Uncommon Criminals

Title:  Uncommon Criminals a Heist Society novel

Author:  Ally Carter
Location:  YA Carter
Level:  11 years & up

In this Heist Society novel Kat Bishop has found a way to use her skills without actually being part of the family business.  Thanks to Visily Romani she can steal artwork so it can be returned to it’s rightful owners.  Thus, not really stealing, but righting a wrong.  Kat is starting to think she is pretty good on her own when she is approached by someone about getting Cleopatra’s emerald back from an unscrupulous dealer.  The lady says she was sent by Visily Romani.  But this particular gem is said to be cursed and trying to steal it is forbidden by Uncle Eddie.  Gabrielle and Hale try their best to talk Kat out of the job, but ultimately decide to help her.  Slowly the crew all comes back together, only Cleopatra’s emerald is the only thing being taken.

Bottom Line:  Uncommon Criminal  is written in much the same way as the first book.  Again a fairly light, fun read.  There is more going on between Kat and Hale this time.  A few kisses, but an otherwise good read for tweens and younger teens.  It’s fun trying to figure out how Kat and her crew are pulling off the heist.

Heist Society

Title:  Heist Society

Author:  Ally Carter
Location:  YA Carter A.
Level:  11 year olds and up

Katarina Bishop is from a crime family.  No, not the mafia.  She is from a family of thieves.  Her parents started using her for a decoy when she was three.  Now she has pulled her own con to leave the family and get into a prestigious boarding school, but someone is trying to frame her to get her kicked out of school.  Why would anyone do that?

Her Dad, even though he says he doesn’t want it, needs her help.  A major heist, only a master thief could accomplish, puts him right at the top of Arturo Taccone’s list.  Arturo really is a bad guy, the kind who could make a person sleep with the fish.  He’s convinced Kat’s Dad has his belongings.  How is Kat going to be able to return something they did not steal?  She has two weeks to put together a crew and figure it out.

Bottom Line:  Although having your Dad’s life and your own threatened doesn’t seem like a light subject this is a fairly light, fun read.  It has just a touch or hint of romance, likeable characters, and suspense. It’s a great book to take to the beach or on vacation.  Plus it’s fine for tweens.