel is now in his third year and he and his loyal, diverse crew are planning again to be winners of the school's annual Break-In Challenge. More importantly, however, they want to continue their risky, dangerous work into taking down the most feared and ruthless criminal gang, the Nameless; the cruel gang that has held its power over many of their young lives and whose dark actions are everything that the good-hearted Crookhaven community strive against.
The familiar narrative of a young character finding their talents, worth and 'tribe' at an unusual boarding school is gloriously re-imagined at Crookhaven school, where lessons like Forgery and Infiltration are on the timetable. This school is vividly imagined and wonderfully drawn in the reader's mind. There are new, challenging classes and intriguing new characters to keep the storyline fresh and lively. A returning Crookhaven Legacy, Alessandra Giuliano, captivates a besotted Penelope, yet Gabriel cannot shake clouded memories that may reveal a darker side to this much admired master criminal.
Again, it is the many relationships between the central characters around Gabriel: Penelope, twins Ade and Ede, Amira and now, previous arch- enemy Villette and, new recruit, her brother Val, that form the heart and human interest and relatability within the story. There are fierce fallouts, clashes of opinions, competitive combat classes - but always an unwavering loyalty and group determination. Not only does the group need to win the task to break into teacher Mr Diamandi's Reclamation Island, surrounded entirely by a lake, but one member of the group is seeking precious letters left behind by a missing Crookhaven family member.
The Island Heist feels edgy and tense in all the right places but the drama and peril is set nicely against the lighter moments of which Gabriel's visit home to Grandma and the comical banter between Ade and Ede are my favourites. Young Val's perky, cheeky sense of mischief also lighten the mood and interject a sense of fun into the story.
Crookhaven: The Island Heist is a thrilling, fast-paced and highly energetic read. I loved the intrepid mystery and adventure of the mission that the young Crookhaven class take on and invested completely in the ever-growing and changing bonds of this group of bold, brave and criminally good cast.
320 pages / Reviewed by Jennifer Caddick, teacher
Suggested Reading Age 7+